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taxshiftcritics
Resource filed under Energy, The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Oct 5, 1995

Ecological Tax Reform in Minnesota-Answering the Critics – Factsheet 6

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/ecological-tax-reform-minnesotaanswering-critics-factsheet-6/

A factsheet related to the proposed Energy Efficiency and Pollution Reduction Act (EEPRA) in Minnesota during 1996-1997. EEPRA is a revenue neutral measure that proposes to increase energy taxes by $1.5 billion and to reduce existing taxes on labor or income by an equal amount.
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taxshiftarithmetic
Resource filed under Energy, The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Oct 5, 1995

The Arithmetic of Pollution Taxes – Factsheet 1

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/arithmetic-pollution-taxes-factsheet-1/

A factsheet related to the proposed Energy Efficiency and Pollution Reduction Act (EEPRA) in Minnesota during 1996-1997. EEPRA is a revenue neutral measure that proposes to increase energy taxes by $1.5 billion and to reduce existing taxes on labor or income by an equal amount.
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netenergycover.png
Resource filed under Energy | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Aug 12, 1995

How Much Energy Does It Take To Make A Gallon Of Ethanol?

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/how-much-energy-does-it-take-make-gallon-ethanol/

One of the most controversial issues relating to ethanol is the question of what environmentalists call the “net energy” of ethanol production. Simply put, is more energy used to grow and process the raw material into ethanol than is contained in the ethanol itself? In 1992, ILSR addressed this question. Our report, based on actual energy consumption data from farmers and ethanol plant operators, was widely disseminated and its methodology has been imitated by a number of other researchers. This paper updates the data in that original report and addresses some of the concerns that some reviewers of the original report expressed. Continue reading

restructuringmntaxsystem
Resource filed under Energy, The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Feb 23, 1995

Restructuring Minnesota’s Tax System: Taxing Pollution Rather Than Work and Investment – Testimony

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/restructuring-minnesotas-tax-system-taxing-pollution-rather-work-and-investment-testimony/

In February 1995, ILSR’s Vice President David Morris testified at the Minnesota Legislature on how Green Taxes could be used as a substitute for other forms of tax revenues.

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taxingwindenergycover
Resource filed under Energy | Written by John Bailey | No Comments | Updated on Jan 1, 1995

Taxing Wind Energy in Minnesota

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

Download Report:  Taxing Wind Energy in Minnesota In 1991, to spur the development of a wind-energy industry in Minnesota the state legislature exempt- ed wind-energy equipment from property taxes.  In 1994 the Minnesota legislature enacted a wind mandate, ordering Northern States Power Company (NSP) to build or purchase a minimum of 425 megawatts (MW) of… Continue reading

greentaxes
Article, Resource filed under Energy, The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Jul 5, 1994

Green Taxes

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

This 1994 report by David Morris was originally presented at the Environmental Taxes Workshop, sponsored by ME3, ILSR, and Friends of the Earth on July 6, 1994. This report looked at the the status of Eco-taxes in the United States and Europe. Continue reading

ecologynurtures
Article, Resource filed under Energy, The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Nov 5, 1993

Ecology Nurtures Community

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

A speech by David Morris originally delivered as a keynote address to the Building With Value conference in Seattle, Washington in November 1993.

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minneapolis
Resource filed under Energy | Written by John Bailey | No Comments | Updated on Dec 1, 1992

Making the Car Pay Its Way: The Case of Minneapolis Roads

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/making-car-pay-way-case-minneapolis-roads/

Most of us view the road system as a pay-as-you-go proposition. We believe that vehicle licenses, parking fees and gas taxes fully finance the construction and maintenance of our roads. The truth is that less than 50 percent of the nearly $90 million the city of Minneapolis spends on driving-related projects each year is covered… Continue reading

makingpolluterpay
Article, Resource filed under Energy | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Nov 5, 1991

Making the Polluter Pay: The Case for a Minnesota Carbon Tax

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/making-polluter-pay-case-minnesota-carbon-tax/

