Initiatives

Banking

Overview

The financial crisis and its economic aftershocks have spawned the first serious examination of the structure of our current banking system and the public policies that have fueled consolidation over the last 30 years and untethered financial institutions from their communities.

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Featured Article, ILSR Press Room filed under Banking | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Apr 1, 2012

Banking For the Rest of Us

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

In this cover story for Sojourners Magazine, Stacy Mitchell writes that there is remarkably little evidence to support the idea that bigger banks are superior. They have come to dominate, not because they are more efficient or offer better services, but because they have rigged government policy in their own favor. It’s time for a new set of rules—banking policies for the 99 percent. Continue reading

Featured Article filed under Banking, Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | 5 Comments | Updated on Oct 17, 2012

Too Big to Lend

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

A critical function of our banking system is financing small businesses. But big banks are doing a rotten job of it. At the nation’s largest banks, small business lending has plunged 33% since 2009. Trying to cajole or compel them to do more won’t make much difference because the problem is largely inherent to their scale. Continue reading

Featured Article filed under Banking, The Public Good | Written by David Morris | 5 Comments | Updated on Mar 1, 2011

And The Academy Award for Cowardice Goes To….

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/and-the-academy-award-for-cowardice-goes-to/

After winning an Oscar for Best Documentary for Inside Job, Charles Ferguson injected some much-needed real world relevance amidst the fabulously glitzy proceedings. Continue reading

Biomaterials

Overview

In 1992, ILSR’s work on plant derived plastics and other materials led to our co-hosting the first International Workshop on Biodegradability. The concept of a Carbohydrate Economy – one that uses plant-based chemicals to replace petro-chemicals – was born...

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Featured Article, Resource filed under Biomaterials, Composting, Waste to Wealth | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Oct 11, 2012

Exemptions/Exclusions Added to Atlanta Airport Info Packet

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

The Sustainable Food Court Initiative (SFCI) Airport Pilot, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, works closely with the SFCI Team to bring sustainable operating practices to their operations, especially regarding food waste. In early 2012 the Atlanta Airport made a bold statement in the new concessionaire contract, the largest foodservice contract executed in North America. Continue reading

Featured Article, Resource filed under Biomaterials, Composting, Waste to Wealth | Written by Brenda Platt | No Comments | Updated on Jul 30, 2012

Atlanta Airport Launches Compostable Foodservice Ware Packet

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/atlanta-airport-launches-compostable-foodservice-ware-packet/

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (HJAIA) sends more than 19,000 tons of waste to Georgia landfills each year. Food scraps are the single largest component of HJAIA waste, making up about one-third of this tonnage. HJAIA has a goal to divert 50% of its waste from landfill disposal by 2015. Composting food waste is essential to reach this goal, and switching to compostable food packaging will enable successful food residuals recovery. Continue reading

Broadband

Overview

Access to the Internet is an essential infrastructure for any community that cares about economic development, quality of life, and educational opportunities. Unfortunately, most communities are presently dependent on a few unaccountable absentee corporations that act as gatekeepers to...

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Featured Article, ILSR Press Room, Resource filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | 1 Comment | Updated on Feb 26, 2013

ILSR Releases New Community Networks Map

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

The Institute for Local Self-Reliance has released a new interactive map showcasing 342 community owned networks throughout the United States that serve local businesses and residents. The Community Internet Map is available at MuniNetworks.org/communitymap/ Continue reading

Featured Article, ILSR Press Room, Resource filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on Feb 4, 2013

Christopher Mitchell Interviewed For streets.mn Podcast

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/christopher-mitchell-interviewed-streets-mn-podcast/

Christopher Mitchell was recently interviewed by Bill Lindeke from streets.mn. Bill, a PhD Candidate in Geography, published the podcast as part of the streets.mn blog. He wanted to talk to Christopher about the work at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. Bill discussed fiber optic infrastructure investment in the U.S. and touched on the Minneapolis City… Continue reading

Featured Article, ILSR Press Room, Resource filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on Mar 6, 2013

“The Monopoly Magnate”

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

ILSR is following HB 282, restrictive legislation moving through the Georgia General Assembly. The bill would effectively end the ability for existing networks to expand. Communities considering investing in their own telecommunications networks would face almost insurmountable financial and practical hurdles. As the bill is heavily lobbied by incumbent telecom giants, local leaders make the… Continue reading

Energy

Overview

Wind and sun are available everywhere, so renewable energy can be economically harnessed at small scales across the country. This nature of renewable energy, and the exponential increase of renewable energy generation, promises to decentralize the nation’s grid system. ...

