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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Jul 12, 2005

Democrats vs. Republicans – Key Votes on the National Energy Bill

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/democrats-vs-republicans-key-votes-national-energy-bill/

The U.S. House and Senate have passed different versions of a national energy bill. A Conference Committee is trying to work out an agreement on a final bill. We took a look at the votes on various provisions in the bills and created some charts showing the differences based on political party affiliation.

We’re more interested on what’s going on at the state and local levels but from time to time it is instructive to look at what’s coming down from the top in terms of energy policy.

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Jul 6, 2005

Klickitat County’s Energy Overlay Zone Streamlines Future Siting of Energy Projects

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/klickitat-countys-energy-overlay-zone-streamlines-future-siting-energy-projects/

Over three years, Klickitat County in southern Washington, studied the potential impacts of future energy projects within its borders and came up with a plan to direct those projects to the most appropriate areas. The county’s new "Energy Overlay Zone" is a zoning tool aimed at expediting renewable energy development. The Energy Overlay Zone covers more than 1,000 square miles, two-thirds of Klickitat County.

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Jul 5, 2005

Connecticut Makes DG Central to Energy Independence Movement

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/connecticut-makes-dg-central-energy-independence-movement/

The Connecticut legislature has sent the Governor a bill that calls for on-site distributed generation (DG) to meet a growing portion of the state’s electricity supply.

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Jun 28, 2005

DG Interconnections in Massachusetts – First Year Assessment

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/dg-interconnections-massachusetts-first-year-assessment/

Since Massachusetts established their interconnection standards for distributed generation projects in February 2004, 105 projects have been approved and about 40 others are under review.

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Article, Resource filed under Energy | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Jun 15, 2005

Report: MN Biomass Mandate Fails to Meet Original Intent

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/report-mn-biomass-mandate-fails-meet-original-intent/

A new analysis from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance concludes that the Minnesota 1994 biomass mandate, rather than jump-starting a new industry using new energy crops, has become little more than a very costly waste-to-energy program.

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Jun 14, 2005

Nevada Allows Energy Conservation to Qualify For Renewable Energy Requirements

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/nevada-allows-energy-conservation-qualify-renewable-energy-requirements/

Under a new law, utilities in Nevada will now be able to count electricity savings from energy conservation programs as meeting the state’s renewable energy portfolio standard (RPS).

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Jun 7, 2005

Gas Optional Vehicles: Austin Energy Charges Ahead

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/gas-optional-vehicles-austin-energy-charges-ahead/

Preferring the term “gas-optional” vehicles rather than plug-in electric hybrids, Austin Energy has adopted a strategy to diversify and grow its electric utility operations and hopes to convince cities nationwide to follow their lead.

Roger Duncan at Austin Energy is traveling the country promoting the idea that the time is ripe for a convergence of municipally owned electrical operations with the transportation sector. The fit becomes natural through the increased use of gas-optional vehicles (GOVs).

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on May 19, 2005

FERC Adds Another Standard for DG Interconnection

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/ferc-adds-another-standard-dg-interconnection/

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has adopted standard rules for interconnecting distributed generation (DG) projects of 20 MW or less with the electricity grid. These new rules will operate alongside FERC’s previously issued rules that govern interconnections of DG projects larger than 20 MW. FERC also has an ongoing proceeding that is developing special rules for interconnecting wind energy projects with the grid [see FERC's Generation Interconnection web site].

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on May 19, 2005

Washington Laws Encourages Locally Manufactured DG Equipment

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/washington-laws-encourages-locally-manufactured-dg-equipment/

Two proposals unanimously passed by the legislature and signed into law earlier this month by Washington’s Governor, Christine Gregoire, should put distributed generation and renewable energy on the fast track in the state. The first bill (SB 5101) establishes a renewable energy production incentive that is larger if the equipment comes from in-state manufacturers. The second bill (SB 5111) provides corporate tax breaks for solar energy businesses in the state based on their sales.

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on May 12, 2005

Minnesota Passes 20 Percent Ethanol Mandate

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/minnesota-passes-20-percent-ethanol-mandate/

On May 10th, Minnesota’s Governor signed a bill into law that could result in a requirement that the state’s gasoline supplies contain 20 percent ethanol (E-20). If the rules go into effect, it would double the current 10 percent ethanol blends that are now standard throughout the state.

Under the legislation, a new E-20 mandate would take effect in 2013 unless ethanol has already replaced 20 percent of the state’s motor vehicle fuel by 2010. The rule would expire at the end of 2010 if Minnesota is not granted federal approval to use E-20 gasoline blends.

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