Community wind projects are relatively rare, but allow numerous investors to share in the financial benefits of owning wind power. After the 2008 financial crisis, several projects were successful, tapping limited-time-only federal tax incentives. In March 2013, John Farrell and Wade Underwood spoke with community wind power developer and farmer Randy Caviness about his Green Energy … Read More
Remapping Debate, February 13, 2013 Hurricane Sandy, which blew through the New York metropolitan area late last October, left millions of households and businesses in the region in the dark. Few places were unplugged for as long as the service territory of the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), the state owned electric power distribution company where … Read More
The Open Technology Institute at the New America Foundation has released a report on data caps in the U.S. The report, Capping the Nation’s Broadband Future, was authored by Hibah Hussain, Danielle Kehl, Benjamin Lennett, and Patrick Lucey. The paper looks at the growing prevalence of monthly data caps by massive ISPs like Time Warner Cable, AT&T, and … Read More
A few months ago Nassim Taleb, author of the Black Swan, an influential book about the crucial importance of unpredictable, unforeseen events on our financial system was asked whether the hundreds of thousands taking to the streets in Greece was a Black Swan event. He replied, “No. The real Black Swan event is that people are … Read More
On Sept. 22, in a speech to 100 world leaders gathered at the United Nations to discuss climate change, President Barack Obama declared the U.S. “determined to act.” But at the same time, word began to circulate on Capitol Hill that the Senate might be equally determined not to vote on the climate bill any time … Read More
In 2009 a vigorous debate is taking place about the best way to reduce carbon emissions. There are two leading proposals: a carbon cap and emissions auction with revenue returned to Americans as a dividend, and a carbon tax with revenue returned to Americans in the form of lower taxes or a dividend. In the mid 1990s Minnesota debated a carbon tax and dividend bill designed by ILSR. Several studies were done about the impact on various sectors of such a policy. … Read More
Many proposals addressing climate change advocate for a cap on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or carbon content of fuels. The limiting and lowering of carbon or GHG emissions will create a new market value for carbon. Many agree that there should be a 100 percent auction of carbon permits, and estimates indicate that carbon allowance auctions could raise $50-$200 billion annually at the national level. However, there are many different opinions as to how this money should be used. We believe that carbon cap with universal dividends on a per capita basis is the best solution and be the most politically acceptable solution. It will inspire substantial investment in clean energy technologies while protecting tens of millions of households from the impact from potentially steep increases in energy prices resulting from the cap… Read More
This act established the Crocus Fund in response to capital flight from Manitoba. Its primary objective is to retain Manitoba capital in Manitoba and use that capital to create jobs in small Manitoba businesses. Manitoba’s statute is the most explicit out of all the provinces in its desire to encourage a locally owned economy. It requires that the Crocus Fund promote capital retention and a stable economy, worker ownership and employment, and continued resident ownership of firms in Manitoba.… Read More
For Immediate Release PRESS RELEASE CONTACT: 612-276-3456 GIVING THE MONEY BACK CAN LEAD TO AN EFFECTIVE CARBON CAP Carbon caps with universal dividends create an ethical, equitable and politically effective climate policy Minneapolis, Minn.– (February 12, 2008). Common to many proposals addressing climate change is a carbon cap – limiting and lowering global warming emissions over … Read More
