How do we change course and revive a banking system that is more local and responsive to the needs of communities? Continue reading
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have told federal regulators and plan to release additional guidance indicating that the senior lien status of PACE liens is not acceptable. This declaration comes despite recent articles highlighting the minimal impact of PACE liens on the lenders’ balance sheets, White House and DOE support for the program, and the 23 states who have enabled Property Assessed Clean Energy Financing. Continue reading
In the perilous aftermath of one of the worst financial disasters in U.S. history, one might expect credit unions — which, after all, are mostly tiny by the standards of the banking industry and operated on a cooperative, not-for-profit basis — to be struggling. But data from the last 18 months show that the country’s 7,600 credit unions are in fact outperforming big banks and rapidly expanding their market share. Continue reading
A battle is raging for control of the Internet and it is not taking place in Washington. Scores of cities, fed up with the recalcitrance and outright arrogance of their providers and Washington’s lack of action are taking their information future into their own hands by building their own high-speed networks. To Harold DePriest, head of Chattanooga’s municipally owned fiber network, currently the largest in the country, the issue is clear: “Does our community control our own fate or does someone else control it?” Continue reading
April 2010 An editor of The New York Times asked Neil Seldman to respond to the Times article by Elizabeth Rosenthal, (Europe Finds Clean Energy in Trash, but U.S. Lags) The comment was published in the Times discussion forum, Room for Debate. Environmental questions are not the primary concerns of many in the U.S. who oppose… Continue reading
A new study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) reinforces the findings of a 2009 report by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR). The ILSR report, Energy Self-Reliant States, concluded that all 50 states could generate at least 25 percent of their electricity needs from in-state renewable energy while 31 could generate over 100 percent. Continue reading
Zero Waste is becoming the new conventional wisdom when it comes to handling municipal solid wastes. Public and private sector investors are staking claims to growth industries and doing well. At the same time, however, there are lemons and pitfalls to avoid. In the last few months, for example, it was announced that two successful… Continue reading
After 10 years of research, advocacy, implementation, and technical assistance to promote the development of building deconstruction across the US, ILSR is declaring victory. The Department of Housing and Urban Development took tentative steps a few years ago to allow deconstruction projects to be eligible under HOPE VI projects for public housing authorities and recently… Continue reading
Updated June 2010 After 10 years of research, advocacy, implementation, and technical assistance to promote the development of building deconstruction across the US, ILSR is declaring victory. The Department of Housing and Urban Development took tentative steps a few years ago to allow deconstruction projects to be eligible under HOPE VI projects for public housing… Continue reading
On episode 24 of This Week in Energy, John Farrell discusses PACE, oil spills and smart grids with hosts Bob Tregilus and Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield. Continue reading
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