States and consumers can benefit dramatically by enacting appliance and equipment efficiency standards that will save more energy than recently enacted Federal standards. A recent study provides the roadmap and the estimates on the impacts that new standards will have for each state.
The Utility Wind Integration Group (UWIG) has released of an assessment on the impact and issues related to the integration of wind energy into existing utility power systems. The key conclusion from the group is that they don’t see any fundamental technical barriers to wind energy penetrations of up to 20 percent of system peak demand.
Boundaries of democracy deserve deeper analysis by David Morris Originally published in the St. Paul Pioneer Press, May 18, 2006 In its May 16 editorial, “We count on legislators to strike a balance,” the Pioneer Press asked “when and why should we vote?” Its answer? In the case of a Hennepin County sales tax to fund … Read More
Under a compromise agreement, legislation was passed into law in May 2006 that requires Minnesota’s largest coal-fired power plants to cut mercury emissions by 90 percent by 2015.
Utilities were brought on board by allowing immediate recovery from ratepayers the cost of installing the necessary pollution control equipment.
ILSR’s Vice President, David Morris, was interviewed on WCCO’s "Good Question" segment that answered questions about E85. Segment aired May 17, 2006. … Read More
A stakeholder’s group has unveiled a model ordinance that will help Pennsylvania’s local governments decide how to direct the location and development of wind energy projects within municipal borders.
With a stroke of the pen, Gov. Schwarzenegger signed an executive order (S-06-06) that establishes in-state production goals for ethanol – from 5 percent today to 75 percent by 2050. The order also requires in-state biomass electricity to meet 20 percent of the state’s renewable energy requirements in the coming years.
According to a recent report by the Iowa Policy Project, ten Iowa schools have renewable energy projects that are supplying a portion of their energy needs. These districts are spending less on electricity and more on students who now have an up-close opportunity to learn about wind energy.
Business Forum: NAFTA helped increase flow of illegal immigrants by David Morris Originally published in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, May 7, 2006 The debate about illegal immigration rarely mentions the North American Free Trade Agreement, known as NAFTA. That’s regrettable, since the flood of illegal Mexicans in 2006 empirically challenges the philosophy that guided NAFTA’s design. … Read More
