US venture capital investments in cleantech rose 12% in 2011 despite strong headwinds from slow global economic growth, political deadlock in Congress and Europe’s debt crisis, according to the MoneyTree report released today by PwC and the National Venture Capital Association.

Both dollars and deal volume increased in 2011, bringing the year’s total to the highest level ever recorded at $4.3 billion across 323 deals, compared with $3.8 billion going into 289 deals in 2010. Keep reading →