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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Jun 18, 2007

Maine Passes Law Requiring Economic Impact Studies of Big-Box Projects

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/maine-passes-law-requiring-economic-impact-studies-bigbox-projects/

The Maine legislature has given its approval to a bill that requires cities and towns to evaluate the economic effects of large-scale retail development and to approve only those projects that will not have an adverse impact on jobs, local businesses, and municipal finances. The legislation is the first of its kind in the nation. Continue reading

Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Jun 8, 2007

California Supreme Court Bolsters Local Authority to Control Retail

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/california-supreme-court-bolsters-local-authority-control-retail/

In a unanimous decision yesterday, the California Supreme Court fortified efforts by cities across the state to restrict the development of big-box stores, favor small-scale retailers, and protect the vitality of downtowns. The ruling (Hernandez v. City of Hanford) upholds the authority of cities to adopt planning and zoning ordinances that have a direct impact on economic competition and that treat businesses differently based on the scale of their stores. Continue reading

Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Jun 1, 2007

Greed, yes; public good, no

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/greed-yes-public-good-no/

Greed, yes; public good, no Republicans don’t always mind paying more at the pump. It depends. By David Morris, originally published in the Mineapolis Star Tribune, June 1, 2007 For Republicans, an increase in gas prices driven by oil companies may be unwelcome, but it is very much in the natural economic order of things…. Continue reading

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on May 30, 2007

San Francisco’s Economy Reaps Big Benefits from Independent Merchants, Study Finds

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/san-franciscos-economy-reaps-big-benefits-independent-merchants-study-finds/

While many parts of the country are overrun with chain stores, San Francisco remains a stronghold for locally owned businesses, according to a new study, which also found that those local stores generate sizable benefits for the city’s economy.
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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on May 23, 2007

Los Angeles Uses Municipal Utility For GHG Reduction Targets

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/los-angeles-uses-municipal-utility-ghg-reduction-targets/

In mid-May, Los Angeles’ Mayor announced a new climate change action plan that calls for the LA municipal utility to increase its renewable energy portfolio to reach 35 percent by 2020. This in combination with about 50 other proposed actions will work to reduce GHG emissions in the city of angels to 35 percent below 1990 levels by 2030.

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on May 10, 2007

California Solar Advocates and Legislature Working to Fix TOU Rate Disincentive

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/california-solar-advocates-and-legislature-working-fix-tou-rate-disincentive/

Responding to concerns and evidence put forward by solar power companies and advocates, Governor Schwarznegger has pledged to fix a flaw in California’s Solar Initiative that has caused a reported 78 percent drop off in proposed photovoltaic installations in the state.

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on May 9, 2007

Encouraging Energy Conservation Through Inverted Rates – Iowa Utility Tries New Approach

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/encouraging-energy-conservation-through-inverted-rates-iowa-utility-tries-new-approach/

In early April 2007, Waverly Light and Power’s Board of Trustees approved a new residential rate structure designed to encourage energy conservation by charging customers higher rates as more electricity is used. This "inverted" rate is going into effect only during four summer months beginning July 1, 2007.

WLP, a municipally-owned utility with about 4,500 customers, experiences the highest demand for electricity during summer and is hoping that this program leads to decreased demand for power. The rate structure after July will look like this:

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on May 9, 2007

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Performance Standard for Power Plants – California

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/greenhouse-gas-emissions-performance-standard-power-plants-california/

In January 2007, the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) adopted an interim Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Performance Standard (EPS) in an effort to help mitigate climate change.

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Article, Resource filed under Energy | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on May 1, 2007

David Morris on WCCO’s Good Question – Ethanol Causing Food Shortages?

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/david-morris-wccos-good-question-ethanol-causing-food-shortages/

ILSR’s Vice President, David Morris, on WCCO’s "Good Question" segment that asked if biofuels will cause food shortages.  Segment aired May 1, 2007. Continue reading

Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Apr 26, 2007

Report: Distributed Generation and Cogeneration Roadmap

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/report-distributed-generation-and-cogeneration-roadmap/

This March 2007 report, Full Report: Report: Distributed Generation and Cogeneration Policy Roadmap for California, from the California Energy Commission provides a nice state-based, how-to perspective on policy options to increase the use of small scale DG along with larger combined heat and power projects. Continue reading