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kentucky-coalition-takes-down-att-bill-to-remove-consumer-phone-protections-community-broadband-bits-44
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Apr 30, 2013

Kentucky Coalition Takes Down AT&T Bill to Remove Consumer Phone Protections – Community Broadband Bits #44

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/kentucky-coalition-takes-down-att-bill-remove-consumer-phone-protections-community-broadband

Episode #44 of our Community Broadband Bits podcast expands on our story exploring a major victory over bad AT&T-driven legislation in Kentucky. We welcome Mimi Pickering of Appalshop and Tom FitzGerald of the Kentucky Resources Council. We discuss why the AT&T-authored bill to gut consumer protections was bad for Kentucky and how a terrific coalition… Continue reading

Lowering Soft Costs Means Big Solar Savings
Article, Resource filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Apr 29, 2013

Soft Costs Make a Bigger Difference as Solar Gets Cheap

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/soft-costs-bigger-difference-solar-cheap/

Last week’s graphic on the impact of local permitting on the cost of solar power was a big hit, so here’s a follow up on “soft costs,” the expenses in a solar installation (including permitting) that are not the solar module.  The chart compares the soft costs in the U.S. to Germany (thanks to LBNL’s… Continue reading

palo-alto-dark-fiber-brings-2-1-million-per-year-expansion-plans-developing
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on Apr 29, 2013

Palo Alto Dark Fiber Brings $2.1 Million Per Year, Expansion Plans Developing

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/palo-alto-dark-fiber-brings-21-million-year-expansion-plans-developing

The city owned dark fiber network in Palo Alto is bringing in a steady stream of revenue that may lead to better connectivity for the entire community. According to a Gennady Sheyner Palo Alto Online article, the Utilities Department recently reported to the City Finance Committee that the city Fiber Fund yields $2.1 million per year. The… Continue reading

chart solar cost and permitting 2013
Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Apr 26, 2013

Local Permitting Makes a Bigger Difference as Solar Gets Cheap

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/local-permitting-bigger-difference-solar-cheap/

Going solar keeps getting cheaper, but most of the cost savings have come from less expensive solar panels.  “Soft costs,” like permitting and inspections, are a rising share of the cost of a solar installation.  Several years ago, these permits could increase the cost of a residential solar project (then around $8.00 per Watt) by… Continue reading

opelika-alabama-testing-new-fiber-network
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on Apr 26, 2013

Opelika, Alabama, Testing New Fiber Network

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/opelika-alabama-testing-new-fiber-network

We spoke with Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller in episode 40 of the Community Broadband Bits podcast and learned all about the community’s FTTH project. Local residents and businesses decided to go beyond the substandard services they received from Charter Cable and build their own municipal network. At the time of the interview, Opelika Power Services (OPS)… Continue reading

Main Street
Featured Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Apr 26, 2013

Locally owned businesses can help communities thrive — and survive climate change

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/locally-owned-businesses-communities-thrive-survive-climate-change/

Cities where small, locally owned businesses account for a relatively large share of the economy have stronger social networks, more engaged citizens, and better success solving problems, according to several recently published studies. Continue reading

Minnesota's Proposed Solar Energy Standard in Comparison
Article, Resource filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Apr 25, 2013

Minnesota’s Proposed Solar Standard in Comparison

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

Some Minnesota legislators are getting a little weak-kneed listening to utility lobbyists make hugely ironic claims about the cost of the proposed solar standard and thinking about how much solar this is. Time for some context. The originally proposed 10% solar energy standard might have been ambitious by national standards, but the current 4% by… Continue reading

in-kansas-ottawa-launches-own-fiber-optic-network
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on Apr 25, 2013

In Kansas, Ottawa Launches Own Fiber Optic Network

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/kansas-ottawa-launches-own-fiber-optic-network

Ottawa, located in east central Kansas, recently launched its own municipal fiber network. The community of 13,000 in Franklin County watched nearby Chanute build and establish its own broadband utility. Ottawa plans a similar incremental strategy. Both communities boast strong farming traditions and host industrial employers that could not get what they needed from the… Continue reading

YAC Earth Day Festival April 2013
Article filed under Waste to Wealth, Young Activist Club | Written by Brenda Platt | No Comments | Updated on Apr 24, 2013

On Earth Day, Young Activist Club Gathers Petitions to Send to Board Superintendent Starr

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/earth-day-young-activist-club-gathers-petitions-send-board-superintendent-starr/

The Young Activist Club worked a booth at the Takoma Park Earth Day Festival, educating citizens on the health problems with polystyrene #76 plastics and gathering petitions to send to Montgomery County (MD) Schools Superintendent Starr requesting permission to pilot a durable lunch tray washing project.  Petition is available online too. Click here. Continue reading

Article filed under Waste to Wealth, Young Activist Club | Written by Brenda Platt | No Comments | Updated on Apr 24, 2013

Young Activist Club teams up with Washington Nationals to Celebrate Earth Day!

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/young-activist-club-teams-washington-nationals-celebrate-earth-day/

ILSR’s Brenda Platt co-leads the Young Activist Club of Takoma Park, Maryland.  On Earth Day, April 22, the Washington Nationals baseball team honored the Club by inviting 9 members to be the Starting 9 for the Nats’ game against the Cardinals. After the first pitch by EPA acting administrator Bob Perciasepe, members of the Young… Continue reading