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Happy 15th Birthday, Sightline

Posted by Eric Hess
10 big ideas from the last 15 years
birthday balloons - justindc - flickrFifteen years ago this Autumn, a 28-year-old researcher names Alan Durning lugged a refurbished library table into the cramped bedroom closet of his Seattle home, drilled a phone line through the wall, and filed the legal papers to create a nonprofit research institute.

We’ve come a long way since 1993, but our overarching goal remains the same: to arm change-makers with the independent research, ideas, and tools they need to shape the region in favor of a healthy, lasting prosperity for all.

In honor of our Quinceaños, we’ve taken a break from our usual modesty and decided to celebrate some of our biggest accomplishments by telling their stories. You can check out the whole article, but here are a few examples (and, surrendering to our wonky nature, we’ve got the by-the-numbers story, too):

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Special Series

Economic Turnaround

20

In a Series

Financing Retrofits for All, II

Posted by Alan Durning
Mysteries of on-bill financing revealed!

compact flourescent money istockLast time, I described a non-profit bank’s program for financing building energy retrofits, as a way to speed the green-collar recovery. Here, I describe two new, innovative approaches to financing efficiency upgrades in buildings—meter loans and local improvement districts—and one old-school, utility-run approach that may be the best bet of all.

First, though, a couple more points about the challenges of financing energy efficiency improvements in buildings.

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Cap 'n Dividend Versus Carl Pope

Posted by Eric de Place
Is cap and trade fit for You Tube?

I didn't get the memo, but apparently it's time to start making You Tube videos explaing cap and trade.

First up, via Yglesias, who got it from Dave Roberts, here's Captain Dividend explaining the cap and dividend approach in less than 2 minutes.

And in this corner, via my colleague Anna, here's the Sierra Club's Carl Pope on why giving away free permits is tantamount to bribery. He'll do it in 47 seconds flat:

I've got to admit that I'm not wild about either one of these presentations. (Nothing against the substance, mind you; I think the explanations are perfectly accurate.) But what do readers think?

Am I wrong? Or is it just that cap and trade doesn't lend itself to You Tube? Is there a better way to get this stuff across in less than 2 minutes? 



 

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