Leading the Clean-Tech Charge Since 2000
Founded in 2000, Clean Edge was the first analyst firm to promote the concept of “clean tech” to a business audience. Activities have spanned custom market research, benchmarking and indexing, and industry events (including influential conferences such as the Clean Tech Investor Summit and gridCONNEXT). Managing director Ron Pernick and editor-at-large Clint Wilder co-authored the seminal book on clean-tech business, investment, and innovation, The Clean Tech Revolution (HarperCollins, 2007). Today, Clean Edge is a dedicated publisher and joint developer of clean energy, transportation, water, and grid indexes with Nasdaq. The Nasdaq Clean Edge Green Energy™ Index (CELS™) and Nasdaq OMX Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure™ Index (QGRD™) were launched in partnership with Nasdaq nearly two decades ago, in 2006 and 2009, respectively. Other indexes include the ISE Clean Edge Global Wind Energy™ Index (GWE™), the ISE Clean Edge Water™ Index (HHO™), and the Nasdaq Clean Edge Global Water Index™ (GHHO™). All tracking financial products of Nasdaq Clean Edge indexes exceed $8 billion in assets under management as of October 31, 2025.
Below you can view key company milestones and learn more about our team and offerings.
2025
Indexing
Financial products tracking the firm’s indexes and universes exceed $6 billion in assets under management (as of July 18, 2025 based on FactSet Data).
2025
Indexing
First Trust launches UCITS ETF in Europe based on the Nasdaq Clean Edge Global Water™ Index (GHHO™).
2024
Indexing
Nasdaq and Clean Edge introduce the Nasdaq Clean Edge Global Water™ Index (GHHO™), designed to track global companies with potable water and wastewater industry exposure.
2023
Indexing
Nasdaq and Clean Edge launch the Nasdaq Clean Edge Global Green Income™ Index (GGINC™), designed to track the performance of 50 green economy companies that have a consistent history of offering dividends.
2022
Indexing
First Trust launches UCITS ETF in London based on the Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure™ (QGRD™) Index.
2021
Indexing
Financial products tracking the firm’s indexes and universes exceed $4 billion in assets under management (as of March 2021 based on FactSet Data).
2021
Indexing
First Trust launches ETFs in Canada and London based on the Nasdaq Clean Edge Green Energy™ Index (CELS™).
2017
Convening
Clean Edge partners with GridWise Alliance to produce gridCONNEXT, an industry event focused on building the next-generation grid. Clean Edge handed the event over to GridWise in 2021.
2017
Indexing
Clean Edge, in partnership with Nasdaq, adds water (HHO™) and wind energy (GWE™) to its family of clean-tech index offerings.
2012
Publishing
Clean Edge managing director/co-founder Ron Pernick and senior editor Clint Wilder release their second book with HarperCollins, Clean Tech Nation.
2010
Publishing
Clean Edge launches the first U.S. Clean Tech Leadership Index report series, tracking the clean-tech activities and performance of all 50 states, and adding the 50 largest U.S. metro areas in 2013. Clean Edge continued to publish this research for eight years.
2009
Indexing
Clean Edge and NASDAQ launch QGRD, a new benchmark for the global smart grid and electric infrastructure sector. First Trust licenses index for ETF.
2007
Publishing
Pernick and Wilder release the first book on the business case for clean tech, The Clean Tech Revolution. The book, published by HarperCollins, is translated into seven languages.
2006
Indexing
Clean Edge and NASDAQ launch CELS, their first stock index tracking U.S.-listed clean-energy companies. First Trust licenses index for ETF.
2005
Convening
Launch of the Clean Tech Investor Summit, the high-level investment conference in Palm Springs that Clean Edge co-produced for eight years.
2003
Publishing
Clean Edge releases the Solar Opportunity Assessment Report, highlighting the opportunity for solar PV in the U.S., including one of the earliest published accounts of the PPA model and distributed solar utility concept.
2001
Publishing
Clean Edge releases its first report, Clean Tech: Profits & Potential, and launches website highlighting the business and economic case for clean tech and clean energy.
2000
Founding
Cofounders Ron Pernick and Joel Makower incorporate Clean Edge Inc., the first U.S. research and consulting firm focused on providing market insights on the clean-tech sector.
No posts selected.
A History of Clean-Tech Firsts
FIRST MAJOR INNOVATION CONFERENCE
Clean Tech Investor Summit
FIRST BUSINESS BOOK
The Clean Tech Revolution
FIRST PARTNERED CLEAN ENERGY INDEX WITH NASDAQ