| With the ongoing trend for more sustainable and | | | | been seeing mobilization even in non-government |
| environment-friendly energy sources, around $155 billion | | | | organizations. |
| was invested last year in alternative energy funds. This | | | | Among all the energy resources, wind was able to |
| fund does not even include large hydro, proving that | | | | attract the largest amount in alternative energy funds. |
| the cause is getting wider and wider as time passes. | | | | However, solar energy had the largest increase in |
| The awareness for more alternative energy sources | | | | terms of market share, while biofuel energy dipped a |
| has spurred even the large companies and powerful | | | | little bit by 9 percent. |
| investors to invest their money to support the cause. | | | | One of the responses of the countries to the |
| This year, this is even expected to go higher. Among | | | | economic crisis is creating stimulus packages that |
| the alternative energy funds, $13.5 billion were given to | | | | have specific provisions for energy efficiency, boosting |
| companies who are developing new technologies to | | | | renewable energy sources. These new deals can |
| have more sustainable energy resources. Around $117 | | | | significantly contribute to the efforts of having cleaner |
| billion was invested in projects focusing on renewable | | | | energy. These alternative energy funds would most |
| energy sources such as wind, biofuel, solar and | | | | certainly help support the market for cleaner energy. |
| geothermal. | | | | Because of these efforts, it is assumed that prices of |
| This increase in alternative energy funds is four times | | | | green energy tools would also fall down. Solar |
| higher than that of 2004. Even as the global economic | | | | modules, for instance, is expected to soon fall by 43 |
| crisis loomed over most companies, there was still a | | | | percent in terms of price. This is because the supply |
| high turnout in terms of alternative energy funds. | | | | bottleneck have been easing down, allowing for more |
| Different countries are showing large support in this | | | | suppliers to be able to produce according to the |
| cause for more sustainable energy resources, | | | | demands of the countries. The drive for sustainable |
| providing more awareness and support coming in from | | | | energy has also been increasing alternative energy |
| around the world. Emerging economies such as Brazil | | | | funds even for the companies producing them. |
| and China contributed to the five percent increase in | | | | This proves that the private sector is soon catching up |
| the total amount of funds dedicated to alternative | | | | to the trend. Investments were also seen in bottleneck |
| funds. | | | | last year, but this year, they are expected to catch up |
| According to UN undersecretary general and the | | | | and even increase significantly. Investments for |
| executive director of the United Nations Environment | | | | sustainable energy are also one of the biggest stimulus |
| Programme Achim Steiner, the economic crisis has | | | | packages in governments around the world. Efforts |
| definitely affected the campaign for clean energy. This | | | | have been noted and reported in different occasion. In |
| is most especially true in the United States, where | | | | Asia, China remains to be the giant even in alternative |
| investments decreased by 2 percent. However, the | | | | energy funds. |
| efforts are still just as overwhelming, especially now | | | | There is a strong message that is beyond all of these |
| that sustainable energy is becoming mainstream. | | | | alternative energy funds coming in from around the |
| To be noted are the efforts of China, which is | | | | world. Banks are encouraged to increase their lending |
| currently the second largest market in wind energy. | | | | to the energy sector, tax exemptions or deductions |
| This is in terms of new capacity, as well as | | | | are being asked for renewable energy funds, and |
| photovoltaic manufacturing. Geothermal energy has | | | | more efforts have been on the way to get the |
| been getting more and more utilized, especially in | | | | alternative energy funds and investments flowing. |
| countries such as Kenya, Japan and Australia. | | | | The plans that are backed up by alternative energy |
| Even developing countries such as Chile, Brazil, the | | | | funds are scattered among short-term, medium-term |
| Philippines and Peru have been bringing in efforts to | | | | and long-term goals. As long as the different |
| introduce policies and laws which would encourage | | | | governments of countries around the world continue to |
| energy conservation and more environment-friendly | | | | support the cause, we will soon be living in a more |
| ways of living and energy-production. These countries | | | | sustainable earth. |
| have taken note of alternative energy funds, and have | | | | |