Comments for Energy Bonds

Comment on Overview by Derekp

Derekp — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:25:58 +0000

I think i’ve seen this somewhere before…but it’s not bad at all

Comment on Overview by Pete Bursnall

Pete Bursnall — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 16:34:18 +0000

Looks like an excellent idea especially if it could match the average repayments gained from investing in no risk premium bonds. Sadly that’s where my tax payment savings go each year!

In terms of liberating households to invest in RE, I have imagined a system of gov’t loans for buildings (homes) to buy PV, Domestic Solar, micro hydro etc where the repayment is made through the gov’t reclaiming the value of the feed in tarifs and or ROCs. No actual money changes hands, the household gets the free energy, the gov’t gets it’s money back and at the end of the repayment the RE remains with the building.

Overly ambitious? Fantasy funding? or just a way of stimulating micro RE and the green economy?

Pete

Comment on Overview by Toni Massari

Toni Massari — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 22:52:29 +0000

Effectively all it requires is a rethinking of the energy markets.

Renewables companies might be invited to act on two fronts:
1) on one hand offer to install microgeneration equipment on customers’ properties, like private homes, commercial lettings, Councils housing, commercial and industrial properties, with the option of becoming Investors as well as customers, by availing themselves of immediate benefits as well as becoming investors.

See the success of The Phone Co-op…. why not an Energy Co-op?

2) Offer Energy bonds as suggested.

Yes, I am in!

Comment on Overview by Ben Brangwyn

Ben Brangwyn — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 09:14:11 +0000

Seems like a sound idea. I’m wondering where the money that goes into the Energy Bonds would normally have gone. Invested in stocks and shares? Sitting in interest bearing accounts in banks? This scheme is sure to raise the hackles on the institutions that would otherwise have got the funds that are channeled to Energy Bonds – not that it’s a bad thing, just something to be aware of at an early stage.

I’m also wondering if there’s a possibility to weave into this scheme public ownership of the renewable energy generating assets…

Comment on Overview by Linda Forbes

Linda Forbes — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:09:30 +0000

They sound like a really interesting idea – perhaps they could be sold through National Savings, Post Office, or the like?

Might be better to compare them to gilts rather than War Bonds thereby not only respecting the sensitivity of potential investors, but also being aware that returns on these were non-existent/poor – see http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/savings-and-banking/article.html?in_article_id=363216&in_page_id=7&in_a_source= for more information.

Comment on Overview by Seth Reynolds

Seth Reynolds — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:56:45 +0000

Do it. I’m in..

Comment on Overview by Peter Bottoms

Peter Bottoms — Sat, 30 May 2009 13:04:52 +0000

Excellent idea, especially if it could be tied into an incentive scheme for people who do invest in these bonds, having access to preferential prices or grants for greening their homes and/or businesses. Once the environmental footprint of these homes and businesses is proven to have been reduced significantly, the owners could then benefit from reduced annual rates bills from their councils.

Comment on Overview by Sara Shigetomi

Sara Shigetomi — Fri, 29 May 2009 21:02:52 +0000

I can honestly say this is exactly where I’d like to put my money (i.e. where my mouth is).

Comment on Overview by Richard Douthwaite

Richard Douthwaite — Fri, 29 May 2009 19:23:42 +0000

Three types of bond could be offered, one with a fixed rate of interest and repayable at its issue price on maturity, one with no interest but a guaranteed cash return on maturity, and the third, which would also carry no interest but which would be worth a fixed amount of kWh on maturity. The third type would, in effect, give a return in real, inflation-proofed terms.