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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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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on May 2, 2005

An Assessment of Solar Power on Rooftops

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

In March 2005, the Energy Foundation released a study prepared for them by Navigant Consulting and Clean Energy Research. The study was completed in September 2004 and claims to be the first of its kind to do an assessement and estimate of the rooftop solar photovoltaic market potential on a state-by-state basis.

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

Renewable and Efficiency Standards for State Operations In Iowa

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/renewable-and-efficiency-standards-state-operations-iowa/

By executive order Iowa’s Governor has established a renewable portfolio standard for state operations that leans heavily on in-state renewable energy sources. Governor Tom Vilsack’s order directs state agencies to obtain at least 10 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2010 and to reduce their energy use in buildings by 15 percent by 2010 relative to their energy use in 2000.

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Apr 26, 2005

Europe Proposes A Platform for Photovoltaics Development

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

A new report by the Photovoltaic Technology Research Advisory Council (PV-TRAC) reviews the current status of solar powered electricity and presents a vision of photovoltaic technology for 2030 and beyond. The report nicely summarizes the policies of EU member states that have encouraged solar powered distributed generation.

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Apr 15, 2005

Webcast: CHP and DG Potential in California – April 28th and 29th

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/webcast-chp-and-dg-potential-california-april-28th-and-29th/

Internet users have a nice opportunity to tune in via the web on a pair of workshops set up to discuss issues related to combined heat and power (CHP) and distributed generation (DG) development in California.

UPDATE MAY 12, 2005: The webcasts of these two meetings don’t appear to be archived on the CEC web site. So we’ve added links below to the various presentations that the CEC has put online that came out of these meetings.

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Article, ILSR Press Room filed under Energy | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Apr 13, 2005

Biomass: Which Road to Take?

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

A strategic report on developing a sustainable biomass policy, prepared for a foundation in 2001, offers a vision that is still relevant today.

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

State Authority Over Mercury Emissions From Power Plants

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/state-authority-over-mercury-emissions-power-plants/

We received a question on the whether or not states like New Jersey have authority to enact more stringent rules on mercury emissions from power plants than what the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued recently.

Here is the original question:

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

Community Wind Energy – Examples to Learn From

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

Community wind energy projects are expanding across the Midwest. These locally owned commercial-scale wind projects maximize local economic benefits. Take a look at how farmers and entrepreneurs are harvesting a new crop.

Below find some nice online resources describing successful community wind energy projects.

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Article filed under Energy | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Mar 30, 2005

Are Ethanol Mandates a Good Idea?

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

We received a question on whether or not the state of Montana should enact a requirement for a 10 percent ethanol blend in its gasoline supplies. Dr. Dave responded, noting that Montana is one of six states that has in place or is currently debating, an ethanol mandate.

Click Here for the complete Question and Answer from Dr.Dave.

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

New Ethanol Plant Will Use Waste Heat From Existing Power Plant

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/new-ethanol-plant-will-use-waste-heat-existing-power-plant/

In a unique collaboration, a Minnesota electric cooperative will supply the thermal energy requirements for an ethanol plant proposed in North Dakota.

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