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Article filed under Energy | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Oct 5, 2007

Electric Avenue – PHEVs in Travel+Leisure Magazine

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/electric-avenue-phevs-travelleisure-magazine-2/

A new kind of hybrid uses less gas and more electricity. All-electric cars are already here. What will this mean for the road trip of the future? ILSR’s David Morris plugs in and gives us a little history lesson of the Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV). This article by David Morris appeared in the October 2007 issue of Travel + Leisure. Continue reading

Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Sep 12, 2007

Enhancing On-Site Solar Using Reasonable City Fees

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/enhancing-onsite-solar-using-reasonable-city-fees/

A survey in northern California reveals a wide range of fees assessed to homeowners that install on-site solar power systems. The Sierra Club’s Loma Prieta, S.F. Bay and Redwood chapters compared the charges and fees in 131 municipalities. The report recommends on that a $300 fee is an appropriate ceiling level that would comply with state law.

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Aug 16, 2007

Column: On Renewable Energy, Go Local

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

This column by ILSR’s John Farrell argues that in their desire to expand renewable-energy production, activists and policymakers focus almost entirely on “more,” rather than “better.” Twenty-seven states have renewable-energy standards, requiring utilities to produce or sell 10, 20, even 30 percent of electricity from renewable sources in the next two decades. The U.S. Continue reading

Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Aug 15, 2007

On renewable energy, go local

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

On renewable energy, go local A focus on output in gallons and megawatts leads to large-scale ethanol plants and wind farms. Such facilities aren’t the most beneficial, nor even the most efficient. By John Farrell, originally published in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, August 15, 2007 In the past two years, renewable energy has catapulted to… Continue reading

Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Aug 14, 2007

Woodruff Cooperative Pairs Up With Farmers to Collectively Save Members Money

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/woodruff-cooperative-pairs-farmers-collectively-save-members-money/

Through and attractive pricing arrangement, the Woodruff Electric Cooperative has enticed nearly 85 percent of area farmers to allow their irrigation systems to be shut off when electricity demand is high. The program certainly benefits the participating farmers but the other member owners also save since the cooperative can reduce its need to purchase expensive peak power during critical times of the year.

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Aug 7, 2007

Report: Wind and Ethanol: Economies and Diseconomies of Scale

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/report-wind-and-ethanol-economies-and-diseconomies-scale/

Congress and most state legislatures have or are developing renewable energy policies with a single objective: get more renewables. Our new study, Wind and Ethanol: Economies and Diseconomies of Scale, finds that this single minded focus ignores the potential economic benefits from locally owned and more modestly scaled facilities. The focus should on better renewable energy projects not simply more.

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Jul 26, 2007

Small Wind Could Grow If Incentives Put On Par With Solar

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/small-wind-could-grow-if-incentives-put-par-solar/

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) recently released the results from their Small Wind Turbine Global Market Study, reporting that high up —front costs are preventing small wind systems from reaching their growth potential. The small wind industry has been experiencing annual growth in the range of 14-25% since 1985. AWEA says that Increased federal incentives could double the growth rate. Continue reading

Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Jul 24, 2007

New Connecting to the Grid Guide Released

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

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) has issued the 5th edition of its Connecting to the Grid guide. The report and survey addresses new and lingering interconnection issues relevant to all distributed generation (DG) technologies. Continue reading

Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | 1 Comment | Updated on Jul 18, 2007

Nebraska Ethanol Plant Taps Cow Power Next Door

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/nebraska-ethanol-plant-taps-cow-power-next-door/

In Nebraska, cows are helping to produce ethanol. A 28,000-cow feedlot in Mead, Nebraska, is powering the neighboring Genesis Ethanol Plant, owned by E3 Biofuels LLC. The cows are providing 300,000 tons of manure per year, which is turned into methane via anaerobic digestion and accounts for 100% of the thermal energy needed to distill 25 million gallons of ethanol each year.

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Jul 18, 2007

West Hollywood Mandates Green Building Standards on Private Development

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/west-hollywood-mandates-green-building-standards-private-development/

On July 16, 2007, the West Hollywood City Council voted unanimously to pass the Green Building Requirements and Incentives for Private Development Ordinance that applies a suite of energy conservation and renewable energy requirements to both residential and commercial development. Some provisions apply to new building projects while others apply to remodeling projects at existing buildings.

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