Give a Gift To Our Economy: Shop Locally Owned This Holiday Season
We assume that the chains represent economic progress, but in fact they take far more out of our economy than they contribute.… Read More
David Morris Discussion with Paul Krugman
Institute for Local Self-Reliance Vice-President David Morris speaks with New York Times columnist Paul Krugman in Minneapolis, November 6, 2007. The full version is available here, or click "More" under the video player to see the video broken into shorter clips.… Read More
Improving the Efficiency of Minnesota’s Industries
This November 2007 report by David Morris and Ann Robertson evaluates the evaluates that issue by analyzing the impact of the proposed $1.5 billion tax shift legislation, the Economic Efficiency and Pollution Reduction Act (EEPRA) on Minnesota’s most energy-intensive business sectors and estimating the potential for those sectors to offset any increased tax burden through cost-effective efficiency improvements.
Under EEPRA, energy-intensive businesses would pay higher net taxes while energy-efficient businesses would pay lower net taxes. While this is an intended outcome of the tax shift, businesses in Minnesota are concerned that the tax shift could impose a competitive burden on certain sectors.
Global warming requires local solutions
Global warming requires local solutions Cities should use bonding authority to promote energy conservation. The savings would easily pay back the expense. By John Bailey, originally published in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, October 5, 2007 More than 650 cities around the country, including Minneapolis, have formally agreed to honor the Kyoto Protocol and reduce their greenhouse-gas … Read More
Declaration of Independents — Lecture
This lecture was delivered by Stacy Mitchell at the 26th Annual E.F. Schumacher Lectures in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.… Read More
On renewable energy, go local
On renewable energy, go local A focus on output in gallons and megawatts leads to large-scale ethanol plants and wind farms. Such facilities aren’t the most beneficial, nor even the most efficient. By John Farrell, originally published in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, August 15, 2007 In the past two years, renewable energy has catapulted to the … Read More
Burlington Telecom Case Study
In the modern world, broadband information networks are essential infrastructure, a combination of the past’s canals, telegraph wires, interstate highways, and airports. Unfortunately, other developed countries offer faster networks at cheaper prices to their businesses and citizens. Few disagree that the United States must solve this broadband problem.
This case study shows how one city did it. No private company was willing to build the high-speed information network Burlington, Vermont, needed on the timeline it wanted. Rather than hope and wait, they’re building it themselves. After their original plan collapsed, they persevered and developed a different model, using a tax-exempt municipal capital lease arrangement with an outside investor. The City will have direct ownership within 15 years; they already have complete control.
ILSR issued a report in 2011 that updates this case study: Learning from Burlington Telecom: Some Lessons for Community Networks
Small Wind Could Grow If Incentives Put On Par With Solar
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) recently released the results from their Small Wind Turbine Global Market Study, reporting that high up —front costs are preventing small wind systems from reaching their growth potential. The small wind industry has been experiencing annual growth in the range of 14-25% since 1985. AWEA says that Increased federal incentives could double the growth rate.… Read More
Give Ethanol a Chance: The Case for Corn-Based Fuel
Working Assets is my long-distance phone company. I love it dearly for its combination of business efficiency, social responsibility and progressive politics.
Each month, my phone bill carries alerts that urge me to take action on a specific issue or two. Recent Citizen Actions suggest the gravity of the issues chosen: "Save Our Constitution," "Impeach Dick Cheney," "Close Guantanamo."
This month Working Assets urged me to "Say No to Ethanol."