The Energy Hedge Fund Center's Directory of Energy Hedge Funds now tracks over 500 hedge funds with a substantial energy or environmental content.

The number of energy hedge funds has steadily grown over the last 24-months as investor appetite for commodities generally and energy commodities specifically, has soared. The majority of energy hedge funds are either commodity trading or equity long/short funds with the most recent growth in commodity trading funds taking place in Europe.

'Over 5-per cent of the hedge fund universe now has a good deal of exposure to energy via commodities, equities and debt,' says Dr Gary M Vasey, Co-Principal of the Energy Hedge Fund Center LLC. 'Many other hedge funds also have some energy exposure today marking the transition of energy from a 'dull' industry to the hottest sector for investors today.'

Peter C Fusaro, Co-Principal, Energy Hedge Fund Center, adds: 'We are continuing to see more new funds in formation and many more in commodity trading this spring. It augurs well for a sustained ramping up of more new energy hedge fund managers.'

The Energy Hedge Fund Directory is available to subscribers at the Energy Hedge Fund Center online community (www.energyhedgefunds.com). The community now receives thousands of unique visitors each month and its membership has grown exponentially since the end of 2005. The site features news, articles and discussion about energy, environment, hedge funds and other investment vehicles as well as a popular weblog written by Fusaro and Vasey. EHFC also publishes a twice-monthly subscription-only electronic newsletter - Energy Hedge.

Background notes: The Energy Hedge Fund Center, LLC was founded by Peter C Fusaro and Dr Gary M Vasey, two acclaimed energy and environmental experts, to provide information regarding energy, environment and hedge funds. Its free online community is a popular web destination for a growing number of users. It offers a variety of products and educational services including a directory of energy hedge funds and an electronic newsletter. Fusaro and Vasey are also the authors of the forthcoming book Energy & Environmental Hedge Funds - The New Investment Paradigm (Wiley, June 2006).