Report: 2Q Clean-energy Investment Improves

He said plans remain on track for three manufacturing plants in Colorado although the company temporarily shelved plans for a new headquarters building in Portland, Ore., because of the recession.

Renewable energy remains a small fraction of all power used but wind and solar are among the fastest growing in the U.S., which last year became the world leader in wind-generated power capacity.

Liebreich estimated the bulk of the stimulus money globally will pour into the market next year and in 2011. By then, the sector may be recovering on its own, he speculated.

Second-quarter specifics were not available as a few weeks remained and Liebreich did not return an e-mail request for comment.

The firm did note more than $2 billion was invested this quarter through secondary issues by such companies as Denmark-based Vestas, and solar companies SunPower Corp., Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd. and Evergreen Solar Inc.

The London-based firm predicted new investment between $95 billion and $115 billion for the full year, a drop of up to 39 percent from the 2008 record total of $155 billion.