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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

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

IRS Issues Application Guidance on $400 Million Round of Clean Renewable Energy Bonds

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/irs-issues-application-guidance-400-million-round-clean-renewable-energy-bonds/

On April 2nd, the Internal Revenue Service issued a notice soliciting applicants for the next round of Clean Renewable Energy Bonds allocations. The CREBs program provides governmental entities, municipal and cooperatively owned utilities an incentive to develop renewable energy projects. Ultimately, an interest free financing tool, CREBs are a substitute for renewable energy production tax incentives that these entities are not able to use because of their tax exempt status. Applications must be filed by July 13, 2007.

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Apr 6, 2007

Federal Legislation Would Modify and Extend Clean Renewable Energy Bond Program

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/federal-legislation-would-modify-and-extend-clean-renewable-energy-bond-program/

Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., recently introduced the Clean Renewable Energy for Public Power Act (H.R. 1821), which would extend and reform the Clean Renewable Energy Bond program authorizing government entities, rural cooperatives and municipally-owned electric systems to issue tax-credit bonds for renewable energy projects, as a counterpart to the production tax credit available to investor-owned utilities and other renewable energy project developers.

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Apr 5, 2007

Weighing the Economic Impact of Big-Box Development

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/weighing-economic-impact-bigbox-development/

Many local officials would undoubtedly reconsider big-box projects if they knew that a new mega-store would eliminate more jobs than it creates, or that it would cost the city more in public services than it generates in tax revenue . But most cities do not assess the likely economic impacts of retail development. They assume that these stores expand the local economy and approve them blind to the potential costs. Legislation under consideration in Maine would remedy this by stipulating that cities may approve stores over 75,000 square feet only after an independent economic analysis is conducted. Continue reading