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Building Energy Use on the Decline
Architecture 2030 | READ STORY
The annual forecasts of U.S. building energy consumption, published by the Energy Information Administration (EIA), have decreased consistently since 2005. In the 2005 report, the EIA predicted that American energy consumption would increase 44.4% by 2030; they now predict an increase of only 13.7%. The improvement is likely due to increasingly energy-efficient design methods, and will save U.S. consumers $3.66 trillion.
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Improved Lending in Rural Areas
Daily Yonder | READ STORY
Residents of rural areas seeking mortgage loans remain more likely to be rejected and still pay higher interest rates than residents of urban areas. However, rural finance trends, much like those in urban and exurban areas, continue to show improvement. After decreasing by more than 50% between 2003 and 2011, the number of rural mortgage applications saw a 19% increase in 2012, and the number of mortgages issued increase by 27%.
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Water Scarcity to Become More Common
CU Boulder | READ STORY
This study from the University of Colorado Boulder shows that nearly one in ten U.S. water supplies is "stressed," meaning local demand for water exceeds the supply's natural capacity. Most areas of stress are due to agricultural needs, with some scattered cases due to electric power plant cooling needs. The study predicts that watershed stress will become more common.
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Cost-Competitive Wind and Solar Energy
U.S. Dept. of Energy | READ STORY
A report by the U.S. Department of Energy predicts that, if development in renewable energy continues to concentrate in productive areas, alternative forms of energy like wind and solar power may become cost-competitive by 2025. The study identifies Montana, Wyoming, and New Mexico as potential alternative energy providers for the Western United States.
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Charting American Migration
The Atlantic Cities | READ STORY
The Atlantic reports on a database (compiled by the University of Wisconsin, Michigan Technological University, and the University of New Hampshire) which represents migration patterns within the United States during the past fifty years. The interactive map and database are available online. The Atlantic observes how broad trends--such as rural brain drain--are demonstrated quite clearly in the data.
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Climate Change and Societal Disruption
Nature | READ STORY
Ecological and societal disruptions by modern climate change are critically determined by the time frame over which climates shift beyond historical analogues. A new article in Nature presents a new index of the year when the projected mean climate of a given location moves to a state continuously outside the bounds of historical variability under alternative greenhouse gas emissions scenarios.
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At our MACDEP Annual Meeting in October, member elected the new Executive Committee: Jen Anderson VP, Mandie Reed Treasurer, and Katie Weaver Secretary.
Nominations are now open for the 2014-2016 NACDEP Board of Director seats. Nominations close Nov. 7; .
The International Association for Community Development’s next Conference will take place in Glasgow Scotland June 9-11, 2014. Deadline for submission of abstracts is Nov. 29.
-Paul Lachapelle
MACDEP President
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9th Annual Community Capitals Institute
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November 11-12, 2013
Brookings, SD
Sponsor: South Dakota State University
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Food Entrepreneurship: A New Way of Thinking About Local Food and Jobs
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November 14, 2013
Cape Girardeau, MO
Sponsor: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, et al.
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Community Development Extension Institute
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February 26-28, 2014
Boise, ID
Sponsor: CDEI
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2014 National Interagency Community Reinvestment Conference
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March 30-April 2, 2014
Chicago, IL
Sponsor: Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, et al.
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International Association for Community Development
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June 9-11, 2014
Glasgow, Scotland
Sponsor: International Association for Community Development
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K-12 Education Programs with a Focus on Math, Science and Environmental Science
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Deadline: Open
Funder: Toyota U.S.A. Foundation
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Education, Community and Health Grants for FY13
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Deadline: Open
Funder: RGK Foundation
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Second Chance Fund
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Deadline: Open
Funder: American Humane Society
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Community Development Block Grant - Economic Development Program (CDBG-ED)
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Deadline: Open
Funder: MT Department of Commerce
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WY Persists with Study to Seize Federal Lands
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EPA Listening Session in Denver Invites Pushback
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US Candy Makers Stressed by Inflated Sugar Prices
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New York Times; October 30
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Oil Spill Website Undergoing Tests in ND
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Great Falls Tribune; October 25
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Oil and Gas Boom Blamed for CO Smog Problem
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Red Lodge Timber Sold for $1.7M
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Billings Gazette; October 31
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State Seeking Damages for Yellowstone River Spill
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Flathead Beacon; October 31
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MT Among States to Push Privacy Laws
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New York Times; October 30
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Oldest MT Lumber Mill Adopts Biomass Energy
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Flathead Beacon; October 27
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Ranchers Troubled by Bison Range
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New York Times; October 26
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