Feb. 7, 2012: U.S. Jumps to No. 1 in 2011 Global Clean Energy Investments
LONDON and NEW YORK — The United States topped China for the first time since 2008 as global clean energy investment reached a new record of $260 billion in 2011, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. The firm reported that the total was up 5 percent over 2010, as solar spending outpaced investments in wind.
Last year’s highlights include the United States retaking first place, with total investment surging to nearly $56 billion, up 33 percent; China saw investment rise just 1 percent to $47 billion. The report noted that a major portion of the U.S. increase was due to the now expired federal loan progam, and that another contributor, the production tax credit for renewables, is set to expire at the end of 2012.