The Main Thing:

What does it take to be a leader? A good leader is one that people want to follow. A good leader has clear values and principles, not only for themselves but for the orgainzation, too. Leaders who don’t take the time to establish guardrails for their orgainzation will be asked to step down, or worse, be terminated.

An effective leader can mitigate this risk by establishing strong operating principles based on agreed-upon values. More importantly, once established principles and values are established, they should be followed.

My most effective Boards of Directors understood these concepts, and the orgainzation flourished. It is imperative that, as a leader, you do this too. No matter what you lead, even if it is just you and another person or your family, establishing agreed-upon values and operating principles will result in efficiency, harmony, and longevity.

​Read more here​

Focus on Green Economy

Science-Based Climate Action Plans: Essential Tools for Urban Climate Resilience

Cities, home to over half the world's population and responsible for most greenhouse gas emissions, face increasing threats from climate change while being uniquely positioned to implement solutions. The C40 Knowledge Hub guide captures key learnings from cities worldwide that have developed science-based climate action plans (CAPs) to address these challenges. The comprehensive resource outlines essential steps for effective climate planning. This framework helps cities of all sizes develop integrated plans that reduce emissions, and adapt to climate impacts.

Why this Matters: Municipal climate action plans represent crucial economic development opportunities that can transform challenges into competitive advantages for forward-thinking communities. By implementing science-based strategies, economic developers can attract climate-conscious businesses and investment, create new green jobs, reduce operational costs through energy efficiency, and build community resilience that protects existing assets and infrastructure.

Take Action: Economic development professionals can initiate cross-departmental climate task forces within local governments to identify how sustainability initiatives align with existing economic development goals and infrastructure needs. You can conduct preliminary asset mapping of your community's green economy potential, identifying existing businesses that could benefit from or contribute to climate solutions. Additionally, organize a stakeholder forum bringing together business leaders, utilities, educational institutions, and community organizations to explore partnership opportunities around specific climate initiatives with economic co-benefits, such as workforce development programs focused on green building retrofits or renewable energy installations.

I'll create a summary of the article about Wyoming's net metering legislation, following your format with the "Take Action" section.

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Unlikely Allies Unite for Wyoming Net Metering Bill, Despite Narrow Defeat

In Wyoming, an unexpected coalition emerged around House Bill 183, which sought to expand the state's net metering capacity from 25 kilowatts to 200 kilowatts, allowing businesses, ranchers, and municipalities to install larger rooftop solar systems to offset rising electricity costs. Despite passing the House with overwhelming bipartisan support, the bill narrowly failed in the Senate after amendments that net metering advocates described as "poison pills" that would have undermined the economic benefits. Read the article here.

Why this Matters: This case study demonstrates how economic benefits can create powerful cross-ideological coalitions around renewable energy initiatives even in fossil fuel-dominant states, offering economic developers a roadmap for building support for sustainability projects. For economic developers, this highlights the importance of tailoring renewable energy messaging to local values and needs, focusing on economic competitiveness, cost reduction, and local control rather than solely on climate benefits, potentially unlocking new opportunities for green economic development in traditionally resistant regions.

Take Action: Economic developers can organize listening sessions with diverse local stakeholders—including traditional industries, agricultural producers, and municipal facilities—to identify how rising energy costs are affecting their operations and explore shared interest in energy independence solutions. You can develop educational materials and calculator tools that help businesses quantify potential savings from renewable energy investments based on their specific energy usage patterns and current utility rates. Additionally, consider facilitating connections between local businesses and renewable energy installers for feasibility assessments, while simultaneously engaging with local utilities to discuss mutually beneficial grid modernization strategies that expand distributed energy options without threatening utility business models.

