Democratizing the Electric System

Date: 25 Feb 2001 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Inthe beginning, before there were giant utilities and high voltage transmission lines, and state and federal regulatory agencies and rolling blackouts, companies didn’t sell electricity. They sold power plants. By 1883, the Edison Electric Illuminating Company (later General Electric) had installed 334 power plants inside cotton mills, grain elevators, manufacturing plants, newspapers and theaters.

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Recycling Record Setters Program Profiles: Health Care Facilities

Date: 1 Feb 2001 | posted in: waste - recycling, Waste to Wealth | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

The Saint Joseph Medical Center has achieved an 80% reduction in waste through source reduction and recycling. The Medical Center eliminated the use of single use food service items and instituted electronic office procedures. Recycled materials include cardboard, plastics, glass, aluminum, bi-metal cans, paper, and x-ray film. SAINT JOSEPH MEDICAL CENTER FORT WAYNE, INDIANA Contact: Thomas … Read More

Commentary: Conservative Rage vs. Liberal Guilt

Date: 21 Jan 2001 | posted in: From the Desk of David Morris, The Public Good | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Commentary: Conservative Rage vs. Liberal Guilt By David Morris January 21, 2001 Regarding John Ashcroft, Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., maintains, “A Republican president ought to be able to appoint people of strong conservative ideology.” Can you imagine Sens. Jesse Helms or Trent Lott uttering those words about a Democratic president and his strongly ideological liberal nominee? … Read More

When a Giant Retailer Moves on, It Leaves its ‘Big Box’ Behind

Date: 8 Jan 2001 | posted in: Retail | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Most people are familiar with the damage Wal-Mart, Target and other "big box" retailers have done to local economies. Across the country, these giant stores have gutted downtowns and decimated locally owned businesses. Now the national chains are dealing communities a second blow. They are vacating their existing stores, sometimes to build bigger outlets, sometimes just closing up shop, in both cases leaving huge empty shells and acres of asphalt behind. … Read More

Bonding With the Next Generation

Sometimes doing the right thing is almost too simple. Requiring publicly funded construction projects to produce no net increase in greenhouse gas emissions is one example: it’s hard to find the down side. By David Morris… Read More

Libraries, Liberty and the Pursuit of Public Information

Date: 6 Jan 2001 | posted in: From the Desk of David Morris, information, The Public Good | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Far from becoming obsolete, public libraries still operate at the heart of their communities. In addition, they’ve taken on new roles such as"Guide to the Internet," and "Champion of Equal Access." Now they’re struggling, on behalf of their patrons, to prevent private companies from passing legislation that restricts the right to read free of charge. By Harriet Barlow, Karen Hering and Stacy Mitchell… Read More

Time Warner Could Strangle the Internet

Date: 3 Jan 2001 | posted in: information, MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

As Time Warner begins the process of renegotiating its franchise agreement with the city of Portland, much of the coverage in the Press Herald has focused on cable television. And for good reason.

City residents have no cable choice but Time Warner, and since 1996 the cost of its service has risen three times faster than inflation.

But a far more serious long-term issue for Portland residents and Maine’s economy is Time Warner’s stranglehold on broadband cable Internet service.

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Iowa Group Launches Buy Local Campaign

Date: 1 Jan 2001 | posted in: Retail | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

The front of the poster shows Uncle Sam with his arms embracing a store owner and a shopper, superimposed over an outline of the state of Iowa and a drawing of Main Street. The back lists ten reasons to support independent businesses. Number one: Money spent at a local business stays in your community. … Read More

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