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Farmers Post Phase II: Testing and Iterating
Farmers Post is a proposed direct-to-consumer delivery model partnering with the USPS to connect small farmers with local markets. National survey data shows 54% of adults are very or fairly likely to use the service, with particularly high interest from those in food deserts and minority groups. Two pilots in Connecticut and Virginia demonstrated that logistics are viable, though technical hurdles with the USPS website and the need for standardized packaging remain. The report argues that for the program to scale and support low-income consumers, it must integrate SNAP/WIC payments and Double Up Food Bucks, while establishing a dedicated USPS flat-rate box to reduce costs and waste.
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Document type: Report
Feeding Us Greenwash
The report finds that greenwashing is rampant in the food sector, particularly among high-emission meat and dairy companies. It highlights the use of vague or misleading terms like 'carbon neutral' and 'climate positive' to influence consumer behavior, noting that a significant portion of consumers in the UK and Germany are more likely to purchase products with such labels.
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Document type: Report
Mobilising low-cost institutional investment in renewable energy
The report identifies that institutional investment in renewable energy is constrained by illiquidity, fund size, and a lack of internal expertise, limiting potential direct investment to less than 1% of total assets under management. To address this, the authors propose the Clean Energy Investment Trust (CEIT), a pooled, listed, and low-fee vehicle designed for liability-hedging. The report argues that a CEIT could increase potential institutional investment from $305 billion to nearly $4 trillion, significantly lowering the cost of capital for renewables. Initial core investors are expected to be large public-sector pension funds, with smaller institutions joining as the market matures.
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Document type: Report
ENERGIZING FINANCE: SCALING AND REFINING FINANCE IN COUNTRIES WITH LARGE ENERGY ACCESS GAPS
The report finds that finance for energy access is significantly below the levels required to meet SDG 7 by 2030. While electricity commitments averaged $19.4 billion annually in 2013-14, this is far short of the estimated $45 billion needed. Clean cooking finance is described as 'shockingly low', averaging only $32 million per year for residential use. The analysis highlights a heavy bias toward grid-connected infrastructure and a critical lack of funding for decentralized solutions, which receive only 1% of electricity finance. It recommends integrated policy approaches, the scaling of market-based clean cooking strategies, and the removal of financial barriers for small energy enterprises.
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Document type: Report
INTEGRATED UTILITY SERVICES
The report outlines a new business model for Fort Collins Utilities that bundles energy efficiency and solar PV services into integrated packages. It recommends a hybrid approach using auto-enrollment (opt-out) for a basic package, financed via on-bill repayment mechanisms such as on-bill tariffs and energy service charges. RMI's analysis suggests the model could support 90% of residential building emissions reductions and generate net income for the utility. The document details a pilot project for 200–300 homes to test customer demand, financial viability, and operational infrastructure before a city-wide rollout.
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This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report