A new and vastly improved climate change policy has come out of nowhere to capture the imagination of state and national policymakers: "Cap and dividend." It works like this: Step one, impose a carbon cap. Step two, auction off all carbon allowances. Step three, return most of (if not all) the revenues generated to all households on a per capita basis.… Read More
This January 2008 policy brief by John Bailey concludes that universal dividends are a critically important tool to create the political will and public acceptance for a carbon cap. Universal dividends have the potential to hold harmless a large segment of consumers while we move to a low-carbon economy. Moreover, the universal dividend honors the principle that the sky belongs to all of us equally. Private investment in clean and efficient technologies will be driven by a carbon cap that leads to steady reductions over time of GHG emissions and carbon-based fuels.
Common to many proposals addressing climate change is a cap on carbon emissions or carbon content of fuels. A cap will generate a market value for carbon.
Dan Knapp responds to PBS Newshour commentator David Brooks’ recent criticism of California’s system of direct democracy: “We would not exist today if not for direct democracy” and “Material recovery has morphed in Berkeley into a $40 to $50 million-dollar set of material recovery enterprises.”… Read More
In this recently published commentary, ILSR says cities and counties need sources of renewable capital for the generation of investment in recycling, composting and reuse infrastructure. They also need guidelines for proper investment strategies… Read More
Host Stacy Mitchell is joined by Matt Stoller, fellow at the Open Markets Institute, for a conversation about Matt’s new book Goliath: The 100 Year War Between Monopoly Power and Democracy. … Read More
On this rebroadcast of the Building Local Power podcast, host John Farrell speaks with Denise Fairchild. The two discuss energy democracy within the context of a book she co-edited, titled “Energy Democracy: Advancing Equity in Clean Energy Solutions.” … Read More
Host John Farrell speaks with Denise Fairchild. Denise and John delve into the connections between the environment, the economy and equity.… Read More
The Black Start conference in March 2019 convened on- and off-island energy experts to discuss whether Puerto Rico can overcome a colonial past for a greener grid. It happened as the island’s governor aims to privatize the (corrupt) public utility and as new legislation recently passed to require 100% renewable energy. ILSR Co-Director John Farrell presented.… Read More
Skies have been brightening for the Utah Telecommunications Open Infrastructure Agency Network (UTOPIA). The trend is continuing for the network that has seen rough times in the past, testament to their fortitude, creativity, and ability to turn lemons into lemonade.… Read More
