When Local Became the New Organic

When Local Became the New Organic By David Morris, originally published in Minnesota Law and Politics, August 2008 We can pinpoint with some precision the date the local food movement came of age: Dec. 15, 1997. That day the United States Department of Agriculture finally issued the organic standards that Congress had said it required back … Read More

Sustainable economy is the core of freedom

Date: 3 Jul 2008 | posted in: From the Desk of David Morris, The Public Good | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Sustainable economy is the core of freedom By David Morris, originally published in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, July 3, 2008 This July 4th, as with all July 4ths, our political leaders will retell the inspiring story of how a brave band of colonies declared their independence from the mightiest empire on earth. And, as usual, they … Read More

New Powerline Study Finds That Local Wind Energy Generation Can Avoid New Transmission Lines

Date: 17 Jun 2008 | posted in: Energy, Press Release | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

For Immediate Release PRESS RELEASE CONTACT: 612-276-3456 New Powerline Study Finds That Local Wind Energy Generation Can Avoid New Transmission Lines Abundant Opportunity Identified for New Community-Based Renewable Energy Development Throughout Minnesota   Minneapolis, Minn.— (June 17, 2008). Yesterday, the Minnesota Department of Commerce released the findings of the first of two major powerline studies ordered … Read More

Report: Driving Our Way to Energy Independence

Date: 5 Jun 2008 | posted in: Energy | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Updating our pathbreaking 2003 report, this June 2008 report by David Morris describes how commercially available technologies today could transform our petroleum powered transportation system into one powered by electricity and biofuels. Provisions in the recently passed Energy Act could accelerate that transformation. With the adoption of complementary policies, the revolution in our transportation sector can generate an equally profound revolution in our electricity sector. Hundreds of thousands of locally owned wind turbines and solar electric arrays supplying flexible fueled, plug-in hybrid vehicles can allow tens of millions of Americans to become energy producers not just energy consumers.

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Balancing Budgets By Raising Depletion Taxes

This June 2008 policy brief by Justin Dahlheimer concludes that states could generate hundreds of millions, in some cases billions, of dollars in additional revenue each year by implementing or adjusting depletion tax policies. The report illustrates how current depletion tax policies, in many cases, fail to account for the full value of the natural resources, depriving state and local governments of additional revenue that could be useful in current and future fiscal years.

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Balancing Budgets By Raising Depletion Taxes

For Immediate Release PRESS RELEASE CONTACT: 612-276-3456 BALANCING BUDGETS BY RAISING DEPLETION TAXES   Minneapolis, Minn.— (June 4, 2008). A new report by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) concludes states could generate hundreds of millions, in some cases billions, of dollars in additional revenue each year by implementing or adjusting depletion tax policies. Thirty-eight states … Read More

Cellulosic Biofuels: Another Opportunity for Washington to Marry Agriculture and Energy Goals

Date: 12 May 2008 | posted in: agriculture, Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Today, cellulosic ethanol can no longer be ignored. Even as the quantity of ethanol from corn increases, the age of corn ethanol is drawing to a close. Few new corn-to-ethanol plants will be built beyond those currently in the ?nancing and construction pipeline. The opportunity to build on the farmer-owned corn-to-ethanol biore?nery model is over. But the opportunity for local ownership is just beginning for cellulosic biofuels.  This piece by David Morris was originally published in Ethanol Today magazine. … Read More

Be suspicious of megamall subsidy

Date: 2 May 2008 | posted in: From the Desk of David Morris, The Public Good | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Be suspicious of megamall subsidy Federal tax law discourages individual investment and local ownership of turbines. By David Morris, originally published in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, May 2, 2008 The almost-certainly-soon-to-be-passed $370 million tax subsidy to the Mall of America is the kind of initiative that makes people wonder whose side government is on. Here’s what … Read More

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