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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Jan 6, 2005

Wind Power: To Own Or Not To Own

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/wind-power-own-or-not-own/

One of the world’s fastest growing energy technologies is wind power. Landowners on windy sites face a choice – to lease their land to wind developers or to own the turbines themselves. Leasing land provides a landowner with a relatively risk free venture with a steady stream of income. Owning a wind energy project involves more risk but offers landowners significantly more potential revenue. Continue reading

Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | 1 Comment | Updated on Dec 23, 2004

Homer, Alaska, Restricts Large Retail Stores

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/homer-alaska-restricts-large-retail-stores/

After two years of consideration—including a review by a city council-appointed task force, numerous public hearings, and a voter referendum—the town of Homer, Alaska, has adopted an ordinance that limits stores to no more than 45,000 square feet and requires retail development projects larger than 15,000 square feet to undergo a community impact review.

Homer has a population of about 5,000 and is located on the Kenai Peninsula.

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Dec 17, 2004

Coop Issuing RFP for Distributed Generation

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/coop-issuing-rfp-distributed-generation/

Split Rock Energy, a wholesale power marketer and trader and wholly owned subsidiary of Great River Energy, has issued and will issue two request for proposals (RFP) for two very different types of power resources: baseload and distributed generation.

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Dec 15, 2004

California court voids approvals for two big-box projects

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/california-court-voids-approvals-two-bigbox-projects/

In a ruling that could have broad implications, a California appeals court this week nullified zoning approvals given to two big-box shopping centers by the city of Bakersfield. The court held that the environmental impact reports (EIRs) prepared for the projects were insufficient and did not adequately address the potential for urban decay and associated ecological effects that could be caused by extensive new retail development.

The ruling orders the city to complete new impact studies and public hearings, and reconsider the projects.

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Dec 9, 2004

California Feels Global Warming Heat From Automakers

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/california-feels-global-warming-heat-automakers/

A coalition of U.S. and foreign automobile manufacturers and car dealerships in California joined together to file a lawsuit against California’s innovative rule to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles in that state. In a tug of war between federal and state authority, the stage is set for a public debate on how far a state can go in directing its own energy future.

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Dec 8, 2004

New Jersey Considers Regional Impact Studies for Big-Box Stores

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/new-jersey-considers-regional-impact-studies-bigbox-stores/

Lawmakers in New Jersey have proposed legislation that would require communities to weigh the regional economic impact of proposed big-box stores before granting approval.

As drafted, the law would apply to stores over 130,000 square feet that sell at least 25,000 items with a minimum of ten percent of their revenue in nontaxable groceries. The measure would therefore cover Wal-Mart, Target, and Kmart supercenters, but would not affect big-box stores that do not sell groceries, such as Home Depot and Staples.

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Dec 6, 2004

Voters Decide to Take Control of Their Electric Systems in Three Cities

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/voters-decide-take-control-their-electric-systems-three-cities/

Everyone knows that President Bush was reelected on November 2nd but did you know that voters in three municipalities voted to take control of their electric systems? In Rolfe, Iowa (pop. 675), the vote was 182-19, in Wellman, Iowa (pop. 1,393) the vote was 470-159, and in Auburn, New York (pop. 28,574) the vote was 4,726-987 to allow their cities to form municipally-owned power companies. The two Iowa cities already control their natural gas utilities so the move toward electricity should be a natural extension. Continue reading

Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Dec 6, 2004

Private Company Offers Employees $5,000 to Purchase Fuel-efficient Vehicles

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/private-company-offers-employees-5000-purchase-fuelefficient-vehicles/

While Democratic Energy is primarily tracking energy innovations in the public sector, we thought that you’d be interested in this energy policy development from the private sector announced last week by the Hyperion Solutions Corporation.

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Dec 6, 2004

Contract Talks Underway at Wal-Mart’s Only Unionized Store

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/contract-talks-underway-walmarts-only-unionized-store/

Negotiations that could lead to the first union contract at any of Wal-Mart’s 5,000 stores worldwide began last week in Jonquiere, a town about 250 miles north of Quebec City in Canada. Continue reading

Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Nov 30, 2004

New York Renewable Standard Carves Special Niche for Onsite Power

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/new-york-renewable-standard-carves-special-niche-onsite-power/

In September 2004, The New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) adopted a renewable energy portfolio standard that requires 25 percent of the state’s electricity to be supplied from renewable energy sources by 2013. The NY RPS will require about 3,700 megawatts (MW) of new renewable fueled electricity projects to come on-line between 2006 and 2013.

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