Energy Self Reliant States

18 Jan 2005

Groups Demand Broader Access to Energy Decisionmaking

by John Farrell | Date: 18 Jan 2005 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

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.

13 Jan 2005

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

by John Farrell | Date: 13 Jan 2005 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

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.

6 Jan 2005

Wind Power: To Own Or Not To Own

by John Farrell | Date: 6 Jan 2005 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

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.… Read More

17 Dec 2004

Coop Issuing RFP for Distributed Generation

by John Farrell | Date: 17 Dec 2004 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

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.

9 Dec 2004

California Feels Global Warming Heat From Automakers

by John Farrell | Date: 9 Dec 2004 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

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.

6 Dec 2004

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

by John Farrell | Date: 6 Dec 2004 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

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.… Read More

6 Dec 2004

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

by John Farrell | Date: 6 Dec 2004 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

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.

30 Nov 2004

New York Renewable Standard Carves Special Niche for Onsite Power

by John Farrell | Date: 30 Nov 2004 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

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.

4 Nov 2004

Colorado Voters Approve Renewable Energy Ballot Initiative

by John Farrell | Date: 4 Nov 2004 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

Colorado voters have become the first in the nation to vote on and pass a renewable energy standard on as part of a statewide ballot question. By a 53%-47% margin, a majority of voters approved Amendment 37 on the November 2nd ballot; which requires an increasing amount of the electricity in Colorado to come from renewables energy sources such as wind and solar.

Colorado now joins 17 states with minimum clean energy standards as part of a growing trend of states taking the lead to fill the void of federal energy policy.