Back to top Jump to featured resources

Viewing all Articles Page 60 of 228

Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on May 4, 2012

Tea Party and NAACP Help Defeat Privatization Bill in Florida

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/tea-party-naacp-defeat-privatization-bill-florida/

Earlier this year, Florida’s Republican Governor and legislature proposed to privatize all 26 state prisons.  SB 2038 would have allowed privatization if a private company’s bid was at least 7 percent less than the state’s current cost. The bill would affect nearly 4,000 state workers.  Projected annual savings exceeded $16.5 million. Despite union opposition, the… Continue reading

obama and lbj
Featured Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | 1 Comment | Updated on May 3, 2012

Profiles in Political Courage

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

A few weeks ago Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA who is retiring from the House this year, gave a memorable interview to New York magazine in which he criticized President Obama for aggressively pushing health care reform.  Frank says he warned Obama the Democratic Party would pay “a terrible price.” Apparently Frank was not alone in… Continue reading

new-video-explains-community-broadband
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on May 3, 2012

New Video Explains Community Broadband

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/new-video-explains-community-broadband

We have developed a new video to explain why communities consider building their own broadband networks. Please pass it around, embed it in social media, and also remind people that we have a new report with in-depth case studies of community broadband! Video:  Continue reading

leverett-approves-broadband-initiative-in-small-new-england-town
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on May 2, 2012

Leverett Approves Broadband Initiative in Small New England Town

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/leverett-approves-broadband-initiative-small-new-england-town

Not long ago, we told you about Leverett, Massachusetts, the small town of 1,851, that has been discussing the possibility of building a community network. Residents and businesses currently use a combination of satellite, dial-up, DSL, and wireless, and about 6% of the population has no Internet access at all. People are tired of lost… Continue reading

Balancing Lady
Featured Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | 2 Comments | Updated on May 1, 2012

Local Solar Could Solve ‘Massive Supply-Demand Imbalance’ in Renewable Energy Financing

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/massive-supply-demand-imbalance-for-solar-and-wind-project-financing/

In the next two years, the U.S. may get a lot less solar and wind power than it could. It’s not a shortage of solar panels or the cost of turbines.  Rather, it’s a problem of the perverse nature of federal incentives for renewable energy.  Right now, the owner of a solar or wind energy… Continue reading

Article filed under Waste to Wealth | Written by Neil Seldman | No Comments | Updated on May 1, 2012

Review of Recent Articles in Forbes Magazine

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

Amy Westervelt has written two recent articles on why recycling is failing and how corporate America can save recycling.  (“Can Recycling Be Bad for the Environment?” and “How Corporate America Might Just Save Recycling”) The articles present anecdotes as facts and facts without proper analysis.  Much like the recent book Recycling Reconsidered by Samantha MacBride, Westervelt… Continue reading

ilsr-examines-iowa-rule-authorizing-municipal-networks
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on May 1, 2012

ILSR Examines Iowa Rule Authorizing Municipal Networks

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/ilsr-examines-iowa-rule-authorizing-municipal-networks

The Institute for Local Self-Reliance has recently posted an examination of 1999 Iowa Act Chapter 63, which expressly allows municipal networks: Section 1. LEGISLATIVE INTENT. It is the intent of the general assembly to specifically provide that cities of Iowa which create city utilities in the manner provided by law are authorized to provide on… Continue reading

Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Apr 30, 2012

In Montana the streams belong to the people. So far.

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

Montana, home to some of the world’s best fly fishing, is also home to the country’s most far reaching law protecting their stream and river commons. The catalyst was a 1984 ruling by the Montana Supreme Court that any river or stream capable of being used for recreation purposes such as fishing and floating, can… Continue reading

chelan-will-keep-its-network-as-is
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on Apr 30, 2012

Chelan Will Keep Its Network As Is

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/chelan-will-keep-its-network

As we reported in March, the Chelan County, Washington PUD was seeking input from the customer-owners of their open access fiber optic network to decide what the future would hold. The PUD had considered three options and presented them to the public:     •    sell the network    •    maintain ownership of the network, but improve… Continue reading

Article, ILSR Press Room filed under Biomaterials, Waste to Wealth | Written by Brenda Platt | No Comments | Updated on Apr 27, 2012

Green Matter: Bio-based Plastics Stand Up to Sustainability Scrutiny

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/green-matter-bio-based-plastics-stand-sustainability-scrutiny/

Plastics Today, April 27, 2012 A new study published by the Journal of Cleaner Production has attempted to evaluate the sustainability of availability of bioplastics based on criteria from 12 principles compiled by the Sustainable Biomaterials Collaborative. The study, “Sustainability of bio-based plastics: general comparative analysis and recommendations for improvement,” used criteria including the pesticide use,… Continue reading