The Globe and Mail reports in its Saturday edition that Algonquin Power announced last week that it may hive off its renewable energy group through a sale or spinoff. The Globe's David Berman writes that the utilities side of the business provided steady returns, while renewables gave investors access to the appealing growth of wind and solar power development as North America transitioned to cleaner sources of energy. Algonquin has delivered a volatile ride over the past six months as soaring borrowing costs and disappointing financial results weighed on the stock and threatened its balance sheet and its investment-grade credit rating. The company cut its quarterly payout in January by 40 per cent. In April, it walked away from a deal to acquire Kentucky Power, removing some debt concerns but raising questions about where Algonquin was headed. Now investors know -- sort of. Algonquin said on Thursday it has begun a strategic review of its renewable energy business. A sale or spinoff, the thinking goes, will create two distinct groups that will be more appealing to investors looking for exposure to one type of asset. These assets will be easier to compare with other "pure-play" utilities and renewable energy players.