2 Mar 2010

New Rules News

by ILSR | Date: 2 Mar 2010 | 0

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Christopher MitchellJuly 5, 2017

Tennessee’s Tri-County Electric Cooperative To Build High-Speed Internet Network

On the border of Tennessee and Kentucky, an electric cooperative looks to a more connected...

Hannah TrostleJuly 4, 2017

ILSR Raises Up Urban Farms with Community Compost in Baltimore and D.C.

In 2014, ILSR’s Composting for Community Initiative launched the Neighborhood Soil Rebuilders (NSR) composter training...

Linda Bilsens BrolisJune 30, 2017

Independence & Local Self-Reliance

Here at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, we advocate for independence in a variety of...

Nick Stumo-LangerJune 30, 2017

Pinetops Will Stay Connected to Broadband In North Carolina, For Now

It’s been a long road for Pinetops, North Carolina, as they’ve sought better connectivity in...

Lisa GonzalezJune 30, 2017

One Touch Make Ready: Model Language In Three Cities And Counting…

One Touch Make Ready (OTMR) policies are recognized as a way to cut down on...

Lisa GonzalezJune 28, 2017

Amid EV Surge, Austin Eyes a New Way of Doing Business — Episode 48 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

Electric and autonomous vehicle technology supports the change, said Popham, whose city-owned utility is a...

Karlee WeinmannJune 26, 2017

Fiber-to-the-Home Funding On Summer Ballot In Lyndon Township, Michigan

In August, voters in Lyndon Township, Michigan, will decide whether or not they want to...

Lisa GonzalezJune 26, 2017

Amazon Is Trying to Control the Underlying Infrastructure of Our Economy

In this op-ed for Motherboard, we look at how Amazon is trying to control the...

Stacy MitchellJune 25, 2017

Boston Bringing Broadband Ready Ranking To Real Estate

Tenants often don’t know what level of Internet access they can expect in a new...

Lisa GonzalezJune 24, 2017

Louisville’s Opportunity: Connecting Their City, Receiving Big Savings

In order to save public dollars, improve municipal connectivity, and enhance the city’s ability to...

Lisa GonzalezJune 21, 2017

Comcast Called Out For Lies Concerning Municipal Fiber Network

Sharing information about the fabulous work by communities investing in publicly owned Internet infrastructure is...

Lisa GonzalezJune 21, 2017

The Rise and Fall of the Word ‘Monopoly’ in American Life

In this piece for The Atlantic, ILSR's Stacy Mitchell looks at the history of the...

Stacy MitchellJune 20, 2017

Boulder County Incentive Program Drives Adoption of Two ‘Sexy Electrics’: Solar and Electric Cars — Episode 47 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

The Boulder County program's financial benefits for the community far outpaced its costs, Brad Smith,...

Karlee WeinmannJune 19, 2017

Electric Cooperative, County Collaborate To Expand Fiber-to-the-Home in Rural Virginia

Prince George County, Virginia, and its electric cooperative recently entered into an agreement that will...

Lisa GonzalezJune 16, 2017

Why Local Self-Reliance? (Episode 22)

David Morris talks with Christopher Mitchell, Director of ILSR’s Community Broadband Networks initiative about why...

Nick Stumo-LangerJune 15, 2017

Indiana Eases Easements For Electric Cooperatives, Allows Fiber Infrastructure Investments

The State Legislature in Indiana sent SB 478 to Governor Eric Holcomb earlier this session;...

Lisa GonzalezJune 14, 2017

Refute Misinformation With Our “Correcting Community Fiber Fallacies” Page

As an increasing number of communities investigate the possibility of publicly owned Internet networks, big...

Lisa GonzalezJune 13, 2017

Will All New Vehicles Be Electric By 2030? One Expert Says Yes — Episode 46 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

That’s exactly what entrepreneur and lecturer Tony Seba argues in his book, Clean Disruption of...

Karlee WeinmannJune 12, 2017

Monopoly Report: Cover Image

ILSR Report on “Monopoly Power and the Decline Small Business” Receives Award for Antitrust Scholarship

A report published by ILSR is recognized as “Best Antitrust and Small Business Article” as...

Nick Stumo-LangerJune 12, 2017

Frederick Compost Summit Brings Together Regulators, Farmers, and Residents

On Monday, May 22nd, 2017, the Frederick Compost Workgroup hosted the Frederick Compost Summit at...

Linda Bilsens BrolisJune 8, 2017

Report: Choosing the Electric Avenue – Unlocking Savings, Emissions Reductions, and Community Benefits of Electric Vehicles

The U.S. vehicle market will undergo a massive technology disruption from electric vehicles in the...

John FarrellJune 7, 2017

Addressing UPenn Report on Municipal Broadband: Dud Data, Unsuitable Approach

For the second week in row, our staff has felt compelled to address a misleading...

Lisa GonzalezJune 1, 2017

Rural Telephone Cooperative Forges Its Own Path In Michigan

Can’t get telephone or Internet service? Have you tried starting your own company? In 1998,...

Hannah TrostleMay 29, 2017

Report: Correcting Community Fiber Fallacies

Usually, we ignore the misinformation released by the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) but their latest...

Lisa GonzalezMay 24, 2017

New York City Works With Grassroots for Low-Income Access – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 254

This is episode 254 of our Community Broadband Bits podcast! Community Broadband Bits is a short...

Christopher MitchellMay 20, 2017

Infographic: The Threat of Super-Preemption to US Cities

Preemption at the state and federal level threatens local telecommunications authority, as we’ve seen in...

Lisa GonzalezMay 11, 2017

Watch: How Cities Can Create a Built Environment Where Local Businesses Thrive

Cities are changing to become increasingly inhospitable to locally owned businesses. In this 20-minute talk,...

Olivia LaVecchiaMay 9, 2017

Press Release: Maryland Governor Hogan Signs ILSR-led Bipartisan Bills to Advance Composting

On Thursday, May 4th, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan signed two bills to advance composting in...

Nick Stumo-LangerMay 5, 2017

Would You Pay 5% More for Local Energy?

In recent months, a raft of cities and states pushed up their renewable energy targets...

John FarrellMay 4, 2017

Creating Community Wealth Through Compost (Episode 19)

In Building Local Power this week, we’re delving into the potential community-based composting holds to empower...

Nick Stumo-LangerMay 4, 2017

Policies That Make Markets Work, Hello Antitrust! (Episode 18)

This week in Building Local Power, we are focusing on what makes and breaks markets...

Nick Stumo-LangerApril 27, 2017

Bill To Limit Local Broadband Authority Appears In Maine

Maine is the latest battleground for local telecommunications authority. A bill in the state’s House...

Lisa GonzalezApril 25, 2017

Residential Subscribers in Focus as Minnesota Weighs Community Solar Incentives

In its filing on providing community solar incentives for residential subscribers, the Department outlined a...

