Rule
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Composting, Waste to Wealth
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admin
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| Updated on
Nov 1, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/compost-amended-soil/
Incorporating compost into soils that are disturbed or damaged by human development (such as typical construction practices) has many benefits for the overall health of the soil ecosystem including: improved water retention, increased infiltration rates, greater binding ability, pH stabilization, and micronutrient enrichment. These micro-level soil benefits in turn, lead to significant community benefits on… Continue reading
Rule
filed under
Composting, Waste to Wealth
| Written by
admin
|
| Updated on
Nov 1, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/on-farm-composting/
Farmers have a vital role to play in producing and utilizing compost to restore depleted soils. Permit exemptions authorize compost operations on farms and smaller-scale facilities, such as community gardens, thus avoiding superfluous permitting requirements that are intended for larger, full-scale compost facilities. Because there are often significantly less risks or hazards associated with on-farm… Continue reading
Article, Resource
filed under
Energy
| Written by
John Farrell
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| Updated on
Nov 1, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/missing-piece-clean-local-energy-transformation/
A presentation by ILSR Senior Researcher John Farrell explores how decentralized biogas production could provide a key piece of the future, renewable electricity system. Given Oct. 29, 2012, in St. Louis to the Biocycle Annual Conference. The Missing Piece in Clean Local Energy from John Farrell Continue reading
Featured
Article
filed under
Energy
| Written by
John Farrell
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| Updated on
Oct 31, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/utilities-distributed-solar/
Last week the Minnesota Public Utility Commission had a rare live public comment period on Xcel Energy’s long term planning process (called an Integrated Resource Plan). At the urging of several fellow clean energy advocates, I gave my 3 minute testimony about the enormous gulf between Xcel’s 10-year plan for solar power and the solar… Continue reading
Article, Resource
filed under
Energy
| Written by
John Farrell
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| Updated on
Oct 18, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/clean-energy-minneapolis/
Click here for a more detailed article. ILSR Senior Researcher John Farrell presents to a big crowd at “Green Ideas and Ham,” a breakfast policy forum in Minneapolis, about the opportunity for the city to dramatically increase its control over its energy future. In a short time, the city’s monopoly energy contracts with its electric… Continue reading
Article
filed under
Energy
| Written by
John Farrell
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| Updated on
Oct 10, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/treasury-dept-fingers-solarcity-leasing/
A new government investigation of Solarcity on the eve of its initial public offering (IPO) may explain how solar leasing is fleecing federal taxpayers and making U.S. residential solar more expensive than in other countries. The Treasury Department inspector general is probing solar leasing company SolarCity (and others) for its use of “fair market value”… Continue reading
Article, Resource
filed under
Energy
| Written by
John Farrell
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| Updated on
Oct 1, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/boulder-mayor-tells-minneapolis-sought-clean-energy-options/
Now’s your chance to hear how Boulder finally came to municipalization of its electric system after many futile years of trying to work with Xcel Energy to get more clean, local power. I traveled to Boulder in April 2011 to talk with their city council and grassroots groups about their struggles (video), and the citizens… Continue reading
Featured
Article
filed under
Energy
| Written by
John Farrell
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| Updated on
Sep 20, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/john-farrell-presents-local-energy-options-minneapolis/
What happens when a city’s franchise contracts with its incumbent electric and gas utilities expires? A once-in-20-year opportunity to consider how its energy can be cleaner, more affordable, more reliable, and more local. ILSR Senior Researcher John Farrell presents to Environment Minnesota’s Green Ideas and Ham policy breakfast, discussing the implications of an expiring franchise… Continue reading
Article
filed under
Energy
| Written by
John Farrell
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| Updated on
Sep 20, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/residential-pv-prices-germany-united-states/
Earlier this week, Lawrence Berkeley Labs released a marvelous comparison of residential PV costs in Germany and the United States, finally putting some detail to an enormous gulf in costs (nearly $3.00 per Watt). The following chart (from page 35 of the presentation) shows the cost difference broken down into 9 categories, with ILSR’s addition… Continue reading
Article
filed under
Energy
| Written by
John Farrell
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| Updated on
Sep 11, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/taller-wind-turbines-boost-state-energy-self-reliance/
A story in the Minneapolis Star Tribune today highlights the increasingly common use of 100 meter wind turbines for new wind power projects, up from the previous 80 meter standard. The technological change grabs more wind energy, with consistently higher wind speeds at higher altitudes, meaning states can get even more power from a similar… Continue reading
