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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Jan 24, 2005

Working Group Recommends Update To Interconnection Standards in California

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/working-group-recommends-update-interconnection-standards-california/

The California Energy Commission (CEC) began an investigation in April 2004 via a diverse working group to explore a variety of issues associated with the deployment of distributed generation (DG) including interconnection rules – formally referred to as Rule 21. Implementation of California’s standardized interconnection rules issued in 2000 have been an important priority for California because it eliminated a significant barrier to the safe and cost-effective deployment of DG in the State.

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Jan 21, 2005

Distributed Generation State Legislative Update

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

Many state legislators around the country have returned to their respective capitol buildings for another year of debate. We’ve run across a few interesting proposals involving distributed generation. A Connecticut proposal would provide an increased rate of return for distribution utilities to build distributed generation projects rather than new transmission lines. Continue reading

Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Jan 18, 2005

Groups Demand Broader Access to Energy Decisionmaking

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/groups-demand-broader-access-energy-decisionmaking/

An effort spearheaded by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance resulted in a coalition of groups petitioning the MN Public Utilities Commission requesting that they establish the rules and technological infrastructure to allow citizens to easily monitor and participate in energy decisionmaking. This is an example of Democratic Energy in action. Minnesota isn’t the only state behind the curve either. A quick survey of other state regulatory agencies that oversee energy issues indicates that groups in many states may want to replicate the petition filed in Minnesota.

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Jan 13, 2005

Mandate It and They Will Come: Minnesota’s Biodiesel Law

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/mandate-it-and-they-will-come-minnesotas-biodiesel-law/

Since enactment of the nation’s first state mandate for nearly all diesel fuel sold in the state to contain a small percentage of biodiesel, there was always some uncertainty whether or not production facilities would be built to meet the goal in the law. Language in the law would have allowed the mandate to never take effect unless the in-state production reached 8,000,000 gallons per year. With the opening of one plant in December and two more under construction, the mandate is expected to come into force at the end of June 2005.

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

Wind Power: To Own Or Not To Own

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/wind-power-own-or-not-own/

One of the world’s fastest growing energy technologies is wind power. Landowners on windy sites face a choice – to lease their land to wind developers or to own the turbines themselves. Leasing land provides a landowner with a relatively risk free venture with a steady stream of income. Owning a wind energy project involves more risk but offers landowners significantly more potential revenue. Continue reading

Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Dec 17, 2004

Coop Issuing RFP for Distributed Generation

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

Split Rock Energy, a wholesale power marketer and trader and wholly owned subsidiary of Great River Energy, has issued and will issue two request for proposals (RFP) for two very different types of power resources: baseload and distributed generation.

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Dec 9, 2004

California Feels Global Warming Heat From Automakers

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/california-feels-global-warming-heat-automakers/

A coalition of U.S. and foreign automobile manufacturers and car dealerships in California joined together to file a lawsuit against California’s innovative rule to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles in that state. In a tug of war between federal and state authority, the stage is set for a public debate on how far a state can go in directing its own energy future.

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Dec 6, 2004

Voters Decide to Take Control of Their Electric Systems in Three Cities

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/voters-decide-take-control-their-electric-systems-three-cities/

Everyone knows that President Bush was reelected on November 2nd but did you know that voters in three municipalities voted to take control of their electric systems? In Rolfe, Iowa (pop. 675), the vote was 182-19, in Wellman, Iowa (pop. 1,393) the vote was 470-159, and in Auburn, New York (pop. 28,574) the vote was 4,726-987 to allow their cities to form municipally-owned power companies. The two Iowa cities already control their natural gas utilities so the move toward electricity should be a natural extension. Continue reading

Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Dec 6, 2004

Private Company Offers Employees $5,000 to Purchase Fuel-efficient Vehicles

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/private-company-offers-employees-5000-purchase-fuelefficient-vehicles/

While Democratic Energy is primarily tracking energy innovations in the public sector, we thought that you’d be interested in this energy policy development from the private sector announced last week by the Hyperion Solutions Corporation.

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Nov 30, 2004

New York Renewable Standard Carves Special Niche for Onsite Power

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/new-york-renewable-standard-carves-special-niche-onsite-power/

In September 2004, The New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) adopted a renewable energy portfolio standard that requires 25 percent of the state’s electricity to be supplied from renewable energy sources by 2013. The NY RPS will require about 3,700 megawatts (MW) of new renewable fueled electricity projects to come on-line between 2006 and 2013.

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