There are some words in the business world that become swiftly debased: innovation and cleantech are, along with “crowd” anything, are among the worst of recent offenders. But that doesn’t mean that any of these terms fail to represent meaningful concepts for energy sector decision-makers, and if anything participants in energy business decision… Keep reading →
Because they just hit a venture capital home run with Google’s acquisition of Nest. Despite recent mainstream media reports, cleantech venture capital is alive and kicking at the start of 2014. Just ask Peter Nieh and the cleantech team at Lightspeed, KPCB’s Randy Komisar, Venrock’s David Pakman or Shasta Ventures’ Rob Coneybeer. That group, along… Keep reading →
Corporate social responsibility and ESG – environment, social and governance – issues are playing a more prominent role in corporate strategies as investors push the agenda through shareholder resolutions and other means. It’s no longer enough for companies to simply publish glossy sustainability reports, while continuing to chart a business as usual course. First Energy,… Keep reading →
A few years ago international oil companies were sharpening their drill bits in anticipation of re-entering Iraq’s post-Saddam Hussein oil industry, and now a similar situation is developing in Iran as plans to ease western-led economic sanctions progress. Potential investment opportunities in Iran – from upstream oil and gas to petrochemicals – have IOCs paying… Keep reading →
Despite its rapid growth, the US solar market is still a bit of a Balkanized mess. It’s a highly fragmented collection of states with different policies and politics, some that have preferential programs such as Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) or net energy metering (NEM), and others that are resistant to change or beholden to incumbent… Keep reading →
Renewable energy businesses – primarily wind and solar power – in the US are moving from adolescence to maturity. The US solar industry experienced a transformative 2013, with the proliferation of physical assets, installed capacity and new finance mechanisms, while the wind industry raced to begin projects by end-2013 in order to receive production tax… Keep reading →
Barclays’ senior geopolitical strategist Helima Croft is heavily quoted in this piece about the potential for escalating Iraqi violence to negatively impact the country’s oil & gas industry. “If they could get the political and security situation under control, Iraq could have tremendous upside advantage for investors. It would be a fantastic growth story,” said… Keep reading →
With a $210M initial funding approval, NY Green Bank is poised to begin operations in early 2014. On December 19, 2013, New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced $210M initial capitalization for the $1B New York Green Bank, a market-based clean energy funding initiative launched in September. The funding includes $165M Public Service Commission… Keep reading →
“Distributed, point-of-use solar should prove to be the most disruptive renewable technology.” The financial services firm UBS is predicting a “difficult year ahead” for global investor-owned utilities. In a recent research paper, UBS equities analysts outlined a combination of challenges for utilities: rising interest rates that will likely push investors toward higher-risk stocks and away… Keep reading →
This Forbes piece profiles Noble Energy’s diverse portfolio of assets that may appear haphazard, but according to CEO Charles D. Davidson, “This isn’t an accident. This is a strategy.” [Forbes] A top oil and gas banker moves from Morgan Stanley to Credit Suisse. “Before making the move, Mr. McCabe was at Morgan Stanley, and has… Keep reading →
