Lighting deals and other news

• Group IV Semiconductor, which is developing quantum dot-based LEDs for efficient lighting, raised a Series B (note: link opens pdf) led by Garage Technology Ventures Canada, and including Applied Ventures and existing investors Khosla Ventures and BDC Venture Capital. The amount of the round was undisclosed, but VWire reports that the round was bigger than the C$9.1mm Series A the company raised in 2006.

• BridgeLux, another developer of LED technology, raised a $23mm Series C, according to VentureWire. Chrysalix led the round, and they were joined by VantagePoint, and existing investors DCM, El Dorado Ventures, and Harris & Harris Group.

• Clear Water Compliance Services, which sells systems for cleaning storm water runoff, announced a $25mm controlling investment by Plainfield Asset Management -- $5mm in equity and the rest in debt.
  

• Also according to VentureWire, Advanced Technology Ventures has closed on at least $272mm for their eighth fund. VWire didn't describe if that was a final closing amount.

Other news and notes: The looming solar consolidation continues to gain momentum... A nice interview with Ira... How did Boston not make this list???... Policy events to note here and here... Here's a great overview of carbon capture and storage (CCS)... $4.5 billion per year spent to power data centers... A tough take on EEStor... Finally, some promising research into an alternative approach to the internal combustion engine.