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Venture capitalists invested $368 million in 61 cleantech deals in the first quarter, a 35 percent decline in dollars and 13 percent in deals from the prior quarter, according to a PwC MoneyTree report. The investment total is the lowest since Q1 2006. The quarterly total VC investment activity fell 12 percent in terms of dollars and 15 percent in the number of deals compared to the fourth quarter of 2012. The report found that less money is flowing into capital-intensive cleantech deals while there’s more interest in capital efficient IT sectors where round’s amounts are smaller.

After peaking in Q2 2010, VC investments in smart grid have slowed down considerably, and continue to amble along with no clear direction, says Mercom Capital Group. “Silver Spring Networks’ long awaited IPO was the lone highlight in an otherwise slow quarter” said Mercom’s CEO. The two top deals were Cylance and Sentient Energy, both raising $15 million, with grid optimization firms getting the most funding in the quarter. There were four M&A transactions in Q1.

A purported $1 trillion market opportunity, waste and recycling innovation is a hot topic with strategic and private equity investors from Silver Lake, Dow Chemical and Waste Management....

The U.S. DOE lays out the technologies that could power the next renewables boom

Although China emerged as the leader in 2012, South Africa’s clean energy investment grew the fastest, followed by Mexico and Turkey.

European targets for adding fuel made from crops to gasoline will cost UK motorists $2 billion per year, says Chatham House. The think tank also argues that biofuels are actually worse for the climate than fossil fuels.

A report by the International Energy Agency says emissions have not even been cut 1% since 1990.

Major clean energy breakthroughs are just around the corner, says Crane, who’s betting on distributed solar and new in-home natural gas “gizmos” to disrupt the utility model.

CalPERS’ Anne Simpson describes how the $250 billion pension behemoth is forcing corporations to divulge their environmental impact, and making money as a result.

After years of disappointment, industry leaders and analysts see growth ahead.