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Article, ILSR Press Room filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | 2 Comments | Updated on Jun 28, 2005

Media Release: Data Show Wal-Mart Employees in Maine Rely Heavily on Public Assistance

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/media-release-data-show-walmart-employees-maine-rely-heavily-public-assistance/

PORTLAND, ME [June 28, 2005]—Hundreds of Maine workers employed by Wal-Mart are enrolled in the state’s public assistance programs, including Medicaid, Food Stamps, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, according to data released by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. Continue reading

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Article, Resource filed under Energy | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Jun 15, 2005

Report: MN Biomass Mandate Fails to Meet Original Intent

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/report-mn-biomass-mandate-fails-meet-original-intent/

A new analysis from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance concludes that the Minnesota 1994 biomass mandate, rather than jump-starting a new industry using new energy crops, has become little more than a very costly waste-to-energy program.

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Jun 14, 2005

Nevada Allows Energy Conservation to Qualify For Renewable Energy Requirements

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/nevada-allows-energy-conservation-qualify-renewable-energy-requirements/

Under a new law, utilities in Nevada will now be able to count electricity savings from energy conservation programs as meeting the state’s renewable energy portfolio standard (RPS).

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Jun 8, 2005

Chains Are Taking Over Britain, Survey Finds

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/chains-are-taking-over-britain-survey-finds/

More than 40 percent of the towns surveyed for a new report by the London-based New Economics Foundation are so overrun by chain stores that they have lost their local identity and become little more than "clone towns." Continue reading

Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Jun 7, 2005

Gas Optional Vehicles: Austin Energy Charges Ahead

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/gas-optional-vehicles-austin-energy-charges-ahead/

Preferring the term “gas-optional” vehicles rather than plug-in electric hybrids, Austin Energy has adopted a strategy to diversify and grow its electric utility operations and hopes to convince cities nationwide to follow their lead.

Roger Duncan at Austin Energy is traveling the country promoting the idea that the time is ripe for a convergence of municipally owned electrical operations with the transportation sector. The fit becomes natural through the increased use of gas-optional vehicles (GOVs).

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on May 31, 2005

Citizens in Charlevoix, Michigan, Block Wal-Mart, Win Size Limits

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/citizens-charlevoix-michigan-block-walmart-win-size-limits/

Grassroots groups that form to fight big-box development proposals often dissolve after winning or losing on that particular project. But a citizens group in Charlevoix, Michigan, called This is Our Town, kept on working. Now, one year after successfully pressuring Wal-Mart to drop plans for a supercenter, the group is celebrating new zoning rules that will limit future big-box development. Continue reading

Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on May 19, 2005

FERC Adds Another Standard for DG Interconnection

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/ferc-adds-another-standard-dg-interconnection/

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has adopted standard rules for interconnecting distributed generation (DG) projects of 20 MW or less with the electricity grid. These new rules will operate alongside FERC’s previously issued rules that govern interconnections of DG projects larger than 20 MW. FERC also has an ongoing proceeding that is developing special rules for interconnecting wind energy projects with the grid [see FERC's Generation Interconnection web site].

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on May 19, 2005

Washington Laws Encourages Locally Manufactured DG Equipment

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/washington-laws-encourages-locally-manufactured-dg-equipment/

Two proposals unanimously passed by the legislature and signed into law earlier this month by Washington’s Governor, Christine Gregoire, should put distributed generation and renewable energy on the fast track in the state. The first bill (SB 5101) establishes a renewable energy production incentive that is larger if the equipment comes from in-state manufacturers. The second bill (SB 5111) provides corporate tax breaks for solar energy businesses in the state based on their sales.

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on May 12, 2005

Minnesota Passes 20 Percent Ethanol Mandate

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/minnesota-passes-20-percent-ethanol-mandate/

On May 10th, Minnesota’s Governor signed a bill into law that could result in a requirement that the state’s gasoline supplies contain 20 percent ethanol (E-20). If the rules go into effect, it would double the current 10 percent ethanol blends that are now standard throughout the state.

Under the legislation, a new E-20 mandate would take effect in 2013 unless ethanol has already replaced 20 percent of the state’s motor vehicle fuel by 2010. The rule would expire at the end of 2010 if Minnesota is not granted federal approval to use E-20 gasoline blends.

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on May 10, 2005

Neighborhood Retailers Aim to Keep New York Wal-Mart Free

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/neighborhood-retailers-aim-keep-new-york-walmart-free/

The entry of Wal-Mart into New York City is the biggest challenge to neighborhood businesses and local communities in our city’s history, contends the Neighborhood Retail Alliance, which has been an advocate for New York City’s locally owned businesses for the past twenty years. Continue reading