In the February edition of Energy & Clean Tech Connections, we’ve gathered recent information from a wide variety of sources in an effort to keep you abreast of new developments in the world of clean energy. We draw your attention to the latest industry developments, news from local governments to Capitol Hill, grant opportunities, and upcoming events.

This month, we would like to congratulate our client RockPort Capital Partners for leading a $10 million Series A investment in FirstFuel Software, Inc. First Fuel, based in Lexington, Mass., applies deep analytics to building energy consumption data, hourly local weather data, and GIS building data to produce complete building analysis and energy savings. The result – an interactive Remote Building Assessment – provides a benchmark for building end-use energy performance, customized operational and retrofit recommendations, and monitoring and verification of energy savings over time.

On Capitol Hill, the administration promoted energy-related matters in the third week of February while Congress was in recess for the Presidents’ Day holiday. While speaking to college students in Miami February 23, President Obama criticized the pro-drilling approach of Republicans and the reluctance of the oil and gas industry to relinquish its rights to $4 billion a year in tax breaks, which the President has called for zeroing out in his fiscal year 2013 budget request. Separately, the administration acknowledged that gas prices are rising faster and earlier this year than ever before and is using this issue to remind Americans that developing clean, alternative energy sources is critical. Also, after two years of speculation, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner last week unveiled the administration’s proposal for tax reform. Among other provisions, including reductions in the corporate and manufacturing tax rates, the proposal would make the tax credit for the production of renewable electricity permanent.

Please see full newsletter below for more information.