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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Apr 7, 2005

Maryland Legislature Passes Wal-Mart Health Care Bill

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/maryland-legislature-passes-walmart-health-care-bill/

Both chambers of the Maryland legislature have approved a bill that would require Wal-Mart to spend more on employee health insurance. The legislation applies to companies with more than 10,000 employees in the state that do not already spend at least eight percent of their payroll on health benefits. Continue reading

Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Apr 4, 2005

Madison Limits Footprint of Big-Box Stores

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/madison-limits-footprint-bigbox-stores/

By an 18-1 vote, the City Council in Madison, Wisconsin, endorsed a measure that would limit retail stores to a footprint of no more than 100,000 square feet. Stores may be larger if they are multi-story or have structured or underground parking. A 100,000-square-foot store covers about the same land area as two football fields and typically requires at least twice as much land for the parking lot. Continue reading

Article filed under Energy | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Mar 30, 2005

Are Ethanol Mandates a Good Idea?

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/are-ethanol-mandates-good-idea/

We received a question on whether or not the state of Montana should enact a requirement for a 10 percent ethanol blend in its gasoline supplies. Dr. Dave responded, noting that Montana is one of six states that has in place or is currently debating, an ethanol mandate.

Click Here for the complete Question and Answer from Dr.Dave.

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Mar 28, 2005

New Ethanol Plant Will Use Waste Heat From Existing Power Plant

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/new-ethanol-plant-will-use-waste-heat-existing-power-plant/

In a unique collaboration, a Minnesota electric cooperative will supply the thermal energy requirements for an ethanol plant proposed in North Dakota.

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Mar 28, 2005

Aggregating Communities to Advance Energy Self Reliance

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/aggregating-communities-advance-energy-self-reliance/

Under a law enacted in 2002, communities in California were alllowed to aggregate electric utility customers and take control over their electric system. Three years later, implementation plans are being developed or under consideration by about two dozen California cities.

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Mar 28, 2005

Keeping Louisville Weird

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/keeping-louisville-weird/

“I was driving home one day and saw it on the back of a bus,” said Don Burch, owner of Qwest Outdoors, a retailer of outdoor gear in Louisville, Kentucky. The advertisement, in black with white lettering, said, “Keep Louisville Weird. Support Independent Businesses.”I tried in vain to find out who was doing it,” said Burch. Weeks later he finally discovered that the ads, which have been appearing on billboards and buses around the city, were sponsored by John Timmons, owner of Ear X-tacy, a 20-year-old music store. Continue reading

Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Mar 24, 2005

Hybrid Vehicles and HOV Lanes

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/hybrid-vehicles-and-hov-lanes/

We received a question on whether or not hybrid electric/gas vehicles should be allowed to use high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. Dr. Dave responded, calling hybrid cars an essential component of a sustainable transportation strategy but policies to let them use HOV lanes would be unnecessary and counterproductive.

Click Here for the complete Question and Answer from Dr.Dave.

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Mar 16, 2005

Vermont Lawmakers Weigh Statewide Big-Box Law

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/vermont-lawmakers-weigh-statewide-bigbox-law/

If a new ordinance limiting big-box retail development in the town of Bennington, Vermont, is endorsed by voters in an April referendum, two lawmakers say they will introduce bills to extend those restrictions statewide. In January, the Bennington Select Board voted unanimously to ban stores over 75,000 square feet and to require retail development projects larger than 30,000 square feet to pass a community impact review. Continue reading

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

Report: Oregon Looks At Knocking Down Barriers to Expand Distributed Generation

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/report-oregon-looks-knocking-down-barriers-expand-distributed-generation/

The Oregon Public Utility Commission [OPUC] issued a report, "Distributed Generation in Oregon: Overview, Regulatory Barriers and Recommendations. The report describes how customers and utilities are using DG technologies, their benefits, as well as current and projected costs. This report stands out since very few states have devoted resources to investigate policy options to increase distributed generation.

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Article filed under Waste to Wealth | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Mar 12, 2005

Why Not Here?: A simple question that corporations and governments are being asked more frequently.

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/why-not-here-a-simple-question-that-corporations-and-governments-are-being-asked-more-frequently/

Neil Seldman Waste to Wealth Program Institute for Local Self-Reliance Washington, DC 20005 12 March 2005 Common sense is taking on a radical tone in the community environmental defense arena as the public is asking why can’t we have clean industry in the US if the same companies that pollute here are operating clean facilities… Continue reading