I love it when my separate jobs align serendipitously. Locally, I get to write these articles, plus work and volunteer for inspiring nonprofits and causes. Nationally, I serve as editor of The Main Street Journal, a hub for local investing. And globally, I celebrate World Localization Day on June 21. Where’s the alignment this month? A release of local economist Michael Shuman’s new report in The Main Street Journal, How the City of Irvine Can Solarize by 2045. 

“I completed a year-long study for Mayor Larry Agran of Irvine, CA, on whether Irvine could achieve energy self-reliance through local solarization,” shared Michael. “The answer is a resounding ‘yes,’ as long as a local investment fund finances the program. By paying 7% per year to investors, the City could completely solarize every residential and commercial building over 20 years, with enough battery storage to largely unplug from the utility grid, and in the process make millions in net revenue for the City.”

Michael went on to invite other communities to consider this model, “How applicable might this analysis be to your city? Skeptics might point out that Irvine is a sunny city with above-average electricity rates (now about 30 cents per kilowatt-hour). But the truth is that electricity rates are rising dramatically everywhere in the country, in part because of AI data centers, but more importantly, because of the need for expensive repairs and replacement of obsolete transmission and distribution lines. As electricity prices skyrocket and solar prices come down, it’s just a matter of time before your community will be able to follow in Irvine’s footsteps.”

So, shifting from my job at The Main Street Journal to my new role as Interim Program Manager for the Monadnock Sustainability Hub (The Hub).

The Hub recently launched its Electrify Monadnock Fund, a homegrown rebate program that empowers low- to moderate-income households in the Monadnock Region to make their homes healthier, more energy-efficient, and more resilient by supporting the transition away from fossil fuels. Through financial assistance of up to $7,000 in rebates per household, the Electrify Monadnock Fund helps make home electrification accessible to everyone, ensuring that our region leads the way in local climate solutions.

Qualified households can receive rebates for clean energy projects, including installing solar panels, heat pumps, and replacing gas-burning appliances with electric models, as well as weatherization, electrical panel upgrades, and electric vehicles.

What if, instead of donations fueling the Hub’s fund (with over $400,000 in donations received so far), community members could invest in the fund and receive a return on their investment, as Michael proposed for Irvine? Read more about Michael’s report. 

Learn more about the Hub's program and join us for our Electrify Monadnock Fund Launch event on May 30, 10 am – 12 pm at the Keene Public Library’s Cohen Hall.

Shifting to the global level and celebrating World Localization Day on June 21.  Helena Norberg-Hodge, author, filmmaker, and director of Local Futures, founded World Localization Day. Last year, Michael Shuman reintroduced me to Helena’s work, “Whenever I get sucked too far down the political rabbit hole of the moment, I try to schedule a chat with my dear friend Helena Norberg-Hodge. No one has done more to build a global movement for localization.”

Participation in World Localization Day is easy. Host a potluck dinner or a film screening of one of Local Futures’ films. Enjoy the early-season harvest. Plant a fruit tree in your backyard. Learn more about World Localization Day at worldlocalizationday.org. Throughout and beyond June, celebrate the global movement to go local every day. Get inspired!

“Localization is a ‘movement of movements’ from farmers markets, local business alliances, community gardens, eco-villages, transition towns, farm to table initiatives, seed libraries, repair cafes, revival of indigenous and local knowledge systems, decentralized renewable energy projects, and more, is growing stronger,” said Helena. “World Localization Day offers us a wonderful opportunity to amplify the solutions and bring the economy home.”

Finally, the American Independent Business Alliance invites you to our next virtual event, A Report Card on the US Local Economy Movement, on Thursday, June 11, at 1 pm. Michael Shuman will review his recent report on our movement. Let’s gather to share our feedback with Michael, discuss how we can better measure our movement's progress, and uncover ways we can work more collectively and impactfully. Register today!

Let us know how you celebrate the localization movement in your community, nationally, and globally. Email us at jen@thelocalcrowd.com.