How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
Business News
- Details
- Written by: Office of Congressman Mike Thompson
WASHINGTON, DC – On Thursday Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA) was joined by 29 other members of Congress in introducing legislation to protect clean energy initiatives that are important to homeowners in California and the rest of the country.
The PACE Assessment Protection Act of 2010 would order lenders to adopt standards that support Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs, rather than stymie green energy efforts.
“PACE programs are an important part of the push to create a green economy and reduce our reliance on foreign oil,” said Congressman Thompson. “They create jobs, and are an exciting way for homeowners to reduce their energy bills while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This is especially important in California, which has already taken significant steps to ensure that PACE programs are available to 70 percent of Californians by the end of 2010. And our district has been a national leader in getting these programs up and running – lending institutions should not interfere with these great green energy programs.”
“I join Congressman Thompson in introducing legislation that will allow Sonoma and other counties around the country to continue to allow homeowners to finance innovative energy-efficiency and renewable-energy projects in an affordable and responsible way,” said Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-CA). “Projects like the Sonoma County Energy Independence Program can promote the development of local renewable energy projects that will decrease our consumption of fossil fuels, reduce our impact on the environment, and create good-paying green jobs in our communities.”
“Where enacted, the PACE program has proved to be a very successful resource for homeowners wanting to reduce their energy consumption. It has also created jobs, increased clean energy investments, and has the potential to further our goal of making the Sacramento region a leader in the clean energy economy,” said Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA). “However, I am deeply concerned by the recent decision by the FHFA to effectively shut down the PACE program. That’s why I am pleased to join Rep. Thompson in introducing legislation that will allow PACE financing programs to continue while ensuring that both the taxpayer and private mortgage investments are protected. And we will continue to fight to ensure this program is restored.”
“My congressional district on Long Island is home to a successful home retrofit program and is set to expand PACE programs to several more communities. Now our programs are at risk of shutting down. PACE programs are helping homeowners save money on their energy bills, making energy efficiency affordable and helping expand our green technology economy. I’m proud to be working with Congressman Thompson to support PACE programs,” said Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY).
“Our PACE program is yielding real positive results for our community – hundreds of good paying local jobs, reduction in energy and water use and cost savings for consumers,” said Sonoma County Supervisor Valerie Brown. “Congressman Thompson’s legislation will protect these outstanding efforts and we thank him for his support of all of our efforts.”
PACE financing is an innovative means to create jobs, reduce energy bills and dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions. It is estimated that capturing just 10 percent of potential greenhouse gas reductions through PACE could result in a 220 megaton cut in CO2 emissions annually. Even modest implementation of PACE programs could create 160,000 green jobs in the United States. And because PACE-financed energy efficiency measures would cut consumers’ utility bills, they would generate average homeowner savings of $5,000 to $14,000 over the lifetime of the benefits.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have asserted that homeowners are in default of their mortgages if they finance energy improvements with PACE. The Pace Programs have the strong support of the Department of Energy and the White House, which issued its White House PACE Policy Framework on October 18, 2009.
California PACE programs are currently operational in the City and County of San Francisco, Sonoma County, Placer County, Palm Desert and Yucaipa. Programs are set to launch in 2010 in the following jurisdictions: Los Angeles County, San Diego City, Alameda County, Fresno County, Kern County, Monterey County, Sacramento County, San Diego County, San Benito County, San Luis Obispo County, San Mateo County, Santa Barbara County, Santa Clara County, Santa Cruz County, Solano County, Ventura County.
- Details
- Written by: Editor
SAN DIEGO – On Wednesday Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. filed a lawsuit against mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for blocking an innovative California clean energy program that was designed to create tens of thousands of jobs, promote energy independence and lower utility bills.
“As the nation struggles through the worst recession in modern times, California is taking action in federal court to stop the regulatory strangulation of the state's grass-roots program that is spreading across the country,” said Brown.
The PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) program stimulates the economy and promotes energy independence by assisting homeowners and small businesses in securing funding to make their properties more energy efficient. Property owners repay the costs of energy improvements through assessments spread out over a decade or more. Under California law, these costs are classified as tax assessments.