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Featured Article, Resource filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Feb 19, 2013

How a City Can Get More Clean, Local Energy

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

Like many cities attempting to solve climate change at a local level, Minneapolis is finding the prospect more challenging that it may have imagined. The lion’s share of emissions (two-thirds in the case of Minneapolis) come from electricity and gas sold by two monopoly, corporate utilities. Minnesota’s state-level policy is helping: a renewable energy standard… Continue reading

Featured Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | 1 Comment | Updated on Apr 17, 2013

Proposed Solar Standard is Cheap Compared to Minnesota Utilities’ Rate Increases

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/proposed-solar-standard-cheap-compared-minnesota-utilities-rate-increases/

If you’re a state legislator in Minnesota, here are a few grains of salt to season the message you’ve been getting from electric utilities about the proposed solar energy standard. The bill (HF956/SF901) requires most utilities to get 4% of their energy from solar by 2025 and offers a standard, fixed-price contract to distributed solar energy… Continue reading

Featured Article, Resource filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on May 20, 2013

Expect Delays: Reviewing Ontario’s “Buy Local” Renewable Energy Program

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/expect-delays-reviewing-ontarios-buy-local-renewable-energy-program/

Launched in 2009, Ontario’s “buy local” Feed-In Tariff (FIT) program promised to deliver hundreds of megawatts of new renewable energy and create 50,000 new jobs by the end of 2012. The program has had some notable achievements, and the province has worked hard to remedy some of the remaining roadblocks to success. The bottom line… Continue reading

Independent Business

Overview

Over the last 25 years, a handful of giant retailers have grown to dominate the U.S. economy. ILSR challenges the wisdom of this market concentration. Through research and analysis, we have built a compelling case that places that are home to...

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Featured Article, Resource filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | 15 Comments | Updated on Dec 1, 2012

How Walmart is Devouring the Food System (Infographic)

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

Walmart now captures $1 of every $4 Americans spend on groceries. It’s on track to claim one-third of food sales within five years. Here’s a look at how Walmart has dramatically altered the food system — triggering massive consolidation, driving down prices to farmers, and leaving more families struggling to afford healthy food. Continue reading

Featured Article, Resource filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | 9 Comments | Updated on Dec 1, 2012

Why We Can’t Shop Our Way to a Better Economy: Stacy Mitchell’s TEDx Talk

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

In this TEDx talk, delivered on October 20, 2012 at TEDxDirigo‘s Villages conference at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, conference, ILSR Senior Researcher Stacy Mitchell argues for a new phase in the local economy movement. She notes that there’s been a resurgence of support for small farms, local businesses, and community banks, but argues: “As remarkable… Continue reading

The Public Good

Overview

At the founding of the American Republic the word “private” had pejorative connotations. Derived from the Latin word “privare”, private meant to divide or tear apart. A privateer was a pirate. The word “public” was an honorable adjective, often...

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Featured Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Dec 19, 2012

Should We Subsidize Giving?

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

Robert J. Shiller, Professor of Economics and Finance at Yale recently weighed in with his perspective on subsidizing charity with a New York Times column whose title clearly conveys his message: “Please Don’t Mess With the Charitable Deduction.” There is a case to be made for charitable deductions. Regrettably, this isn’t it. Shiller offers three… Continue reading

Featured Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Feb 6, 2013

The End of the Post Office as a Public Institution?

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

“When the post office is closed, the flag comes down. When the human side of government closes its doors, we’re all in trouble.” Senator Jennings Randolph (West Virginia) 1958-85 For the post office the end game is on. This year the post office will close half its processing centers. By late spring a first… Continue reading

Featured Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on May 13, 2013

Can We Save the Commons that is the Post Office?

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

For 225 years the U.S. Post Office has been the most admired and ubiquitous manifestation of government. From 1789 until the 1960s, the Cabinet level agency saw its mission not only to deliver the mail but to aggressively defend the public good. In the late 19th century when oligopolistic mail order delivery companies abused their… Continue reading

Waste to Wealth

Overview

ILSR's Waste to Wealth program helps communities across the country create policies and practices that address citizens' environmental concerns and economic needs. We help citizens fight the incinerators and landfills that pollute their air and water, and drive property...

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Our Projects

Featured Article filed under Waste to Wealth, Zero Waste & Economic Development | Written by Neil Seldman | No Comments | Updated on Jan 28, 2013

Decentralized Recycling Models for Cities: Berkeley and El Cerrito, CA

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/decentralized-recycling-models-cities-berkeley-el-cerrito-ca/

Berkeley, CA, and El Cerrito, CA, in the San Francisco Bay area are special examples of government, grassroots, and private business collaboration in recycling and reuse for the past 30 years. Below are comments on the decentralized model by one of its key advocates and activists, Dan Knapp. Dan is the founder of Urban Ore, which operates in both cities. Continue reading

Featured Article filed under Stop Incineration, Waste to Wealth | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Apr 10, 2013

VICTORY against Maryland’s “Waste Portfolio Standard” — the Latest Creative Way to Prop Up Incinerators

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

What does an incinerator industry do when they can’t compete? Change the rules. Biomass and trash incinerators are the most expensive way to make energy, and trash incineration costs more than directly landfilling the waste. These industries survive to the extent that they can change the rules to get monopoly waste contracts, become ‘renewable’ energy in state mandates, or as we’re seeing in Maryland: worse. Continue reading

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Article, Resource filed under Broadband | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Mar 27, 2011

Sascha Meinrath on Broadband

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

A short video of Sascha Meinrath discussing the power of community networks, the need for broadband competition, and why the National Broadband Plan misses the mark. Continue reading

Article, Resource filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Mar 21, 2011

Video Shows Community Networks Far Superior to Cable, DSL in North Carolina

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/video-shows-community-networks-far-superior-cable-dsl-north-carolina/

ILSR produced a video to highlight the impressive dominance of publicly-owned networks in North Carolina.