Karlee WeinmannApril 22, 2017

Make Every Day Earth Day Through Composting

“The Nation that destroys its soil destroys itself.” ...

Brenda PlattApril 21, 2017

Mayors Take on Preemption to Defend Local Solutions (Episode 17)

Welcome to episode seventeen of the Building Local Power podcast. In this episode, Andrew Gillum, Mayor...

Nick Stumo-LangerApril 20, 2017

Press Release: Walmart’s Climate Pollution Grows as It Scales Back Renewable Power

More than a decade after Walmart pledged to become an environmental leader, the company’s climate...

Nick Stumo-LangerApril 19, 2017

NSR Master Composter Course in Baltimore

The City of Baltimore is dedicated to developing sustainable local food systems by encouraging urban...

Linda Bilsens BrolisApril 19, 2017

Infographic: Compost Impacts More Than You Think

From healthy soils, to good local jobs, we bet you didn’t know that compost can...

Brenda PlattApril 19, 2017

Small Banks, Big Benefits (Episode 16)

In this episode of the Building Local Power podcast, our guest is Justin Dahlheimer, president...

Nick Stumo-LangerApril 13, 2017

Alabama Committee Kills Bill For Better Connectivity

When Alabama State Sen. Tom Whatley from Auburn spoke with OANow in late March, he...

Lisa GonzalezApril 10, 2017

Thanks To Your Local Economy, Renewables Aren’t Going Anywhere (Episode 15)

Welcome to episode fifteen of the Building Local Power podcast. In this episode, Christopher Mitchell,...

Nick Stumo-LangerApril 6, 2017

Infographic: The Market for Internet Access Is Broken

“Monopoly” may be a fun family night activity, but if you live in a place...

Lisa GonzalezApril 5, 2017

Local Governments Are Increasingly Buying from Amazon. Here’s Why They Need to Stop.

Local governments are increasingly turning to Amazon for their buying needs. When they do, though,...

Olivia LaVecchiaApril 4, 2017

Photo: Sen. Amy Klobuchar delivering a speech on antitrust.

Anticompetitive Conditions Are Impacting Independent Businesses, Says Letter to Sen. Klobuchar

In today's highly concentrated markets, the ability of dominant companies to exclude and impede businesses...

Olivia LaVecchiaApril 4, 2017

Hierarchy to Reduce Food Waste & Grow Community

We've developed this Hierarchy to Reduce Waste & Grow Community in order to highlight the...

Brenda PlattApril 4, 2017

Report: Why Should Baltimore Recycle More?

There are two primary reasons why Baltimore should invest in more recycling. Establishing high recycling...

Neil SeldmanApril 3, 2017

Rural Solar At Risk As Co-ops Push for Less Oversight

Minnesota’s governor recently vetoed anti-renewables legislation that threatens rural solar development, but the bill’s likely...

Karlee WeinmannMarch 30, 2017

Compostable Plastics Bill Advances in Maryland

Since we wrote about Maryland House Bill 1349, “Compostable, Degradable, and Biodegradable Plastic Products –...

Virginia StreeterMarch 29, 2017

Public-Private Partnership Pursued in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s state barriers won’t stop this community from improving Internet service for its municipal facilities,...

Hannah TrostleMarch 28, 2017

Breaking Through Partisanship: Left-Right-Local (Episode 14)

John Farrell, Director of ILSR’s Energy Democracy Initiative, Stacy Mitchell, Director of Community-Scaled Economies, and...

Nick Stumo-LangerMarch 23, 2017

Legislative and Broadband Relief For Pinetops, North Carolina In Sight

Since August 2016, the small community of Pinetops has been on the verge of losing...

Lisa GonzalezMarch 23, 2017

Video: A Solar Leader Emerges in Rural Iowa

It seems counter-intuitive that a conservative farming community in southeastern Iowa is home to some...

Karlee WeinmannMarch 15, 2017

monopoly-man-equifax-hearing-img

America’s Major Market Power Problem (Episode 13)

In this episode of the Building Local Power podcast, ILSR's Christopher Mitchell and Stacy Mitchell...

Nick Stumo-LangerMarch 9, 2017

Arkansas Utility Leads on Energy, Broadband

Ouachita Electric Cooperative, nestled deep in south-central Arkansas, is an unlikely innovator in a pair...

Karlee WeinmannMarch 2, 2017

Energy Democracy in 4 Powerful Steps

There’s no question that the energy system is undergoing change. One need look no further...

John FarrellMarch 1, 2017

Maryland Bill to Increase Food Recovery Infrastructure Advances with ILSR’s Help

Legislation is making its way through the Maryland legislature that will encourage a distributed infrastructure...

Nick Stumo-LangerFebruary 27, 2017

The Power and Perils of Cooperatives (Episode 12)

In this episode, Christopher Mitchell, the director of ILSR’s Community Broadband Networks initiative, interviews Hannah...

Nick Stumo-LangerFebruary 23, 2017

Sherco Power Plant: The Wrong Project, for the Wrong Reasons, At a Big Cost

Have you seen this advertisement from Xcel Energy? We've done a little bit of work...

Nick Stumo-LangerFebruary 22, 2017

Community Composters Gather at Conference in Los Angeles

The Fourth National Cultivating Community Composting Forum, January 2017, made clear that community composters serve...

Linda Bilsens BrolisFebruary 10, 2017

Bolstering Waste Recovery Through Model Legislation (Episode 11)

In this episode, Christopher Mitchell, the director of ILSR's Community Broadband Networks initiative, interviews Brenda...

Nick Stumo-LangerFebruary 9, 2017

Press Release: Brenda Platt Receives Major Composting Award for Grassroots Advocacy

Brenda Platt, Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) co-director and director of ILSR's Composting for Community initiative,...

Nick Stumo-LangerFebruary 8, 2017

Despite Intense Bipartisan Opposition, Virginia’s Anti-Municipal Broadband HB 2108 Passes

On February 7th, the Virginia House of Delegates voted 72 – 24 to pass HB...

Lisa GonzalezFebruary 8, 2017

Community Development Block Grants Aid Connectivity In Nelson County, VA

This article was written by Community Broadband Networks initiative intern, Kate Svitavsky. Publicly owned Internet...

ILSRFebruary 6, 2017

States Where Amazon Collects Sales Tax (Map)

This map shows the states in which Amazon collects sales taxes.…

Stacy MitchellFebruary 6, 2017

Thanks to Co-op, Small Iowa Town Goes Big On Solar

Nestled in the gently rolling hills of southeastern Iowa, it’s at first difficult to tell...

Karlee WeinmannFebruary 3, 2017

“Why Local Solutions?” Internet Access Fact Sheet

The next time you’re attending a city council meeting, attending a local broadband initiative, or...

