But I thought that windpower was safe, since it's regulated... and that therefore it would be easy to fund no matter what, as banks flee risky investments?

I certainly haven't heard that wind in europe is having trouble getting funding.

Rien n'est gratuit en ce bas monde. Tout s'expie, le bien comme le mal, se paie tot ou tard. Le bien c'est beaucoup plus cher, forcement. Celine

there's a good chance that clean energy deals are still going to boom:

• the sector itself has excellent prospects, decent to excellent profitability, and is booming;

• lending to the sector is relatively safe as revenues are often based on regulation-driven tariffs that are highly predictable (and predictability is a huge plus in today's financial markets);

• a lot of the financing is based on "boring",stodgy financial structures that are tested, proven, and based on thorough risk-analysis. Given that the lack of risk analysis is what lead to the crisis in other areas, these stodgy, boring structures are suddenly a lot more attractive.

Maybe I'm deluding myself because this is my sector, but I think not.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

I am aware that wind projects both in Europe and at least for this year in the US have stable markets and are getting funded.  I concur with Avec's and J's assessments.  I was only remarking on the longer term portion, partly because some bankers have told me windpower would get "hammered" as well.  (Perhaps they were referring to stock prices???)  But either way, i see windpower continuing to be a valid and growing investment vehicle, even enjoying more rapid growth as the financial community perceives wind as far more stable than other investments.

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin