Renewable Energy is a Sound Investment

Experts agree, the smart investment bet these days is in renewable energy. In 2011, investments in clean energy reached a record $260 billion worldwide. And we haven't reached the top of that climb. As an article in Forbes.com pointed out, even if we conservatively assume the renewable portfolio standards set in 29 US states and the District of Columbia don't expand at all- analysts predict that several hundred billion dollars of investment in renewable energy generation projects will be required between now and 2030, just to meet those standards.

The article also points out another interesting point- investment in clean energy is good for utility companies too. Diversifying the supply of energy allows the utilities to hedge against the predictably unpredictable volatile fossil fuel prices. these investments are win-win-win.

"The bottom line: For investors looking for financially sound, environmentally responsible, climate-friendly investments, renewable energy project finance is worth a very close look."- Mindy Lubber (forbes.com) 

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Possibilities in Italy

Nadia Ameli with the Fondazione Eni Enrico in Mattei, Italy and Daniel Kammen, of the Energy and Resources Group, University of California- Berkeley released a study at the end of 2011 analyzing the potential impact of a Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) policy in Italy: The Linkage between Income Distribution and Clean Energy Investments: Addressing Financing Costs

The study recognizes the key obstacles in project financing for renewable systems, including limited access to credit due to socio-economic status and the lack of loan guarantees. However, the study proposes the utilization of an innovative program like PACE, and then analyzes the potential impact it might have. This type of program would ameliorate the initial hurdle of up front costs for energy improvements, but allow these homeowners to benefit from the long term rewards of such an investment. Read the full study here.