Lisa GonzalezFebruary 1, 2017

Tennessee Broadband Bill Is A Jackpot For AT&T, Junk For EPB

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam doesn’t want the public’s money to pay for publicly owned Internet...

Lisa GonzalezJanuary 27, 2017

Trump’s FCC Pick Bodes Poorly for Net Neutrality & Broadband Competition

Donald Trump picked his FCC chairman much earlier than anyone expected, though Ajit Pai is...

Christopher MitchellJanuary 26, 2017

Preemption, Local Authority, & Municipal Broadband (Episode 10)

In this episode, John Farrell, the director of ILSR's Energy Democracy initiative, interviews Christopher Mitchell...

Nick Stumo-LangerJanuary 26, 2017

Taking on the Billionaires

Combatting defeatism may be our single most important psychological objective in the wake of the...

David MorrisJanuary 26, 2017

“More Than Just Facebook” Internet Connectivity Fact Sheet

Our newest fact sheet, More than just Facebook, provides an overview on how Internet access...

Lisa GonzalezJanuary 26, 2017

Solar: Choice, Competition, and Clean Air

It’s simple to promote solar power as a money saver and clean alternative to fossil...

John FarrellJanuary 17, 2017

Fact Sheet On Municipal Networks In Virginia

The latest addition to our list of fact sheets focuses on Virginia: Municipal Networks Deliver...

Lisa GonzalezJanuary 16, 2017

Official Agendas Available, Fourth National Cultivating Community Composting Forum

In collaboration with the US Composting Council (USCC) and BioCycle, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance is...

Nick Stumo-LangerJanuary 13, 2017

State Bills To Block Municipal Networks Start In Missouri, Virginia

With each new legislative session come the new bills from the incumbents aiming to limit...

Lisa GonzalezJanuary 13, 2017

Response to Amazon’s Jobs Announcement, January 2017

Stacy Mitchell, co-director of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, and co-author of the recent report,...

Nick Stumo-LangerJanuary 12, 2017

The Perils of Privatization (Episode 9)

In this episode, Chris Mitchell, the director of our Community Broadband Networks initiative, interviews David...

Nick Stumo-LangerJanuary 12, 2017

How 2017 Will Transform Broadband Opportunities for Local Governments

This may well be the year of local government broadband solutions. For some communities, it...

Christopher MitchellJanuary 10, 2017

Waste to Wealth, 2016 in Review

Now that 2016 is firmly in the rearview mirror, we are looking back at some...

Nick Stumo-LangerJanuary 9, 2017

New Resource: Map, List Of Citywide FTTH Munis

It’s no small feat to plan, deploy, and operate a municipal citywide Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) network,...

Lisa GonzalezJanuary 9, 2017

Energy Democracy, 2016 in Review

While 2016 was a turbulent year in our government, the goals and values we hold at...

Nick Stumo-LangerDecember 28, 2016

New Year’s Resolutions for Electric Utilities, Happy 2017!

The turn of the year is a perfect time for monopoly electric utilities nationwide to...

Karlee WeinmannDecember 26, 2016

Dear Santa…ILSR’s Federal Energy Policy Wish List

A new administration critical of clean energy imposes vast uncertainty on a U.S. energy sector...

Karlee WeinmannDecember 20, 2016

Composting Cultivates Economic Development (Episode 7)

In this episode, Chris Mitchell, the director of our Community Broadband Networks initiative, interviews Linda...

Nick Stumo-LangerDecember 15, 2016

Decentralizing Economic Power, Reinvigorating Democracy: ILSR’s Impact in 2016

ILSR’s forward-thinking, bottom-up solutions have never been more needed. Please help us expand our impact...

ILSRDecember 15, 2016

Fact Sheet on Minnesota’s Rural Digital Divide

The fact sheet highlights the great work that Minnesota cooperatives and municipalities have done to...

Lisa GonzalezDecember 5, 2016

2016 World Soil Day: Benefits of Composting Infographic Posters

December 5th is World Soil Day, on this day we celebrate the eminent power of...

Brenda PlattDecember 5, 2016

The Public Good Newsfeed – December 1, 2016: The Perils of Privatization

A selection of recent news stories with an ILSR insight into “The Public Good.” Stories in...

David MorrisDecember 1, 2016

Media Outlets Cover 2016 Colorado Broadband Ballot Initiatives

On November 8th, 2016, 26 Colorado cities and counties joined 69 of their fellow communities...

Nick Stumo-LangerDecember 1, 2016

Report: How Amazon’s Tightening Grip on the Economy Is Stifling Competition, Eroding Jobs, and Threatening Communities

Amazon has extended its tentacles across our economy. In this report, we pull back the...

Stacy MitchellNovember 29, 2016

Video: Compost Happens, But Training Matters

Composting is an age-old practice that still benefits our soils as much today as it did in...

Linda Bilsens BrolisNovember 23, 2016

Amid Murky Energy Outlook, Some Reasons To Be Thankful [Infographic]

Without a clear policy plan from President-Elect Donald Trump, the nation’s energy future hangs in...

Karlee WeinmannNovember 22, 2016

Broadband Boosted at the Ballot, An Election Wrap-Up (Episode 5)

In this episode, Chris Mitchell, the director of our Community Broadband Networks initiative, interviews Lisa...

Nick Stumo-LangerNovember 17, 2016

Going Beyond Candidates: Three State Initiatives That Could Change America

On November 8th citizens in 35 states vote on 163 ballot initiatives. They cover a wide...

David MorrisNovember 11, 2016

Report: Inclusive Financing for Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Energy efficiency and renewables represent the most promising pathway to lower energy costs for individual...

John FarrellNovember 11, 2016

As Trump Heads to White House, Lack of Actual Policy Threatens U.S. Energy Future

The U.S. energy economy faces unprecedented pressure to integrate clean and renewable fuel sources like...

Karlee WeinmannNovember 9, 2016

Colorado Voters Choose Local Control In 26 Communities

We didn’t need a crystal ball, magic potion, or ESP to predict that local Colorado...

Lisa GonzalezNovember 9, 2016

Powering a Political Revolution, North Dakota’s Non-Partisan League (Episode 4)

In this episode, Chris Mitchell, the director of our Community Broadband Networks initiative, interviews David...

Nick Stumo-LangerNovember 3, 2016

Vote for the White House Kitchen Garden

The newly installed White House Kitchen Garden speaks to an important throughline in American history...

Linda Bilsens BrolisOctober 31, 2016

A Massachusetts Co-op Makes A Powerful Vintage

For more than five years, Vineyard Power Cooperative has provided electricity customers living in one...

Karlee WeinmannOctober 31, 2016

Movie Monster Madness At MuniNetworks! Internet Terror Triple Feature!

Much like the the bone-chilling flicks celebrating eerie entertainment that dwells in the depths of...

