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Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Jun 17, 2009

Smart Infrastructure Starts with Planning – at the Community Level

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/smart-infrastructure-starts-planning-community-level/

Montana’s Great Falls Tribune has an article that examines a community success story from Cleveland and the greater NE Ohio region.


Instead of going to Hollywood to see what the future may hold, go to Cleveland. It’s here you’ll find an example of a community with five years of experience in creating a regional fiber-optic network that connects more than 1,000 organizations — hospitals, school districts, governments, museums, libraries and other public and nonprofit organizations.

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Jun 16, 2009

California may miss 33% RPS target due to focus on centralized generation

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/california-may-miss-33-rps-target-due-focus-centralized-generation/

In a nutshell: On paper, California could meet its targets, provided it can afford and build $12 billion in new transmission lines and higher electricity costs. In reality, the state probably won’t make the target, concludes the California Public Utilities Commission in its latest analysis of the state’s clean-energy quest…

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Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Jun 15, 2009

Department of Homeland Security Helps Local, State, Fed Gov with Open Source Software

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/department-homeland-security-helps-local-state-fed-gov-open-source-software/

The Department of Homeland Security has started funding a program to help all levels of government better understand open source options for computer software.

DHS’ Science and Technology Directorate will fund the Homeland Open Security Technology (HOST) project, which will start with a one-year, $1.5 million contract and possible additional years to follow. The University of Southern Mississippi and the Open Source Software Institute (OSSI) will conduct the work, and the Navy’s Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command will handle the contracting and help with guidance for the program.

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | 3 Comments | Updated on Jun 12, 2009

Wal-Mart to Create 22,000 Jobs — and Destroy Many Thousands More

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/walmart-create-22000-jobs-and-destroy-many-thousands-more/

Wal-Mart announced that it would create 22,000 new jobs in the U.S. to staff new and expanded stores.  But, in all likelihood, Wal-Mart’s expansion will make the U.S. employment picture worse, not better.  Continue reading

Article filed under General | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Jun 11, 2009

Eminent Domain Documentary Creating a Buzz on Indie Film Circuit

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/eminent-domain-documentary-creating-buzz-indie-film-circuit/

More than nine years in the making, the independent film ”Begging For Billionaires: The Attack on Property Rights in America” was selected as a “Best of Fest” feature by the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival and won “Best Documentary” at the Texandance International Film Festival.  In 2005, a divided U.S. Supreme Court gave city governments the authority to take private homes and businesses by eminent domain and transfer ownership to private developers for the purpose of building things like shopping centers, corporate office towers, luxury condominiums and professional sports arenas.

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Article, Rule filed under Energy | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Jun 11, 2009

Municipal Property Tax Financing for Solar Energy and Improvements – Berkeley, CA

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/municipal-financing-for-renewables-and-efficiency/2830-2/

In 2008, the Berkeley City Council approved an amendment to the Berkeley Municipal Code (BMC) and created the Special Tax Financing Law. The Special Tax Financing Law is the implementing legislation that allows for the creation of the Sustainable Energy Financing District, by which the City would help property owners finance solar installations and energy efficiency improvements by creating a special tax that is paid through their individual property tax bills. Continue reading

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Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Jun 10, 2009

Chattanooga Announces Largest U.S. Community Fiber Network

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/chattanooga-announces-largest-us-community-fiber-network/

Chattanooga’s Electric Power Board, a public power agency, has been building a fiber-to-the-home network to greatly increase community access to fast broadband.  They have just announced the network will be completed sooner than originally expected, connecting everyone in the community.

EPB officials announced today their plans to expedite the deployment of their 100% fiber optics network.

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Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Jun 10, 2009

ILSR Submits Comments to FCC on National Broadband Plan

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/ilsr-submits-comments-fcc-national-broadband-plan/

ILSR, a member of the Rural Internet and Broadband Policy Group, submitted comments to the Federal Communications Commission  on the matter of a national broadband policy.  Our comments highlight the importance of long term investments that will prioritize local ownership and control as well as open access networks.  The absentee-ownership model has proved detrimental to many rural communities.

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Article filed under Waste to Wealth | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Jun 9, 2009

The Evolution of Deconstruction

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/the-evolution-of-deconstruction-2/

by Neil Seldman in BioCycle Deconstructing, as opposed to demolishing, abandoned buildings will revitalize our cities by reducing waste, creating green jobs, providing high-quality recycled materials for new construction, and more. Read the full BioCycle article Continue reading

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Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Jun 8, 2009

Why Does the Much-Touted Climate Bill Look Like It Was Stolen From the Republican Playbook?

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/why-does-muchtouted-climate-bill-look-it-was-stolen-republican-playbook/

Most environmental leaders and Democratic Party officials argue that we should support the Waxman-Markey carbon cap and trade bill (American Clean Energy Security Act) no matter how imperfect because it represents an important small step forward.  In this commentary by David Morris, he concludes that the bill would be acceptable if it was stripped of its cap and trade provisions. Retaining the cap and trade provisions and he sees it as a giant step backwards that may well hobble further progress in federal efforts to combat climate change for years to come.

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