Ignoring California law, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have effectively shut down the program by wrongly characterizing PACE assessments as loans that must be subordinate to their own mortgages.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency affirmed Fannie and Freddie's decision on July 6 over the objections of Attorney General Brown and congressional leaders.
For California, the stakes are high. Almost half the counties in California have developed PACE programs or plan to start one.
The mortgage giants' actions have stopped these programs dead in their tracks, destroying job creation, stifling energy independence and hampering California's economic recovery.
Clean energy companies have had to lay off workers, and California risks losing more than $100 million in federal stimulus money.
"Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac received enormous federal bailouts," Brown said, "but now they're throwing up impermeable barriers to bank lending that creates jobs, stimulates the economy and boosts clean energy."
One example of the effects of this: San Diego planned to launch a PACE program this summer but it has now been suspended indefinitely, leaving more than 100 people trained in energy retrofits without jobs.
"I believe that the PACE program is critical to stimulating our local and statewide economy," said San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders. "I'm glad to see this lawsuit filed so that this novel program can continue."
In his lawsuit, Brown asks the court to apply California law, require Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to recognize PACE assessments for what they are, and allow PACE to move California's economy forward.
- Details
- Written by: Editor
LAKEPORT – Angelina’s Bakery and Espresso in Lakeport has announced the grand opening of Angelina’s Ice-Creamery, a unique ice-cream experience, on Saturday, July 17.
A new stone slab ice cream shop, featuring 16 flavors of ice cream and fresh baked, mix-in treats from the bakery.
“We want to provide something for everyone and we have the first and only ‘cold stone’ ice cream set up in Lake County, except even more unique, we are using our own fresh baked goods to mix into the ice cream creations,” said Joya DeSimone, whose family owns the business.
Customers are encouraged to invent their own creations, choosing from endless mix-in treats and fresh baked goods.
Signature creations also are available and include the “New-Yorker,” which is ice cream, cheesecake, strawberries and graham crackers, or the “P-Nutty” with ice-cream, peanut butter cups, homemade brownies and fudge topping.
The Creamery also offers a full line of smoothies, milkshakes, Italian sodas, blended coffees and teas.
Since 1994 Angelina’s Bakery & Espresso has been a full service, family owned scratch bakery, providing a variety of gourmet baked goods, fresh baked bread, coffee, Italian espresso, sandwiches, homemade soups, salads and ice cream.
Creamery hours are 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
Angelina's is located at 365 N. Main St, Lakeport, telephone 707-263-0391.
- Details
- Written by: Editor
LAKE COUNTY – The Lake County Chamber of Commerce will host a series of seminars during the month of July to educate Lake County business owners on how to use the Chamber's new “Shop, Stay & Play” Web site to market and grow their businesses.
During these FREE 1 hour seminars, business owners will learn how to:
Create an eye-popping business profile that stands out from the crowd;
Select “Outrageous Deals” that work for both business owners and customers;
Write an Outrageous Deal that gets “snapped off the shelves”;
Develop a plan and measure the results of a Shop, Stay & Play marketing campaign.
These seminars will be co-presented by Christine Hutt and Carol Cole-Lewis, Lake County Internet marketing professionals and members of the Shop, Stay & Play leadership team.
The seminars will be held on the following dates:
Middletown: July 20, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Calpine Geothermal Visitor's Center,15500 Central Park Road, Middletown;
Clearlake/Lower Lake: July 22, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Impact Training Center, 14913 Lakeshore Drive, Clearlake;
Lakeport: July 27, 6 p.m., Mendo Lake Credit Union, Safeway Plaza, 11th Street, Lakeport;
Online: July 22, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
For more details and to reserve your space, go to http://lcnewmediamarketing.com or call Carol Cole-Lewis at 707-587-4277.
Shop, Stay & Play is a “Shop Local” program sponsored by the Lake County Chamber of Commerce. Its Web site, http://shopstayplay.com, is the premier place on the Internet for finding the best things to buy, places to stay, services to use and fun things to do in Lake County.