This 1991 report by David Morris looked at the implications of establishing a carbon tax in Minnesota. Minnesota should impose a carbon tax designed to raise revenue rather than to change behavior.  A reasonable tax might be $6 per ton, in line with taxes already imposed by European governments, although lower than those proposed by the European Commission.  Such a tax would raise the cost of energy and raise revenues and might encourage efficiency.
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bepowercompany.jpg
Resource filed under Energy | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Nov 5, 1983

Be Your Own Power Company

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

This book by David Morris (first published in 1983) was the first how-to book published after Congress ended the 100-year-old monopoly by utilities on the generation of power.  The book examines the technical and economic aspects of four small scale power technologies (photovoltaics, wind power, hydropower and onsite cogeneration) and offers advice on how to negotiate a contract for sale of on-site power to local utilities. Continue reading

selfreliantcitiescover.jpg
Resource filed under Energy, The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Apr 17, 1982

Self-Reliant Cities – Energy and the Transformation of Urban America

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/selfreliant-cities-energy-and-transformation-urban-america/

The first half of this book discusses the century-long struggle by cities to gain autonomy and authority from state governments and create their own planning and service delivery capacities. The second part describes the first urban-based localization movements. Given the relevance of the book to current localist efforts, we’ve written a new foreword that traces the local energy initiatives after the 75 percent plunge in oil prices after 1982 and the coming to power of a new administration hostile to renewable energy. Continue reading

newcitystatescover001.jpg
Resource filed under Energy, The Public Good | Written by David Morris | 1 Comment | Updated on Apr 1, 1982

The New City-States

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

"From the hills of Seattle to the flatlands of Davis, from the industrial city of Hartford to the universty town of Madison, cities are beginning to redefine their role in our society," begins this important essay.  For Morris the new role should should include inducing the widest distribution of productive capacity.  New technologies make possible a more self-conscious and organic city. Local self-reliance becomes a strategy that embraces economic, environmental, and political goals. Morris argues that we have had far too much government and far too little governance.  Government is bureaucratic. Governance is democratic.  Communities can design their future. The new city-state emerge.  Continue reading

decentralizedpv
Resource filed under Energy | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Apr 17, 1980

Decentralized Photovoltaics

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

The Congressional Office of Technology Assessment invited the Institute for Local Self-Reliance to evaluate the comparative economics rooftop solar arrays and the solar powered satellites (SPS) proposed by NASA that would beam power generated in space back to earth.  The report concluded, "If decentralized applications achieve the same array efficiency as those projected for SPS arrays, and if buildings are designed to maximize photovoltaic potential, the residential sector can meet all its energy demands from rooftop arrays, and have enough electricity left over to operate family vehicles, or to export into the grid system." Continue reading

planning for energy self reliance cover
Resource filed under Energy | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Apr 17, 1978

Planning for Energy Self-Reliance: A Case Study of the District of Columbia

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/planning-energy-selfreliance-case-study-district-columbia/

Thiswas the first study to track the flow of energy-related dollars through an urban economy and the impact on this flow from an aggressive energy efficiency and solar energy initiative.  The study concluded that 85 cents of every energy dollar left the city, a far higher leakage than from any other household expenditure. The study also estimated the rooftop space available in DC for solar and the economic impact of energy efficiency. Continue reading

dawningofsolarcells
Resource filed under Energy | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Nov 5, 1975

The Dawning of Solar Cells

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

Thisreport by David Morris was published (1975) shortly after the first plant manufacturing solar cells for terrestrial applications (Solarex) opened in suburban Washington, D.C.  The report examined the embryonic PV industry, which was limited to remote, non-grid connected applications.  The report proposed the creation of a government sponsored artificial market where demand would be increased at a steady pace in return for guarantees by companies that they would reduce the price of their product at an equally steady pace. The report also investigated the economies of scale of solar cells and concluded there were few, that rooftop arrays could generate its own power just as, or more efficiently then centralized solar power plants.

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