Lisa GonzalezOctober 28, 2016

RePower Madison Challenges Old Electric Monopoly Model

An unconventional approach to grassroots organizing in Wisconsin’s capital city has in recent years tipped...

Karlee WeinmannOctober 28, 2016

Google Fiber Pauses – But No One Else Should

Google Fiber has finally announced its plans for the future after weeks of dramatic speculation...

Christopher MitchellOctober 27, 2016

A Deep Dive to Answer Ken Bone’s Energy Question

At the second presidential candidate debate, one red-sweater-wearing American earned notoriety for his question about...

John FarrellOctober 27, 2016

The Public Good Newsfeed – October 26, 2016: California Takes on Big Pharma, South Dakotans Take on the Political Establishment, and more…

A selection of recent news stories with an ILSR insight into “The Public Good.” Stories in...

David MorrisOctober 26, 2016

Energy Policies on the 2016 Ballot, Two Weeks Out

This is an update of analysis done back in June, state-by-state information has been updated,...

Nick Stumo-LangerOctober 20, 2016

Energy Democracy: Customer Control over Renewable Energy (Episode 3)

In this episode, Chris Mitchell, the director of our Community Broadband Networks initiative, interviews John...

Nick Stumo-LangerOctober 20, 2016

Report: Sparking Grid Savings Starts at Home

New technology, particularly in the hands of electric customers, is creating an unprecedented opportunity to...

John FarrellOctober 12, 2016

ILSR Sponsors the Fourth National Cultivating Community Composting Forum, Scholarship Fund Announced

In collaboration with the US Composting Council (USCC) and BioCycle, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance announces...

Brenda PlattOctober 11, 2016

Report: North Carolina Connectivity – The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

North Carolina’s digital divide between urban and rural communities is increasing dangerously in a time...

Nick Stumo-LangerOctober 11, 2016

ILSR’s Testimony at New York City Hearing on Retail Diversity and Neighborhood Character

At a recent New York City Council hearing, ILSR submitted testimony examining the importance of...

Olivia LaVecchiaOctober 10, 2016

In Maryland, Community Solar Pioneers Offer Blueprint

A pair of rooftop solar arrays in Maryland spotlight how pioneering communities can pool their...

Karlee WeinmannOctober 7, 2016

Mediacom Lawyers Slow Internet Competition With Court Time, Resources

When big corporate incumbent providers fear a hint of competition from a new entrant, they...

Lisa GonzalezOctober 6, 2016

Report: Is Bigger Best in Renewable Energy?

Conventional wisdom suggests the biggest wind and solar power plants will be cheapest, but where...

John FarrellSeptember 30, 2016

Trust In Government: Strongest Close To Home

We have recently covered state laws preempting local control, especially in North Carolina and Tennessee....

Hannah TrostleSeptember 27, 2016

Connectivity’s Community Impact: Looking At The Numbers

People rave about next-generation connectivity’s possibilities in rural economies, but what does that mean for...

Hannah TrostleSeptember 24, 2016

At the Two-Year Mark, a Few Lessons from the Minneapolis Clean Energy Partnership – Episode 40 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

Minneapolis garnered national attention when it formed a first-of-its-kind partnership with local utilities to advance...

Karlee WeinmannSeptember 16, 2016

Wilson, North Carolina Forced to Turn Off Service to Rural Pinetops

Last night, Wilson’s City Council voted to halt Greenlight Internet service to the community of...

Lisa GonzalezSeptember 16, 2016

Eureka Recycling: Efficient, Cost Effective and Socially Beneficial Recycling

Grassroots recycling companies were a critical link in the United States as the transition from...

Neil SeldmanSeptember 8, 2016

November 8th: Four Key Factors for the Armchair Strategist

Two months to elections and counting. Americans will be voting for the entire House, a...

David MorrisAugust 31, 2016

Prince George’s County Has Officially Declined To Move Forward With Garbage Incineration

Prince George’s County has officially declined to move forward with garbage incineration as part of...

Neil SeldmanAugust 25, 2016

Introducing the Community Power Map

Where are communities taking charge of their energy future? Which states give communities the most...

John FarrellAugust 24, 2016

SandyNet Increases Speeds, Keeps Low Prices

This post was written by ILSR intern, Alex Dangel. On July 4th, Sandy, Oregon’s municipal...

ILSRAugust 23, 2016

The Beginning of the End of Prison Privatization?

The Federal Government announced today (August 18th) it will stop allowing private companies to operate...

David MorrisAugust 18, 2016

Changing the Language of Renewable Energy, the Electric Monopoly’s Newest Ploy

What happens when utility companies lose ground as their customers cut consumption and seek innovative...

Nick Stumo-LangerAugust 18, 2016

Major Media Outlets Cover 6th Circuit Decision Limiting Local Authority

A circuit court decision this week means the digital divide in Tennessee and North Carolina...

Rebecca ToewsAugust 15, 2016

For Rural Pinetops, Being A Gigabit Community Means Business In North Carolina

Unless you live in a rural community, you probably assume becoming a Gigabit community is...

ILSRAugust 12, 2016

Monopoly Power and the Decline of Small Business

The U.S. is much less a nation of entrepreneurs than it was a generation ago....

Stacy MitchellAugust 10, 2016

Composting Will Help Flint Recover From Its Water Crisis

Increasing composting in Flint will benefit residents in many ways: healthier soils for food production,...

Linda Bilsens BrolisAugust 9, 2016

RS Fiber Cooperative & ILSR Featured in Yes! Magazine

Minnesota's RS Fiber Cooperative is getting well-deserved attention from a variety of sources far beyond...

Rebecca ToewsAugust 9, 2016

Missoula Wins Right to Own Its Water Supply

In a major victory for the commons, the Montana Supreme Court, by a 5-2 decision,...

David MorrisAugust 4, 2016

The Next President Will Likely Appoint 4 Supreme Court Justices: Who Do You Want Picking Them?

The future of the Supreme Court is at stake in the 2016 election. We know...

David MorrisJuly 27, 2016

What if…Your Electric Utility Was a Benefit Corporation?

The misunderstandings that from time to time occur between communities and the managers of electric-lighting...

Matt GrimleyJuly 21, 2016

California Weighs Fair Pricing for Distributed, Centralized Energy

This article published with the substantial assistance of ILSR intern, McKenna Eckerline. Everyone hates paying...

John FarrellJuly 18, 2016

Montgomery Co. MD Bill Requires Distributed Composting

On June 28, 2016, Montgomery County Council (Maryland) Vice President, Roger Berliner, introduced legislation to...

Brenda PlattJuly 14, 2016

The Secrets Behind Partnerships to Improve Internet Access

A growing number of US cities have broken up monopoly control of the Internet marketplace locally....

