NPSG13-201

California’s Next Gold Rush: Local Energy Program Increases Jobs, Economic Development and Climate Resilience

Speakers: Liz Yager, Energy and Sustainability Manager, County of Sonoma, CA; Sammy Chu, Director, Long Island Green Homes; Barbara Spoonhour, Director of Energy and Environmental Programs, Western Riverside Council of Governments. Moderator: Kate Meis, Associate Director, Local Government Commission.

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) is one of the most exciting new mechanisms to advance climate and energy goals and local economic development. PACE allows property owners to finance renewable energy and efficiency projects repaid through an assessment on their property taxes with costs spread out over the expected life of the improvements. A recent study showed that if just 1% of homes were to invest in PACE projects the results would be $15 billion in gross economic output, $4 billion in combined federal, state, and local tax revenue, and 226,000 jobs. Sonoma County’s PACE program alone has funded $57,013,184 in residential and commercial projects completed primarily by local contractors helping to create or retain nearly 700 jobs. The session highlights how three communities with active residential PACE programs have overcome barriers (including Federal Housing Finance Agency opposition) and contributed to their community’s energy, climate change and economic development goals.

Audio CDs: 1

Audio CD

$15.00

$15.00

NPSG13-151

Cleaning-Up Freight Projects through Community Tools and the National Environmental Policy Act

Speakers: Kim Gaddy, Environmental Justice Organizer, New Jersey Environmental Federation and Clean Water Fund; Alexandra Bambas Nolen, PhD, MPH, Director, Center to Eliminate Health Disparities; Denny Larson, Executive Director, Global Community Monitor; Melissa Lin Perrella, Senior Attorney, Natural Resource Defense Council. Moderator: David Fukuzawa, Program Director, The Kresge Foundation

(2 hour session) Ports, rail yards and truck corridors are creating increased health, environmental, community and labor costs. Air pollution created by the freight transportation industry is associated with increased asthma in children, cancer, heart attacks, strokes and premature death. Currently, many freight projects go through a public process mandated by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) before they can be approved. In this session, we describe ways communities can influence the NEPA process to ensure the environmental and public health impacts of freight projects are adequately disclosed. We also provide hands-on instruction on community-based participatory research tools including, health impact assessments (HIA), and community-led air quality monitoring and mapping, which can help communities build capacity to address air pollution.

Audio CDs: 2

Audio CD

$30.00

$30.00

NPSG13-230

Walk Live 2012 Complete Streets, Cultural Change: Bring it to Your Town

Audio CDs: 1

Audio CD

$15.00

$15.00

NPSG13-229

What the Frack? How Communities Are Facing the Challenges and Opportunities of Shale Development

Audio CDs: 1

Audio CD

$15.00

$15.00

NPSG13-201

California’s Next Gold Rush: Local Energy Program Increases Jobs, Economic Development and Climate Resilience

Speakers: Liz Yager, Energy and Sustainability Manager, County of Sonoma, CA; Sammy Chu, Director, Long Island Green Homes; Barbara Spoonhour, Director of Energy and Environmental Programs, Western Riverside Council of Governments. Moderator: Kate Meis, Associate Director, Local Government Commission.

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) is one of the most exciting new mechanisms to advance climate and energy goals and local economic development. PACE allows property owners to finance renewable energy and efficiency projects repaid through an assessment on their property taxes with costs spread out over the expected life of the improvements. A recent study showed that if just 1% of homes were to invest in PACE projects the results would be $15 billion in gross economic output, $4 billion in combined federal, state, and local tax revenue, and 226,000 jobs. Sonoma County’s PACE program alone has funded $57,013,184 in residential and commercial projects completed primarily by local contractors helping to create or retain nearly 700 jobs. The session highlights how three communities with active residential PACE programs have overcome barriers (including Federal Housing Finance Agency opposition) and contributed to their community’s energy, climate change and economic development goals.

MP3

$10.00

$10.00

NPSG13-106

Smart Growth 101: An Introduction to Smart Growth

Speakers: John Frece, Director, Office of Sustainable Communities, U.S. EPA

This session is geared towards first-time attendees to the conference or for participants who are new to the practice of implementing smart growth solutions. The session covers general topics, such as the ten principles of smart growth, the basics of planning and zoning for smart growth and how smart growth is being implemented at the state, regional and local level. The goal of the session is to provide a good working background for a multi-disciplinary audience on smart growth and prepare participants for more in-depth sessions during the main conference.

Audio CDs: 1

Audio CD

$15.00

$15.00

Subtotal

$100.00