Norway Commits $3.1B US into Cleantech...Will US Pension Funds Follow Suit?

According to this report from April 6 published at Cleantech.com, the Norwegian government pension fund will commit NOK 20bn ($3.1B US) into cleantech over the next five years. However, large US pension funds such as CalPERS, CalSTRS and the New York State Common Retirement Fund -- each of which had previously invested in this space -- are now apparently sitting on the sidelines, due to current market conditions and a strict focus on bottom-line returns.

Do you expect institutional investors to come back to the cleantech market later in 2009 and in 2010 if the economy improves? Will the US government programs -- such as the extension of certain tax breaks and the grant program -- serve as a strong enough catalyst to get investors focused on cleantech over the next 18 months?