During March 3-7, 2008, I had the opportunity to attend the 2008 Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC), touted to be the largest international conference on renewable energy in the world. WIREC was actually three events rolled into one—a ministerial conference for policy makers, a business conference, and a tradeshow. Most everyone involved in renewable energy was there.

From the size and the diversity of the corporate landscape represented at the panels and on the tradeshow floor, it was obvious that companies in every industry want to be considered committed players in the renewable energy space.

BP, among the largest oil companies in the world, paid $1 million to be the lead sponsor of this three-day event. Other non-traditional green companies, including oil major Chevron, waste-to-energy power company Covanta Energy, and auto maker GM, were also principal sponsors.

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Last month, Canada’s Ethical Funds published a brief called Winning the Social License to Operate.

The focus is on how companies can reduce the risk of local opposition to their extractives operations by making use of the “latest evolving standards” around what is called free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) of indigenous communities.

As the report points out, local opposition to resource extraction has been running high in many areas of the world. Canadian mining and energy companies in particular have run into recent controversies, including in Guatemala, India, and Canada itself.

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Co-Chair, Peter Kinder’s, Opening Remarks(1)
American Conference Institute
Warwick Hotel, New York City
February 27, 2008

What are the only three things you need to know about real estate? Location. Location. Location!

Well, there’s the conference….

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On February 27th, I had the opportunity to hear Leonard English, Investment Manager for the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits of the United Methodist Church, talk about the organization’s community investments through their Positive Social Purpose Investment Program (PSPI).

One point in particular jumped out at me, and that was a number: 6.5%.

The annualized performance of PSPI loans held in the organization’s Domestic Bond Fund (as of 12/31/2007) has been 6.5% since inception (07/31/1990). Which is an impressive number and in line with their benchmark performance, as well as competitive market rates of return.

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