American Energy Works

Private companies are assigning high climate risk scores to homes, which is impacting market value and sale processes, contrasting with official federal flood determinations.

Key takeaways:

• Home Value and Generational Wealth
• A home is often a family's most valuable asset and is used by millions of Americans to build generational wealth and stability, as well as to exercise the fundamental right of private property.
• Perception influences price in real estate.
• Climate Risk Scores and Their Impact
• Private companies like First Street are assigning climate risk scores based on forward-looking climate projections.
• These scores appear on national real estate platforms such as Zillow, Realtor.com, Redfin, and Homes.com.
• First Street's scores may conflict with FEMA's official flood maps, which operate under federal statutory authority, have a formal process, and carry regulatory weight. First Street does not have the same trusted process or regulatory authority.
• These scores influence buyer behavior, resulting in canceled showings, extended days on the market, and pressure on sellers to lower prices.
• A property described in the video had a FEMA designation of minimal flood risk (Zone X) but received a 9 out of 10 severe flood risk score from First Street.
• One speaker, a principal broker, shared that a home she was selling had buyer interest drop off and showings canceled after the negative score appeared, believing it was the reason buyers chose a different direction.
• Disputing the Scores
• When homeowners try to dispute these scores, they are often told nothing will change unless they can provide FEMA documentation, such as a FEMA Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA), which may not apply since First Street's scores are independent of FEMA's.
• First Street's dispute policy states they do not update factor scores based on individual requests or disputes.
• The property owner and broker, Stephanie Cross, had no initial success reaching Zillow by phone, as she was not a Zillow Premier Agent, and First Street does not have a phone number.
• The Companies and Financial Interests
• The real estate listing companies (Zillow, Homes.com, Land.com, and Realtor.com) are partially owned by large institutional investors: BlackRock, State Street, and Vanguard, who collectively own between 15% and 22% of the shares in the parent companies of these listing sites.
• These investors have significant proxy voting influence.
• BlackRock's proxy voting guidelines pressure companies to adopt net zero emission targets that are not required by US law and may oppose directors for failing to adopt those standards.
• First Street Technology is a privately held public benefit corporation and is not regulated as a federal authority like FEMA.
• One speaker noted that the scores appear to be part of an agenda for a "land grab," potentially making it difficult for families to buy homes, leaving them to corporations, consistent with the agenda of "you'll own nothing and you'll be happy".
• Call to Action
• Realtors need to be aware of the situation, sellers should check their listings, and buyers should understand that these are private company climate projections, not federal flood determinations.
• The problem needs exposure, which will lead to accountability and hitting the companies financially.
• People should stay informed, check their listings, and share the video with realtors and property owners.
• Education and speaking out are necessary to stop what is described as a "climate scam" intended to devalue private property.
• Stephanie Cross, the principal broker, is willing to be contacted by others who are experiencing similar issue

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our mission is to liberate American energy to advance the human condition. We champion policies that protect consumers, ensure grid reliability, and uphold free-market energy solutions. As a global leader in energy production and environmental quality, the United States is uniquely positioned to promote human flourishing and fight poverty at home and abroad.

Go to AmericanEnergyWorks.com/resources to learn more and get involved.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our mission is to liberate American energy to advance the human condition. We champion policies that protect consumers, ensure grid reliability, and uphold free-market energy solutions. As a global leader in energy production and environmental quality, the United States is uniquely positioned to promote human flourishing and fight poverty at home and abroad.

Go to AmericanEnergyWorks.com/resources to learn more and get involved.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our mission is to liberate American energy to advance the human condition. We champion policies that protect consumers, ensure grid reliability, and uphold free-market energy solutions. As a global leader in energy production and environmental quality, the United States is uniquely positioned to promote human flourishing and fight poverty at home and abroad.

Go to AmericanEnergyWorks.com/resources to learn more and get involved.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our mission is to liberate American energy to advance the human condition. We champion policies that protect consumers, ensure grid reliability, and uphold free-market energy solutions. As a global leader in energy production and environmental quality, the United States is uniquely positioned to promote human flourishing and fight poverty at home and abroad.

Go to AmericanEnergyWorks.com/resources to learn more and get involved.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our mission is to liberate American energy to advance the human condition. We champion policies that protect consumers, ensure grid reliability, and uphold free-market energy solutions. As a global leader in energy production and environmental quality, the United States is uniquely positioned to promote human flourishing and fight poverty at home and abroad.

Go to AmericanEnergyWorks.com/resources to learn more and get involved.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our mission is to liberate American energy to advance the human condition. We champion policies that protect consumers, ensure grid reliability, and uphold free-market energy solutions. As a global leader in energy production and environmental quality, the United States is uniquely positioned to promote human flourishing and fight poverty at home and abroad.

Go to AmericanEnergyWorks.com/resources to learn more and get involved.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our mission is to liberate American energy to advance the human condition. We champion policies that protect consumers, ensure grid reliability, and uphold free-market energy solutions. As a global leader in energy production and environmental quality, the United States is uniquely positioned to promote human flourishing and fight poverty at home and abroad.

Go to AmericanEnergyWorks.com/resources to learn more and get involved.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our mission is to liberate American energy to advance the human condition. We champion policies that protect consumers, ensure grid reliability, and uphold free-market energy solutions. As a global leader in energy production and environmental quality, the United States is uniquely positioned to promote human flourishing and fight poverty at home and abroad.

Go to AmericanEnergyWorks.com/resources to learn more and get involved.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our mission is to liberate American energy to advance the human condition. We champion policies that protect consumers, ensure grid reliability, and uphold free-market energy solutions. As a global leader in energy production and environmental quality, the United States is uniquely positioned to promote human flourishing and fight poverty at home and abroad.

Go to AmericanEnergyWorks.com/resources to learn more and get involved.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.