Rebecca ToewsJuly 14, 2016

How to Make a Political Revolution

On June 14th, North Dakotans voted to overrule their government’s decision to allow corporate ownership...

David MorrisJuly 5, 2016

Liberty and the Farm: Internet Access

The 4th of July invites us to celebrate the accomplishments of our country. But, 23...

ILSRJuly 2, 2016

Local Utilities Have Lost Local Control

This post made possible by the tireless efforts of ILSR intern Abbigail Feola. She dug...

John FarrellJune 23, 2016

Compost Combats Desertification: Download New Poster

June 17th is World Day to Combat Desertification. In 1994, the United Nations declared June...

Brenda PlattJune 17, 2016

Ammon’s Model: The Virtual End of Cable Monopolies

The city of Ammon, Idaho, is building the Internet network of the future. Households...

Rebecca ToewsJune 15, 2016

To Lease or To Own Your Solar Array (Infographic)

Is owning your solar array your best option, or is leasing right for you? Along...

Nick Stumo-LangerJune 10, 2016

Minnesota Broadband Grant Program Gets Funded, Issues Remain

The Minnesota Legislature has just approved $35 million for the Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant program...

ILSRJune 2, 2016

Video: Break the Chains, Build Local Power

Since our founding in 1974, we have worked to rewrite the rules and empower communities to...

ILSRJune 1, 2016

Being Black Still a Barrier to Rural Cooperative Board Membership

Exempt from state regulation in 33 states because they purportedly offer democratic and local control,...

John FarrellMay 23, 2016

Not Just Illegal, Targeting Solar Facilities With Fees is Poor Policy

Should utilities be able to add special fees on customers that have solar or small...

John FarrellMay 12, 2016

What Should Bernie Do Now?

“What should Bernie do?” That seems to be the question of the month. Permit me...

David MorrisMay 11, 2016

Lost Lease

How Rising Commercial Rents Are Threatening Independent Businesses, and What Cities Are Doing About It

As the cost of leasing commercial space soars in many U.S. cities, this report examines...

Olivia LaVecchiaApril 20, 2016

RS Fiber: Fertile Fields for new Rural Internet Cooperative

21ST CENTURY FARMS REQUIRE 21ST CENTURY CONNECTIVITY. Denied Access by telephone and cable companies, they...

Christopher MitchellApril 18, 2016

The Most Substantive Political Debate in Recent History

Win or lose, Bernie Sanders has made this Democratic primary the most substantive in my...

David MorrisApril 7, 2016

More Colorado Communities Shut Out State Barriers At The Voting Booth

Once again, local communities in Colorado chose to shout out to leaders at the Capitol...

ILSRApril 6, 2016

What Is the Best Medical System in the Country? The Answer May Surprise You.

The Veterans Administration (VA). Yes, a medical system 100% financed by the government and run...

David MorrisMarch 31, 2016

Report: Re-Member-ing the Electric Cooperative

Electric cooperatives have been the backbone of the nation’s rural electrical system for more than 80...

John FarrellMarch 29, 2016

AT&T Tries to End the Magic of One Touch Make-Ready

On the border of Kentucky and Indiana a fight is brewing as AT&T and Google...

ILSRMarch 28, 2016

Mancos Voters The Latest To Decide Local Authority In Colorado

Mancos, a rural community of about 1,300 in rural southwest Colorado, hopes to join over...

ILSRMarch 25, 2016

Listen to the Lawyers: Audio of Oral Arguments Now Available in TN/NC vs FCC

Attorneys argued before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals on March 17th in the case...

ILSRMarch 22, 2016

CLIC to Host Preconference Day in Austin on April 4th

Are you going to the Austin Broadband Communities Conference this spring? If you plan on...

ILSRMarch 21, 2016

Race and Democracy in Michigan

In 2013, 52% of all African-Americans living in Michigan had their voting rights taken away by ...

David MorrisMarch 18, 2016

Webinar: Crowdfunding for Community Composting

On March 22, 2016 Brenda Platt was joined by Dustin Fedako of Compost Pedallers and...

Rebecca ToewsMarch 16, 2016

Are Rural Electric Cooperatives Driving or Just Dabbling in Community Solar?

Electric cooperatives, member-owned organizations that sell electricity to those within their service area, are perhaps...

Nick Stumo-LangerMarch 11, 2016

American Democracy Under Siege

The founding fathers minced no words about their distrust of the masses. Our first President,...

David MorrisMarch 8, 2016

Is Recycling Stagnating? The Case of Los Angeles

Introduction In the past several months, journalists in major publications such as Forbes, the Huffington...

Neil SeldmanMarch 8, 2016

Happy Birthday National Endowment for the Humanities

On the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the National Endowment for the Humanities, Richard...

David MorrisMarch 7, 2016

Berta Cáceres Died For Our Sins

On March 3rd Honduran Goldman Prize winner Berta Cáceres was assassinated because of the stunning...

David MorrisMarch 4, 2016

Photo: Stacy Mitchell presenting at Winter Institute 2016.

Watch: Stacy Mitchell Speaks on Amazon and Empty Storefronts

ILSR's Stacy Mitchell spoke about a strategy to rein in Amazon's expanding market power in...

ILSRMarch 4, 2016

Watch: Stacy Mitchell Speaks on the New Localism

ILSR's Stacy Mitchell spoke about policy to shape the next phase of the local economy...

ILSRMarch 4, 2016

Report: Mighty Microgrids

Communities all over the country are finding ways to break the macro barriers to microgrids....

Matt GrimleyMarch 3, 2016

Clean Coalition’s Community Microgrids – Episode 29 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

Most microgrids today are single buildings that rely on diesel generators to run when the...

Matt GrimleyMarch 3, 2016

MD Bill Introduced That Names ILSR to State Task Force

Maryland House Bill 743 – Yard Waste and Food Residuals Diversion and Infrastructure Task Force, sponsored...

Brenda PlattFebruary 26, 2016

Google Fiber’s Dark Fiber Announcement Will Change How Cities Build Networks

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 22, 2016 CONTACT: Rebecca Toews, rebecca@ILSR.org, (612)808-0689 Google Fiber’s Dark Fiber Announcement...

Rebecca ToewsFebruary 22, 2016

Small Ohio Town to Feature Large Distributed Solar and Storage

Energy storage is the “next charge” for distributed renewable energy, and the small town of...

John FarrellFebruary 22, 2016

New Research Finds Water Privatization Raises Rates

Food & Water Watch has issued a thoroughly researched report on water privatization. A survey...

David MorrisFebruary 19, 2016

Where Do The Presidential Candidates Stand On The Proposed Trade Pact?

In early February 12 nations, including the U.S. signed the highly controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)....

David MorrisFebruary 18, 2016

Photo: Empty Walmart.

With 269 Stores Closing, Is this the Beginning of the End for Walmart?

