William Blair & Company Publishes Two Reports on the Energy Industry

William Blair & Company, L.L.C. announced the publication of two comprehensive reports on the energy industry—one covering alternative power generation, titled “Next-Generation Energy Technology,” and the other focusing on replacement fuels and alternative transportation, titled “Alternative Energy in the Transportation Sector: Fossil Fuels Going the Way of the Dinosaur?”

“Next-Generation Energy Technology” spotlights the drivers of renewable energy adoption and how key geographies are altering the global energy landscape. An overview of developing energy technologies, including solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, wind, geothermal, clean-coal, biomass, ocean power, demand response, and the transmission sector, is provided. In addition, the report includes a brief overview of current power sources such as coal, natural gas, and nuclear; profiles of public companies in William Blair & Company’s next-generation energy coverage universe; and profiles of nearly 400 emerging energy companies.

Authors Corey Tobin and Peter Schieffelin commented, “We believe multiple aspects of the energy industry are converging rapidly to accelerate the adoption of alternative energy sources and technologies, including rising power prices, increasing focus on the environment, and falling costs of renewable energy. In our opinion, the combination of these factors is pushing adoption of modern energy technologies, which, in turn, will build the necessary scale to decrease unit costs, further fueling the uptake cycle.”

To assess the impact on petroleum markets, “Alternative Energy in the Transportation Sector: Fossil Fuels Going the Way of the Dinosaur?” evaluates potential market penetration of renewable fuels, nonrenewable replacement fuels, and electric vehicles over the long term. Depending on carbon constraints in the marketplace, William Blair & Company estimates alternatives could represent between 15% and one-third of the energy consumption in the transportation sector by 2030.

Authors Mark Miller and Tim Mulrooney conclude that “multiple technologies and processes will gain market share” and “an investment approach of identifying the emerging leaders in the alternative fuels/transportation sector will be rewarding over the long term.”

Expanding its energy research initiative, William Blair & Company, L.L.C. also initiated coverage of GreenHunter Energy, Inc. (GRH $13.00) with an Outperform rating.

William Blair & Company, L.L.C. (www.williamblair.com) is a Chicago-based investment firm offering investment banking, asset management, equity research, institutional and private brokerage, and private capital to individual, institutional, and issuing clients. Since 1935, we have been committed to helping clients achieve their financial objectives. As an independent, employee-owned firm, our philosophy is to serve our clients’ interests first and foremost. We place a high value on the enduring nature of our client relationships, the quality of our products and services, and the continuity and integrity of our people.

For important disclosures and information regarding the firm’s rating system, valuation methods and potential conflicts of interest, please visit: http://www.williamblair.com/Pages/news_story_dept.asp?uid=1417&depID=4