Green Options

There has been a rush of investment into renewable energy in recent years. In 2007, global wind energy capacity grew by 27% and solar energy sales grew an estimated 50%.

Offering insight into where future growth is likely to occur, Ernst & Young produced a report that follows a variety of indices including long-term wind, near-term wind, and all renewables.

Here are the top five prime nations for renewable energy investment:

1- United States

The U.S. has particularly high scores in the areas of onshore wind, solar, and infrastructure. The sheer size of the country provides an advantage with plentiful wind, solar, and agricultural resources. This high score is likely to decrease if the Production Tax Credit expires at the end of the year. Both presidential candidates however support a cap and trade system for carbon, creating another means to promote renewable energy.