All great retail empires eventually fall. A&P did. So did Montgomery Ward. But Walmart's...

Stacy MitchellFebruary 17, 2016

Downton Abbey and Obamacare

As the rightly acclaimed tv series Downton Abbey unspools its final episode some fans have...

David MorrisFebruary 16, 2016

Cultivating Community Composting Forum and Workshop Bring Composters Together

More than 70 community composters from all over the US gathered in Jacksonville to discuss...

Rebecca ToewsFebruary 16, 2016

Independent Businesses Report Growing Sales and Hiring, but Policies Tilted in Favor of Large Companies Hold Them Back

The 2016 Independent Business Survey finds that independent businesses experienced brisk sales and a sharp...

Olivia LaVecchiaFebruary 10, 2016

Zapped by the Utility: 5 Reasons Raising Fixed Fees is Unfair

Like mine, your eyes probably glaze when you see items like “fuel cost adjustment clause,”...

John FarrellFebruary 5, 2016

Seniors, Low-Income, Disabled Communities Pay the Price in St. Paul

For seniors, low-income residents, and the disabled in Saint Paul, Minnesota, a Comcast discount within...

ILSRFebruary 1, 2016

New Fossil Fuel Power Plants: Assets or Liabilities?

In any conversation about the transition to a renewable energy economy, solar and wind advocates...

John FarrellJanuary 28, 2016

David Morris Interviewed on KFAI’s Truth To Tell Radio Show

In 2014, on ILSR’s 40th anniversary co-founder David Morris sat down with Siobhan Kierans and...

Nick Stumo-LangerJanuary 21, 2016

Just How Democratic are Rural Electric Cooperatives?

Randy Wilson knew you had to start somewhere. Knocking on doors and hanging around retail...

Matt GrimleyJanuary 13, 2016

New Studies Reveal 5 Reasons Policymakers Should Prioritize Local Business in 2016

Recent findings from prominent economists, sociologists, and other researchers suggest that small, local businesses are...

Olivia LaVecchiaJanuary 12, 2016

Key Studies: Why Local Matters

A growing body of research is giving us new ways to quantify the harms of...

Stacy MitchellJanuary 8, 2016

Albuquerque Extends a Helping Hand to the Homeless

While other cities try to regulate or ban panhandlers, Albuquerque, N.M., offers them an income...

David MorrisJanuary 6, 2016

Michigan Denies Free Speech to Public Officials

On December 28th at 10:52PM, a few minutes before the New Year holiday recess, without...

David MorrisJanuary 6, 2016

Congress Gets Renewable Tax Credit Extension Right

In case you missed it over the holiday, Congress passed a new federal budget, notably...

John FarrellJanuary 5, 2016

Obama’s Two Mistakes That Lost the Country

On March 18, 2015, President Obama addressed the Cleveland Club. After his speech a 7th...

David MorrisDecember 29, 2015

Wilson Moves to Expand Greenlight Network to Neighboring Town

Thanks to a new interlocal agreement, the City of Wilson, North Carolina will soon expand...

ILSRDecember 18, 2015

Watch: Don’t Take the Bait – Exelon’s Feeding Frenzy Won’t Stop with Pepco

Exelon, a monopoly electric utility and the nation’s largest nuclear power generator, made a $6.8 billion offer...

John FarrellDecember 17, 2015

Watch: Can Energy Democracy Energize the “Good Life” in Nebraska?

The following presentation was given by ILSR’s Director of Democratic Energy John Farrell, this year’s...

John FarrellDecember 15, 2015

ILSR’s Distributed Solar Capacity Quarterly Update

Renewable energy continues to dominate new power plant capacity and distributed generation has contributed an...

John FarrellDecember 14, 2015

Photo: Two beer glasses.

With New Wave of Mega-Mergers, the Big Aim to Get Bigger

Recent years have been record ones for mergers and acquisitions. While much of this concentration...

Olivia LaVecchiaNovember 23, 2015

It’s not Doomsday, but Neither is Ending the Solar Tax Credit Good Policy

I took the “no” side in a point/counterpoint in the Wall Street Journal this week...

John FarrellNovember 19, 2015

Hillary Clinton: Stop State Laws that Restrict Local Choice

In a position piece released in October, Hillary Clinton voiced strong support for local authority:...

ILSRNovember 14, 2015

The People United

New York makes it hard for citizens to influence policy. They cannot put an issue...

David MorrisNovember 9, 2015

ILSR Sponsors the Third National Cultivating Community Composting Forum

In collaboration with the US Composting Council (USCC) and BioCycle, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance...

Brenda PlattNovember 5, 2015

Voters Quiet the Drums At the Polls in Colorado

The “constant drumbeat” of complaints about poor connectivity pounding from Colorado communities ended with a...

ILSRNovember 3, 2015

A Plan B for Every Monopoly Electric Utility?

Electric companies seemingly face a business “death spiral” because the 20th century rules for the...

John FarrellOctober 28, 2015

Top 10 Reasons to Support Community Power

Building local equity is the key to campaigns for 100% renewable energy, giving everyone a...

John FarrellOctober 26, 2015

New Analysis: Amazon Warehouses Impose Hidden Costs on Communities

Amazon is on a building spree, and many local officials are eager to bring one...

Stacy MitchellOctober 22, 2015

5 Things Local Officials Need to Know About Amazon

Amazon fulfillment centers impose so many hidden costs on local economies that cities ought to...

Stacy MitchellOctober 22, 2015

Sweden Experiments With A 6-Hour Work Day

Swedish experiments with a 6-hour day find it costs a little more but workers are...

David MorrisOctober 21, 2015

Distributed Renewable Energy Under Fire

This subject has been updated, please read our newest piece: Distributed Generation (Still) Under Fire, published...

John FarrellOctober 21, 2015

Photo: Ribbon cutting at a Walmart expansion.

States Shower Big Companies with Economic Development Incentives, at Small Businesses’ Expense

Even when state economic development programs purport to be open to businesses of any size,...

Olivia LaVecchiaOctober 21, 2015

Mississippi Schools Would Save $107 Million By Using Public Employees, Not Private Contractors

A recent report by the Mississippi State Auditor finds that K-12 schools would have an...

David MorrisOctober 20, 2015

Cities Taking Back Their Water Systems

Wall Street continues to promote the privatization of municipal water systems here and abroad. But...

David MorrisOctober 20, 2015

EPB Turns Up The Speed To 10 Gigs

Chattanooga’s EPB Fiber Optics now offers 10 gigabit Internet access to all households and businesses...

ILSROctober 15, 2015

The Government Is About To Give Prisoners a Fair Deal When They Call Home

Most jail and prisons phones are owned by profit making corporations that charge unconscionable (dare...

David MorrisOctober 10, 2015

Norway Owns Its Oil. Canada Doesn’t. And That Has Made All The Difference

Canada and Norway produce about the same amount of oil and gas. Through a combination...

