Rick Karr, a correspondent with PBS’ Need to Know, travels to Europe to investigate why some countries there have surpassed the US in fast, affordable, and reliable access to the Internet. Continue reading
With the federal Energy Policy Act of 2005, Congress gave broad powers to the Department of Energy and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to identify "congested" transmission corridors in order to prioritize new high-voltage transmission development and to provide higher financial returns to transmission development companies. The idea created a lot of controversy especially in terms of alternatives analysis and jumping over environmental review procedures. In February 2011, the Ninth Circuit court disagreed with the idea saying, “We cannot accept DOE’s unsupported conclusion that its final agency action that covers ten States and over a 100 million acres does not, as a matter of law, have some environmental impact." Read the full post over at our Energy Self Reliant States web site. Continue reading
Stacy Mitchell is a senior researcher with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, where she directs initiatives on banking and independent business. She is the author of Big-Box Swindle and also writes a popular monthly newsletter, the Hometown Advantage Bulletin. She lives in Portland, Maine, and has lately joined Twitter. Continue reading
In the 1930s we expanded the concept of a public good and a public asset to the idea of social insurance, enacting programs like unemployment insurance and social security and in the 1960s health care for the elderly through Medicare. Continue reading
Who should decide the future of broadband access in towns across North Carolina? Citizens and businesses in towns across the state, or a handful of large cable and phone companies? The new General Assembly will almost certainly be asked to address that question.
With the fastest and most affordable networks in North Carolina being owned by the public, the answer is obvious.
Stacy Mitchell is interviewed on the Craig Fahle Show on WDET in Detroit on the issues around big box retail and independent businesses. The show aired on December 1, 2010.
Continue reading
Unlike many cities, Portland, Maine, has forged ahead with a significant energy efficiency plan without federal stimulus dollars. Simply borrowing money through bonding and investing in energy saving improvements, the city will – over 20 years – reduce operating costs by $700,000 per year and shrink its carbon footprint by 30 percent. Our favorite quote from the news story: "We are spending money to save money," Councilor John M. Anton told critics. "And we are borrowing at historically low interest rates. This is good fiscal management on the city’s part." Bravo. Continue reading
Your download has begun in a separate window. Please take a minute to help us better understand who is viewing our work by filling out the form below.