IRS Issues Application Guidance on $400 Million Round of Clean Renewable Energy Bonds

Date: 9 Apr 2007 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

On April 2nd, the Internal Revenue Service issued a notice soliciting applicants for the next round of Clean Renewable Energy Bonds allocations. The CREBs program provides governmental entities, municipal and cooperatively owned utilities an incentive to develop renewable energy projects. Ultimately, an interest free financing tool, CREBs are a substitute for renewable energy production tax incentives that these entities are not able to use because of their tax exempt status. Applications must be filed by July 13, 2007.

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Federal Legislation Would Modify and Extend Clean Renewable Energy Bond Program

Date: 6 Apr 2007 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., recently introduced the Clean Renewable Energy for Public Power Act (H.R. 1821), which would extend and reform the Clean Renewable Energy Bond program authorizing government entities, rural cooperatives and municipally-owned electric systems to issue tax-credit bonds for renewable energy projects, as a counterpart to the production tax credit available to investor-owned utilities and other renewable energy project developers.

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Weighing the Economic Impact of Big-Box Development

Date: 5 Apr 2007 | posted in: Retail | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Many local officials would undoubtedly reconsider big-box projects if they knew that a new mega-store would eliminate more jobs than it creates, or that it would cost the city more in public services than it generates in tax revenue . But most cities do not assess the likely economic impacts of retail development. They assume that these stores expand the local economy and approve them blind to the potential costs. Legislation under consideration in Maine would remedy this by stipulating that cities may approve stores over 75,000 square feet only after an independent economic analysis is conducted.… Read More

Ask Big Box Tool Kit

Date: 28 Mar 2007 | posted in: Retail | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Q: A major retail development is proposed for our town. The developer is insisting that big-box stores do not harm small business. He references a study called “Has Wal-Mart Buried Mom and Pop?” which was published in an academic journal. Is this study valid? How do we respond? – Resident of New Scotland, New York Q: … Read More

Where to Start: How to Stop a Big Box

Date: 28 Mar 2007 | posted in: Retail | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

There are many reasons why communities seek to stop a big-box proposal — the effect on local economic development and small businesses, traffic congestion, environmental issues, community impacts, low-paying jobs. Whatever your concerns, however, the main way most communities succeed in preventing the development of a big-box store is through the local land use system. Don’t … Read More

Al Gore’s Carbon Solution Won’t Stop Climate Change

At the Oscars, former Vice President Al Gore and megastar actor Leonardo DiCaprio informed a billion viewers that this was the first"green Oscar," at least with respect to global warming. The hosts had purchased sufficient greenhouse gas offsets to allow them to free the event of any responsibility for increasing greenhouse gases.

Twodays later, Al Gore and emission offsets were again in the news when reports circulated that his Nashville house consumed 20 times more energy than a typical house. His spokesman responded: The Gore family had purchased green electricity and carbon offsets in sufficient quantities to render the house’s net contribution to global warming as zero.

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Energizing and Transforming Rural America With a New Agriculture and Trade Policy

Date: 19 Jan 2007 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States, Press Release | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

This year offers a rare historical opportunity for our nation to marry energy and agricultural policy objectives. The new 110th Congress will be revisiting the 2005 energy bill and reauthorizing the 2002 farm bill, giving congressional leaders the chance to link increased rural prosperity and energy security. Two reports released today will be useful guides.

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