David MorrisOctober 9, 2015

Four Strategies For Reducing Ridiculously Inflated Drug Prices

American consumers pay hundreds of billion of dollars in inflated pharmaceutical prices because drug companies...

David MorrisOctober 9, 2015

A Tool to Find Banks that Invest in the Local Economy

A new tool called Bank Local, which was developed with input from ILSR and other...

Olivia LaVecchiaOctober 8, 2015

Op-Ed: Community Broadband Networks Drive NC Economy

The Roanoke Daily Herald published this op-ed about local government action for broadband networks on...

Christopher MitchellOctober 1, 2015

We Now Have A Private Judicial System Just for Corporations

In the last 20 years the Supreme Court has created a parallel judicial system to...

David MorrisSeptember 28, 2015

Call to Action! Sign People’s Brief Supporting Network Neutrality

To try to stop the Network Neutrality rules established earlier this year, big cable has...

ILSRSeptember 21, 2015

Paul Connett’s Zero Waste and Anti Incineration Presentation

Paul Connett is a zero waste super star. A trained chemist, Paul threw himself into...

Neil SeldmanSeptember 16, 2015

Salisbury Fibrant Launches 10 Gbps Citywide – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 168

Salisbury’s municipal FTTH network, Fibrant is the first citywide 10 Gbps network in the nation....

ILSRSeptember 15, 2015

Map: Number of banks by state.

How One State Escaped Wall Street’s Rule and Created a Banking System That’s 83% Locally Owned

North Dakota has a different kind of banking sector than the rest of the country...

Stacy MitchellSeptember 1, 2015

Neighborhood Soil Rebuilders in Action

A widespread overdependence on centralized, far-away and large-scale composting facilities persists, making it harder to...

Linda Bilsens BrolisAugust 31, 2015

New Municipal Broadband Feasibility Study Underway in Firestone, CO

The Board of Trustees for the city of Firestone, CO is evaluating the feasibility of...

ILSRAugust 31, 2015

Photo: Cleveland City Hall.

Procurement Can Be a Powerful Tool for Local Economies, but Takes More Than a Policy Change to Work

The decision of which firm will get the food service contract at the City Hall...

Olivia LaVecchiaAugust 27, 2015

Buy America? Of Course. But You Can Do Even Better

“Every person ought to have the awareness that purchasing is always a moral – and...

David MorrisAugust 24, 2015

Conservatives Have Hijacked Our Language

“Sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never harm me.” A fine...

David MorrisAugust 23, 2015

WEBINAR: The State of the Art of Extended Producer Responsibility

The nature of US discussions on EPR in general and for packaging have changed significantly...

Rebecca ToewsAugust 17, 2015

Who Has Citywide Gigabit Internet Access for $100 or Less?

As Westminster begins serving customers with its new FTTH network and partner Ting, we were...

ILSRAugust 10, 2015

Two Decades of Solar Pioneers in Sacramento – Episode 27 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

The publicly-owned Sacramento Municipal Utility District, or SMUD, had already installed the first utility-scale PV...

John FarrellAugust 7, 2015

Environmental Justice Victory in DC, as Mayor Pulls Incinerator Contract

Recycling advocates had stopped any ideas of building a garbage incinerator in the District of...

Neil SeldmanAugust 6, 2015

Sanding Down the Rough Edges of Capitalism Is Not Enough

The catalyst for a recent column by David Brooks was a speech delivered by his...

David MorrisAugust 6, 2015

To Lease or To Own: Simplified Solar Calculator

Now simplified, the new solar lease calculator is here. Just enter in your zip code,...

Matt GrimleyAugust 4, 2015

Clean Power Plan: 50 Ways to Get More Clean, Local Energy

The Obama administration released the Clean Power Plan today requiring substantial greenhouse gas emissions reductions...

John FarrellAugust 3, 2015

AT&T, Comcast, Lies Hurt Homeowners

As of this January, the FCC defines broadband as 25 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps...

ILSRAugust 1, 2015

Brenda Platt: State of Composting Presentation – Maryland 2015

ILSR co-director, Brenda Platt, gave a presentation at the Maryland Recycling Network’s 2015 Annual Conference. ...

Brenda PlattJuly 24, 2015

Comcast’s Big Gig Rip-Off

For some five years now, many have been talking about gigabit Internet access speeds. After...

Rebecca ToewsJuly 22, 2015

Watch: Is Socialism What’s Stopping a Fair Value for Solar?

Complete nonsense. The most socialistic thing I’ve ever heard. That’s just two quotes from a...

John FarrellJuly 21, 2015

Greece, The Troika and Maggie Thatcher

In its policies toward Greece, the “Troika” — a new shorthand for the combined will...

David MorrisJuly 18, 2015

Introducing… MuniNetworks Economic Development Page

Access to high-speed, broadband Internet facilitates economic development. Over the years, the Institute for Local...

Rebecca ToewsJuly 16, 2015

Neil Seldman: Letter in Response to Washington Post Recycling Article

Neil Seldman – Letter to Editor Dear Editor, The Washington Post’s feature “American recycling is...

Neil SeldmanJuly 4, 2015

Trade and Sovereignty

On May 8th at Nike’s headquarters, President Obama denounced opponents of the hotly contested Trans-Pacific...

David MorrisJune 21, 2015

Photo: Lowe's store.

For Cities, Big-Box Stores Are Becoming Even More of a Terrible Deal

Under what has become known as the "dark store" method, big-box retailers are declaring their...

Olivia LaVecchiaJune 16, 2015

Treaties, Trade Agreements and Government by the People

For much of our history, trade agreements were considered treaties. According to the Constitution they...

David MorrisJune 15, 2015

Watch: Dear Hawaii – Read Your Mail Before Your Utility Sells Out

If your electricity—generated from imported oil—is the most expensive in the country and your solar...

John FarrellJune 12, 2015

Expert thwarts progress of pro-incineration bill in Philippines

The Philippines is the only country that has banned garbage incineration. Constant vigilance is required...

Neil SeldmanJune 11, 2015

LD 1185 Advances in Maine With Overwhelming Support

On June 5th, the Main House of Representatives voted 143 – 0 in favor of...

Lisa GonzalezJune 9, 2015

ALEC in Savannah: Local News Video Exposes the Corrupt Process of Lawmaking

We have reported on the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) in the past and stories...

Lisa GonzalezJune 5, 2015

Report: Public Rooftop Revolution

There are a lot of stories on residential rooftop solar but few if any on...

John FarrellJune 1, 2015

Adam Smith vs. Ayn Rand

In a 2011 CNN/Tea Party Express Republican Debate moderator Wolf Blitzer famously asked prominent libertarian...

