Assertion Partly supported AI assessment confidence: 85% certainty 4/5 debate potential 1/5

Blackstone and mega private equity funds are pivoting into energy storage

Reuben Munger · Sustainable Investing 9: Reuben Munger – Private Capital Perspective (Capital Allocators, EP.147) · Jul 6, 2020 · at 31:28

Reuben Munger, Managing Partner of Vision Ridge Capital, discusses traditional energy private equity mega-funds shifting their focus toward energy storage and renewables.

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“Going back to energy storage, in the last three months, we've seen both energy capital partners and Blackstone make big moves, and that's sort of saying, okay, what are we doing here? This is not oil and gas.”

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