Wind and Solar Still Growing

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Renewable electricity generation reached unprecedented heights in 2024, with wind and solar power surpassing coal for the first time in history and accounting for nearly 27 percent of all electricity production according to the article “In 2024, More Electricity Than Ever Came From Renewable Sources” (Carl Smith, Governing). The author tells us the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported a remarkable 21 percent year-over-year increase in renewable generation, with solar growth outpacing even natural gas. Texas has emerged as the nation's leading producer of renewable energy—generating more than twice as much as California. Iowa leads all states in the percentage of electricity generated from renewable sources at nearly 65 percent, while twelve states now produce at least a third of their electricity from renewables.

Why this Matters: The transition to renewable energy represents a fundamental shift in our national power infrastructure and creates significant opportunities for economic developers to position their communities for growth in this rapidly expanding sector. Communities that establish themselves as renewable energy hubs can benefit from job creation, increased tax revenue, and improved resilience against energy price volatility. Those that embrace these trends early will have competitive advantages in business retention and attraction as more companies prioritize access to clean energy in their location decisions.

Take Action: Economic developers can begin by conducting a renewable energy readiness assessment that identifies suitable locations for wind, solar, or other renewable installations based on local resources and infrastructure capacity. You can organize stakeholder meetings with local utilities, educational institutions, and business leaders to develop a regional clean energy strategy that aligns workforce development with future industry needs. Additionally, consider creating incentive packages specifically targeting renewable energy companies and suppliers, focusing on how your region's unique attributes can support this rapidly growing sector.

Other Articles of Interest this week:

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Leadership-- 3 Ways To Become A ‘Supercommunicator’—By A Psychologist by Mark Travers | Forbes -- Most of the struggles we face in relationships—whether personal or professional—stem from one core issue: communication. We often assume that talking more will fix problems, but the truth is, many of us unknowingly enter conversations with the wrong approach, leading to frustration, conflict or emotional disconnection.

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Technology -- Two Texans in Congress defend CHIPS Act in the face of Trump’s criticism by By Katharine Wilson, The Texas Tribune | RouteFifty -- Although the president has said he wants to “get rid of” the act, Rep. Michael McCaul and Sen. John Cornyn say it supports jobs and national security.

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AI -- Alibaba launches DeepSeek rival, sending stock surging by John Liu | CNN -- Hong KongCNN — Chinese tech giant Alibaba unveiled its latest artificial intelligence reasoning model on Thursday, boasting that its capabilities beat those of rival models from OpenAI and startup DeepSeek.

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Economic Development-- Could the Comeback of the U.S. Pedestrian Mall Start on Bourbon St.? by Kea Wilson | StreetsBlogUSA -- A newly revived proposal to turn New Orleans's iconic street into an almost totally car-free space is sparking a conversation about an oddly controversial pedestrian safety solution: the pedestrian mall.

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​Mentoring-- Traditional Mentorship Is Dead. Here's What's Replacing It by Kimberly Wilson | Essence -- Without getting into specifics, just know, it’s troubling to truly realize the weight of mentorship just isn’t there anymore. Because if we’re being real, those days of the seasoned executive or corporate veteran dropping wisdom on the up and coming young talent? They’re pretty much over.

Something You Should Read:

Elon Musk's "Magic Money Computers"

Stephanie Kelton wrote a piece on her newsletter (highly recommended) discussing a recent viral clip featuring Elon Musk's interview with Senator Ted Cruz, where Musk claimed his team discovered fourteen "magic money computers" that allow the federal government to "make money out of thin air." In the essay, Kelton points out that this isn't new information; as Musk himself previously stated, the government has an "infinite money printer" and that federal checks never bounce.

Kelton explains that this concept aligns with Modern Monetary Theory (MMT), which economists and central bankers have discussed for decades and for which she is currently a leading voice. Kelton parallels ancient Mesopotamian clay tablets and medieval tally sticks, suggesting that governments have always created money "out of nothing" to move resources into the public domain.

The article effectively debunks the notion that Musk's statement was revolutionary. Providing historical context from both recent economic discourse and ancient history. She also points out Musk's statements about government finances, noting he simultaneously claims America is "going bankrupt" while acknowledging the government can create money at will.

