Rule
filed under
Independent Business
| Written by
admin
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| Updated on
Mar 15, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/store-size-caps/
Dozens of communities, recognizing that their local economies can absorb only so much new retail without causing numerous existing businesses to close, have enacted zoning rules that prohibit stores over a certain size. Store size caps help to sustain the vitality of small-scale, pedestrian-oriented business districts, which in turn nurture local business development. Continue reading
Rule
filed under
Independent Business
| Written by
admin
|
| Updated on
Mar 15, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/development-moratoria/development-moratorium-tacoma-wa/
On August 30, 2011, the Tacoma City Council adopted an emergency moratorium that prohibits the permitting of retail sales establishments with a floor area greater than 65,000 square feet in size within the city. Continue reading
Article
filed under
Energy
| Written by
John Farrell
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| Updated on
Mar 13, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/minnesota-electricity-100-renewable-100-local/
A new report released today by the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research shows that Minnesota can meet 100% of its electricity needs with in-state wind and solar power, and (with ample energy efficiency investments) at a comparable cost to its existing electricity supply. The notion that solar and wind energy cannot be the mainstay… Continue reading
Article
filed under
Energy
| Written by
John Farrell
|
| Updated on
Feb 27, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/local-clean-energy-future-trading-in-20th-century-electric-grid/
In a New York Times SundayReview piece last week – Drawing the Line at Power Lines – Elisabeth Rosenthal suggested that our desire for clean energy will require significant tradeoffs: There are pipelines, trains, trucks and high-voltage transmission lines. None of them are pretty, and all have environmental drawbacks. But if you want to drive… Continue reading
Article
filed under
Energy
| Written by
John Farrell
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| Updated on
Feb 23, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/citizens-make-an-example-of-minnesota-community-wind-project/
Community wind promises to expand the economic opportunity of transitioning the electricity system to cleaner energy, and engage local communities. Unfortunately, there’s “community wind” and community wind, as one Minnesota project starkly illustrates. Goodhue Wind was first envisioned as a “community wind” project by National Wind in 2008 as a 78 megawatt (MW) wind power… Continue reading
Article
filed under
Energy
| Written by
John Farrell
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| Updated on
Feb 1, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/electricity-priced-hour-boosts-distributed-solar/
Updated 2/1/12 because I underestimated how the tiered pricing worked. Thanks to bkarney at Renewable Energy World for the comment. Last week I wrote about the time-of-use pricing scheme that PG&E offers in San Francisco, and how solar power is worth 14% more compared to a standard flat-rate electricity plan. In reality, it’s 36% or… Continue reading
Article, Rule
filed under
Energy
| Written by
admin
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| Updated on
Jan 30, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/plug-in-electric-vehicles/
With the adoption of smart policies, the revolution in our transportation sector can generate an equally profound revolution in our electricity sector. Continue reading
Article, Rule
filed under
Energy
| Written by
admin
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| Updated on
Jan 30, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/municipal-financing-for-renewables-and-efficiency/
With state enabling legislation, cities and counties are being given the authority to establish municipal financing programs for clean energy and energy efficiency investments in their communities. Commonly referred to as property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing, it allows homeowners and businesses to implement dramatic improvements in efficiency and/or renewable energy and repay those investments over a long-term via a special property tax assessment or via a utility bill. Continue reading
Article, Rule
filed under
Energy
| Written by
admin
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| Updated on
Jan 30, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/mercury-pollution/
Mercury is a neurotoxin that accumulates in the food chain and can damage the brain, spinal cord, kidneys and liver. It has been linked to attention deficit disorder in children, and is particularly hazardous to developing fetuses and young children. Poison control centers and emergency rooms took 18,000 calls in 1998 because of broken mercury fever thermometers. Continue reading
Article, Rule
filed under
Energy
| Written by
admin
|
| Updated on
Jan 30, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/distributed-generation-in-local-plans/
If a proliferation of small-scale power plants serves the interests of the general community, cities and counties should include this concept as an element in their general plans and zoning ordinances. Continue reading
