South Carolina Governor Fights Big-Box Subsidy for Cabela’s
Gov. Mark Sanford is pulling out all the stops in his bid to block a multi-million dollar subsidy for the huge outdoor retail chain Cabela’s.… Read More
Turn on the Electric Road
Turn on the Electric Road by David Morris, Vice President Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) October 8, 2006 – published in the New York Times Last summer, New York State took a page from California’s playbook, using state policy to jump-start a 21st century automobile industry. Albany started a $10 million program to convert its fleet … Read More
Xcel Energy’s Green Pricing May Be Abolished in Colorado
The fact that a small portion of Public Service Company of Colorado’s (Xcel Energy) ratepayers pay a “green premium” on their electric bills to support 60 MW of wind energy while 1000 MW of wind power costs will be spread over all customers is deemed to make “little sense.” The PUC staff have proposed the elimination of Xcel’s Windsource green power program and for the program’s cost to be absorbed by the entire ratebase.
Pennsylvania Government Buys Renewable Energy Credits Covering 20 Percent of Electricity Use
In what is billed as the largest green power purchase yet by a state government, Pennsylvania has announced a minimum two-year commitment to buy enough renewable energy credits to cover 20 percent of the state’s internal government’s electric use.
California Solar Initiative Adds Performance Based Incentive in 2007
Beginning January 1, 2007, a ruling by the California PUC establishes performance-based incentives (PBI) of up to 50 cents/kilowatt-hour over five years for solar energy systems greater than 100 kilowatts in size installed in businesses and other large facilities. For systems smaller than 100 kilowatts, incentives will be based on each system’s estimated future performance although projects can opt-in for PBI payments.
Report: The New Ethanol Future Demands a New Public Policy
The New Ethanol Future Demands a New Public Policy by David Morris, Vice President Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) June 21, 2006 This document is an expanded version of “An Ear for the Market,” an opinion piece published in the New York Times. Ethanol’s time has arrived. After 25 years of fighting just to survive in … Read More
The Perils of Wal-Mart Dependence
In July, the town of Homer, Louisiana, will become the latest in a string of small Southern communities where Wal-Mart has taken over the local economy only to skip town years later, leaving a withered tax base and no place to buy many staple goods. … Read More
Boundaries of democracy deserve deeper analysis
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
10 Reasons Why Maine’s Homegrown Economy Matters: And 50 Proven Ways to Revive It
This report opens with an overview of research on the impacts of large chain stores and the benefits of locally owned businesses. It then outlines dozens of concrete strategies to rebuild the homegrown economy. Although this report was written for Maine, the strategies are applicable in other states. … Read More