Article, Resource filed under Broadband | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Mar 13, 2011

PBS: Need to Know – High Fiber

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/pbs-need-to-know-high-fiber/

Rick Karr, a correspondent with PBS’ Need to Know, travels to Europe to investigate why some countries there have surpassed the US in fast, affordable, and reliable access to the Internet. Continue reading

Article, Resource filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Sep 28, 2010

ILSR Tells the FCC to Embrace Community Broadband Networks

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/ilsr-tells-fcc-embrace-community-broadband-networks/

On August 19, 2010, ILSR’s Christopher Mitchell was one of hundreds of people telling the Federal Communications Commission to do its job and regulate in the public interest.

Mitchell focused on the benefits of publicly owned broadband networks and the need for the FCC to ensure states cannot preempt local governments from building networks. Click thru to read the text of Mitchell’s comments.

Article, Resource filed under Broadband | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Aug 19, 2010

Community Broadband Networks and Preemption

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

Christopher Mitchell testifies before the Commissioners Copps and Clyburn of the Federal Communications Commission at a hearing in Minneapolis on August 19, 2010. Continue reading

Article, ILSR Press Room, Resource filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on May 20, 2010

John Farrell on This Week in Energy talking about PACE municipal energy financing

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/john-farrell-week-energy-talking-about-pace-municipal-energy-financing/

On episode 24 of This Week in Energy, John Farrell discusses PACE, oil spills and smart grids with hosts Bob Tregilus and Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield. Continue reading

Article, Resource filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on May 19, 2010

PACE Municipal Energy Financing: Designing State Policy

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/pace-municipal-energy-financing-designing-state-policy/

What lessons have we learned from early PACE programs and what does that mean for designing good state enabling legislation? Learn more from this webinar presentation by ILSR Senior Researcher John Farrell to the NGA Center for Best Practices.

Article, ILSR Press Room, Resource filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Oct 12, 2009

John Farrell Interviewed on Etopia News on 2nd Issue of Energy Self-Reliant States Report

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/john-farrell-interviewed-etopia-news-2nd-issue-energy-selfreliant-states-report/

In this 20 minute discussion, John Farrell discusses the updated and expanding edition of his report, Energy Self-Reliant States, that explains how states can overwhelmingly meet their electricity needs with in-state renewable resources. Continue reading

Article filed under Broadband | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Jul 10, 2009

Federal Government Stirs, May Begin Enforcing Antitrust… Maybe

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/federal-government-stirs-may-begin-enforcing-antitrust-maybe/

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that the Department of Justice is examining AT&T and Verizon for antitrust violations.

The Department of Justice has begun an initial review to determine whether large U.S. telecom companies such as AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. have abused the market power they’ve amassed in recent years, according to people familiar with the matter.

Article, ILSR Press Room, Resource filed under Energy, The Public Good | Written by David Morris | 1 Comment | Updated on Jul 8, 2009

David Morris: Distributed, Bottom-Up Energy System Makes a Strong, Smart Grid

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/david-morris-distributed-bottomup-energy-system-makes-strong-smart-grid/

A strong and smart grid can be developed with distributed renewable energy, without need for new high-voltage transmission. This 6-minute video explains how. Continue reading

Article, Resource filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on May 27, 2009

Payback Time – Feed in Tariffs Work (video)

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/payback-time-feed-tariffs-work-video/

A 10-min video on Germany’s rewarding feed-in tariff renewable energy program Continue reading

Article, Resource filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Apr 8, 2009

Vidchat Discussion on Community Networks and Broadband Stimulus

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/vidchat-discussion-community-networks-and-broadband-stimulus/

App-rising.com‘s Geoff Daily interviews Christopher Mitchell about who should receive grants from the broadband stimulus funds and what technologies should be prioritized. 15 minutes long. Continue reading

Resource filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Jan 29, 2009

Stacy Mitchell speaking about the growth of the local business movement (Video)

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/stacy-mitchell-speaking-about-growth-local-business-movement/

Stacy Mitchell speaking about the growth of the local business movement at the American Booksellers Association’s Winter Institute conference in Salt Lake City on Jan. 29, 2009. Continue reading

Article, Resource filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Dec 22, 2008

John Farrell Discusses Upcoming Feed-in Tariff Conference

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/john-farrell-discusses-upcoming-feedin-tariff-conference/

John Farrell talks about the upcoming "Bringing Renewable Energy Home: Energy Policies To Maximize Energy Security And Economic Development" conference on January 9, 2009 at St. Olaf College in Minnesota Continue reading

Article, ILSR Press Room, Resource filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Dec 15, 2008

Vidchat Discussion on Open Networks Between Christopher Mitchell and Geoff Daily

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/vidchat-discussion-open-networks-between-christopher-mitchell-and-geoff-daily/

App-Rising.com sits down with Christopher Mitchell to discuss the merits of open networks and how they shift the focus of competition from the characteristics of last mile technologies to the merits of the services being offered. Continue reading

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