This January 2007 report by John Bailey looks at ten of the most visible and successful cities involved in global warming solutions and finds that reducing GHG emissions below 1990 levels will be a major challenge. Many cities will likely not meet their goals unless complementary state and federal policies are put in place very soon. … Read More
This February 2006 policy brief by John Bailey and David Morris offers a brief overview of the existing renewable electricity mandates in Minnesota, and discusses the impact a proposed extension and expansion of these mandates might have. Last year, the Minnesota legislature debated a proposal to establish a new statewide renewable electricity mandate. That debate will undoubtedly continue this session.
This February 2006 policy brief by John Bailey provides background and analysis to support a state or local policy that would require construction projects funded with tax-exempt bonds to result in no net increases in greenhouse gases within the community. This brief proposes a strategy that can begin to allow us, as citizens and taxpayers, to make concrete our desire to live lightly on the earth. That strategy is to convince all tax exempt bond issuing agencies at the state and community level to adopt a climate neutralbonding policy.
According to an August 2005 Harris Poll 74 percent of people agreed that, "Protecting the environment is so important that requirements and standards cannot be too high, and continuing environmental improvements must be made regardless of cost."
New Minnesota Building Should Not Increase Greenhouse Gases by John Bailey Originally published in St. Paul Pioneer Press, January 24, 2006 As Minnesota moves toward the end of a January that may be the warmest on record, Gov. Tim Pawlenty has unveiled an $897 million bonding proposal. The two events are related. The proposed buildings, from … Read More
This is the online archive of materials submitted and debated as part of the effort to establish the interconnection standards and tariffs for distributed generation projects of 10 MW or less. DG Tariff Work Group Participant List (excel spreadsheet) – current as of 12/16/02 The work below was directed by the June 19, 2002, Order Establishing … Read More
It Won’t Cost Much to Reduce a Major Source of Nuclear Waste By John Bailey Originally Published in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, February 12, 2003 For less than $6 a year per household, Xcel Energy can shut down the twin nuclear reactors at Prairie Island and eliminate two-thirds of the state’s nuclear waste production. That is … Read More
This policy brief by David Morris and John Bailey from November 1998, looked at potential changes to utility property taxes in Minnesota. The state was re-examining the utility tax structure in light of the restructuring of electricity occurring throughout the country. The rationale for this re-examination is that if Minnesota were to deregulate its electricity sector, customers would be able to buy electricity from any supplier. If taxes were imposed on in-state power plants but not on out-of-state suppliers, it would result in a competitive disadvantage to in-state generators.… Read More
This Novemeber 1998 report by David Morris and John Bailey examines the impact of a proposed $1.5 billion ecological tax shift proposal on Minnesota’s agricultural sector. Overall, the net impact is beneficial for Minnesota farmers that are growing crops. On a statewide level, the carbon tax raises costs to farmers by about $59.1 million while the property tax reduction lowers costs by $92 million. The benefit varies by crop and by farm size. Soybean farmers do better than corn farmers, large farmers do better than small farmers.… Read More
Download Report: Taxing Wind Energy in Minnesota In 1991, to spur the development of a wind-energy industry in Minnesota the state legislature exempt- ed wind-energy equipment from property taxes. In 1994 the Minnesota legislature enacted a wind mandate, ordering Northern States Power Company (NSP) to build or purchase a minimum of 425 megawatts (MW) of wind … Read More
