Global residential solar business Sungevity has completed a series of venture capital and project financings, securing up to $125 million to support the company’s growth initiatives. The funding includes $40 million raised in 2012 led by Oakland-based impact investment fund, Brightpath Capital Partners, and home improvement retailer, Lowe’s. New equity investors Vision Ridge Partners, Craton Equity Partners and Eastern Sun Capital Partners also participated. The funding also includes a combined $85 million in new project financing commitments.

Propel Fuels, a retailer of alternative fuels and clean mobility solutions, has closed on the initial phase of its Series D round of funding with $11 million from existing investors Nth Power, Craton Equity Partners, and @Ventures as well as a new investor, Gentry Venture Partners. The company has also secured $10 million in debt financing from CapX Partners.

Bridgelux, a developer and manufacturer of LED lighting products, has added $15 million in financing to help it boost accelerate research and development. The company is backed by VantagePoint Capital Partners, DCM, El Dorado Ventures, Novus Energy Partners, IFA, Chrysalix, Harris & Harris Group, Craton Equity Partners, Jebsen Asset Management and Passport Capital.

Waste Management, the Texas-based sanitation and recycling company, has made a strategic investment in Recycle Rewards, and its subsidiary, Recyclebank, which tethers discounts to green “action” by consumers. With the investment, from which terms were not specified, Waste Management joins existing Recyclebank investors RRE Ventures, Sigma Partners, Kleiner Perkins Caulfield and Byers, The Westly Group, Generation Investment Management, Top Tier Capital Partners, Physic Ventures and Craton Equity Partners.

A Los Angeles-based firm with deep political connections, Craton Equity Partners, is seeking $400 million for its second fund, Buyouts reported, citing to a source familiar with the firm’s plans. Craton Equity makes growth capital investments in companies in the clean technology and environmental technology sector. Its portfolio includes Arxx Corp., a manufacturer of insulating [...]

Craton Equity Partners led a $60 million Series E round for Bridgelux Inc., a developer and manufacturer of LED lighting technologies. A laundry list of existing and strategic investors also participated in the round, including VantagePoint Capital Partners, DCM, El Dorado Ventures, Novus Energy Partners, Invus Group, VTS, Harris & Harris Group and Passport Capital. The company said the infusion will help it bolster research and development efforts. David Asarnow, a principal at Craton Equity, will join the Bridgelux board as an observer.

Gazelle said Thursday it closed a $22 million series D round of financing led by Craton Equity Partners. The Boston-based e-commerce company’s round received participation from existing investors Physic Ventures, Venrock Associates and RockPort Capital. PRESS RELEASE Gazelle Raises $22 Million Led by Craton Equity Partners Series D Round Primes Gazelle for Continued Industry Leadership [...]

Xcel Energy has been testing sodium-sulfur (NaS) batteries for storing renewables — wind, in this case, which is more plentiful than sunshine in Luverne, Minnesota — and reports positive results so far.

This is good news for investors in renewable energy and batteries — and for anybody who wants to see the U.S. cut its dependence on oil — because the inability to capture variable energy like wind and move it into the electric grid right when it’s needed has been one of the energy industry’s big headaches.