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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Jan 18, 2005

Groups Demand Broader Access to Energy Decisionmaking

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/groups-demand-broader-access-energy-decisionmaking/

An effort spearheaded by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance resulted in a coalition of groups petitioning the MN Public Utilities Commission requesting that they establish the rules and technological infrastructure to allow citizens to easily monitor and participate in energy decisionmaking. This is an example of Democratic Energy in action. Minnesota isn’t the only state behind the curve either. A quick survey of other state regulatory agencies that oversee energy issues indicates that groups in many states may want to replicate the petition filed in Minnesota.

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Jan 14, 2005

Irish Government Relaxes Big-Box Ban

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/irish-government-relaxes-bigbox-ban/

Under pressure from Ikea, Wal-Mart, and Costco, the Irish government has relaxed its seven-year-old cap on the size of retail stores. The changes apply to certain areas of Dublin and eight other towns. The cap, which was adopted on a temporary basis in 1998 and made permanent in 2001, restricted stores selling food (including hypermarkets, which sell both food and non-food merchandise) to no more than 3,500 square meters (38,000 square feet) in Dublin and 3,000 square meters (32,000 square feet) throughout the rest of the country. Continue reading

Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Jan 13, 2005

Mandate It and They Will Come: Minnesota’s Biodiesel Law

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/mandate-it-and-they-will-come-minnesotas-biodiesel-law/

Since enactment of the nation’s first state mandate for nearly all diesel fuel sold in the state to contain a small percentage of biodiesel, there was always some uncertainty whether or not production facilities would be built to meet the goal in the law. Language in the law would have allowed the mandate to never take effect unless the in-state production reached 8,000,000 gallons per year. With the opening of one plant in December and two more under construction, the mandate is expected to come into force at the end of June 2005.

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Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Jan 10, 2005

Malpractice suits aren’t what needs fixing here

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/16838/

Malpractice suits aren’t what needs fixing here by David Morris Originally published in Minneapolis Star Tribune, January 10, 2005 One of the major cost drivers in the delivery of health care are these junk and frivolous lawsuits, President Bush has told the American people. Here are seven facts that prove him wrong. Insurance rates do… Continue reading

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. Continue reading

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 Stacy Mitchell | 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. Continue reading

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. Continue reading