As an economic developer, I value Kelton’s insights because they reframe government fiscal capacity in a way that challenges conventional thinking about project funding limitations. By explaining how sovereign governments create money electronically rather than being constrained by tax collection, she has presented a perspective that has fundamentally altered how I think about the federal government's role in infrastructure initiatives and public investments. This means I do not favor what Musk and his team do.

While Musk presented his discovery as revolutionary, Kelton shows that government money creation is a well-established concept in modern economics and throughout human history.

​Check it out here.

Overheard :

"Freedom is the continuous action we all must take, and each generation must do its part to create an even more fair, more just society."

John Lewis, one of the leaders of the Selma to Montgomery marches

Down Rabbit Hole:

The Gilded Age is Now?

There is a lot of talk these days about the discrepancy or distance between the wealthiest Americans and those with the least. People pay a lot of attention to those who are rich, often striving to emulate them, if not in possessions, certainly through deeds.

Wealth can be fleeting, they say, and we have seen many people lose their wealth to various scams and other shady investments. Think of Bernie Madoff or some of the crypto-currency proposals you have seen more recently. Even Ulysses S. Grant was scammed after he retired from the Oval Office by the Bernie Madoff of the time.

One thing is for sure: The wealthy have always loved their possessions. In the past, they owned large palatial homes and residences. Today, they own large palatial yachts.

Check out these colorized photos of the Gilded Age to see how the rich lived in the past. When it comes to opulence, some things never change.

​See the photos here. ​

It Hasn't Been That Long

One day, I was thinking about history and realized that I was born (in 1961) less than 100 years after the end of the Civil War! That felt strange thinking about it. That led me on a chase, and I found out that the last veteran of the Civil War had died only five years earlier from the year of my birth

Then I thought about my parents, who had escaped Eastern Europe's Fascism and communism by immigrating to the United States in 1950, five years after the end of WWII. I was born only sixteen years after the end of WWII!

Growing up, both of these events seemed distant to me, yet they were not so far removed from my existence. Since I love history and my family is so intertwined with the most recent upheavals of past events, I always stop and pause when I see interesting things about WWII.

Today, there are ‘adults’ (defined as 21 years or older) born after 9/11. The events of that day still seem so recent. Today, most younger people take videos and pictures for granted, as they can instantly produce them with their ‘smart’ devices. But back in the day, it wasn't that easy.

This brings me to the article "Mathew Brady: The Story of the Man Who Photographed the Civil War."

​Check out this unique story about Mathew Brady here. Also, a this website shows pictures of people and activities in Europe in the late 1800s.

I Wonder if They Signed their Initials

We see concrete everywhere and assume it is a modern invention of the 20th century. Our sidewalks, buildings, and streets are made of concrete. But concrete has been around for a long time, and Roman concrete has been around for even longer, thanks to the unique way in which it was mixed.

I'd like to know if we can apply those methods to modern-day concrete mixing and have fewer potholes to dodge every Spring.

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​Read the article here.

Thanks for Reading

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Whenever you’re ready, there are several ways I can help you:

1. Economic Development: If you are looking to supercharge your economic development organization, I can help by strategizing and developing a roadmap to success. Set up a time to talk to me here.

2. Culture Change; Is your organization changing? Would you like to create an asset out of your culture? Do you know how to assess team strengths? Let me help you. I'm a certified culture change practitioner. Set up a time to talk to me here.

3. The Green Economy; The world is changing. Some of it is positive, and some of the change is not. Let me help you develop green economy opportunities for your community. Set up some time to talk about here.​

4. Mentoring Programs: Circles of Seven (C7) is a proven and award-winning model for mentoring. Whether it is for business or your community leadership program, I can develop a mentoring program for you. Let's talk about your situation. Set up a time here. ​

If you have any thoughts or comments regarding any articles in this newsletter please feel free to contact me through email at martin@martinkarlconsulting.com.​

You can review my services and offerings at www.martinkarlconsulting.com​

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