David MorrisMay 29, 2015

North Carolina Files Petition Opposing FCC Ruling to End Anti-Muni Laws

It took a while, but the State of North Carolina finally decided to take its...

Lisa GonzalezMay 22, 2015

ILSR Seeks Recycling and Economic Development Specialist

The Waste to Wealth Initiative of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance is looking to fill...

Neil SeldmanMay 18, 2015

Obama’s Advance Team Should Be Fired

The Obamas are proving singularly inept at choosing appropriate venues to highlight their initiatives. In...

David MorrisMay 18, 2015

Video Available: Connecticut Gigabit State Event

On May 5th, Christopher participated in a panel conversation presented by the City of New...

Lisa GonzalezMay 10, 2015

Illustration: Seesaw

How Washington Punishes Small Business

In our op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, we look at how much of our...

Stacy MitchellMay 8, 2015

Photo: Community Bank Borrowers

One in Four Local Banks Has Vanished since 2008. Here’s What’s Causing the Decline and Why We Should Treat It as a National Crisis.

The precipitous decline in the number of community banks in recent years is a national...

Stacy MitchellMay 5, 2015

Charles Benton, Champion of the Public Interest in Telecom, Passes

The world of media education, communication policy, and philanthropy is mourning the loss of Charles...

Lisa GonzalezMay 1, 2015

Public Officials Must Say No to Amazon’s Request for Tax Breaks

The news that Amazon wants to expand its footprint in Minnesota, but only if it...

Olivia LaVecchiaApril 30, 2015

The benefits of public solid waste services: Lessons for Toronto

Public municipal solid waste services are fundamental to the quality of life in our communities....

Neil SeldmanApril 29, 2015

Update on Digital Rights

Do citizens and businesses have a right to repair their computers and related products? ILSR...

Neil SeldmanApril 21, 2015

Chart: Share of Loans Made to Small Businesses, 2014.

Small Business Lending by Size of Institution, 2014

In 2014, community-based financial institutions made 60 percent of all small business loans, even though...

Olivia LaVecchiaApril 20, 2015

Chart: Bank market share in 2014.

Just How Concentrated Is Our Banking Sector? [Video]

This 90-second video shows how giant banks have devoured the banking sector over the past...

Olivia LaVecchiaApril 20, 2015

Photo: Testimony at CPC Hearing

Testimony to Congress: Overhaul Federal Policy to Support Strong Local Economies

This week, ILSR's Stacy Mitchell shared her research and perspective with members of Congress at...

Stacy MitchellApril 16, 2015

Can Other Cities Match Georgetown’s Low-Cost Switch to 100% Wind and Sun?

This is probably not the first place you’ve read about Georgetown, TX, the town of...

John FarrellApril 14, 2015

Tale of Comcast Woe

Ideally, working from home allows one to choose the environment where he or she can...

Lisa GonzalezApril 9, 2015

Update on One-Bin Systems in Medina, OH, and Houston, TX

Texas Campaign for the Environment (TCE) and the Zero Waste Houston coalition have been organizing...

Neil SeldmanApril 8, 2015

How to Maximize the Economic, Environmental and Social Value of E-Scrap: Does EPR Make A Difference?

There are two highly successful non-profit, community based e scrap enterprises operating in Oregon. They...

Neil SeldmanApril 7, 2015

Freedom to Connect – Long Term Muni Strategies

If you were not able to attend Freedom to Connect in New York on March...

Rebecca ToewsApril 2, 2015

Why Utilities Are Hating on Their Solar-Producing Customers

I have the privilege of talking to a lot of reporters about rooftop solar energy,...

John FarrellApril 1, 2015

The Politics of the NCAA Sweet Sixteen

When television cameras zoomed in on Kansas Governor Sam Brownback in the middle of the...

David MorrisMarch 25, 2015

Listen: Can an Old Utility (dog) Learn New Tricks?

Arnie Arnesen interviewed ILSR’s Director of Democratic Energy John Farrell on WNHN’s The Attitude last...

John FarrellMarch 16, 2015

Key Passages and Arguments From The FCC Decision to Remove Barriers to Municipal Networks in TN and NC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 13, 2015 CONTACT: Rebecca Toews, rebecca@ILSR.org, (612)808-0689 Key Passages and...

Rebecca ToewsMarch 13, 2015

Photo: American Postal Workers Union for the Postal Workers' National Day of Action.

Can a Single Union Save the Post Office?

Let’s begin with the bad news. The U.S. Post Office, the oldest, most respected and...

David MorrisMarch 12, 2015

Model Recycling Communities: Lane County, OR, Pop. 350,000

There is no one best way for communities to recycle. San Francisco has a highly...

Neil SeldmanMarch 9, 2015

March 11th Waste to Wealth Event: Bringing Recycling and Composting Jobs to Baltimore

The Waste to Wealth = Green Jobs event (free to attend) is being held to...

Neil SeldmanMarch 6, 2015

The Other FCC Decision

On February 26th the Federal Communications Commission issued two decisions. One concerned net neutrality, the...

David MorrisMarch 5, 2015

Blackburn and Tillis Introduce Bill Aimed to Undo FCC Decision to Restore Local Authority

Last week, the FCC made history when it chose to restore local telecommunications authority by...

Lisa GonzalezMarch 2, 2015

Who Decides?

Who decides? Conservative Republicans in Texas are split on the issue. Darren Hodges, a Tea...

David MorrisFebruary 26, 2015

Photo: Open Streets in northeast Minneapolis.

The Do-It-Yourselves Downtown

There's an emerging model that offers a glimpse of a new, better way for communities...

Olivia LaVecchiaFebruary 23, 2015

Zero Waste Community Enterprises in Atlanta

In 2009 Atlanta declared four neighborhoods within the city as zero waste zones. The effort’s...

Neil SeldmanFebruary 18, 2015

Open Letter to Carroll County Citizens – from Neil Seldman

Dear Neighbors, Carroll County citizens now join tens of thousands of their peers across the...

Neil SeldmanFebruary 18, 2015

Baltimore’s Curtis Bay Community Says No to “Clean” Incinerator Electricity

Curtis Bay is an industrial area located at the southern tip of Baltimore, MD. Residents...

Neil SeldmanFebruary 18, 2015

Heads Up from Zero Wasters in Wales, and the Zero Waste International Trust, Plasnewydd, Wales, UK

Mal Williams, director of the Zero Waste International Trust, alerts us to some good news...

Neil SeldmanFebruary 11, 2015

Photo: San Francisco.

The Labor and Small Business Alliance Behind San Francisco’s Landmark Retail Workers Bill of Rights

The political interests of labor and small business are often seen as pitted against each...

Stacy MitchellFebruary 5, 2015

ILSR Joins Independent Business Groups in Pushing for Disclosure of Corporate Subsidies

ILSR joined other members of the Advocates for Independent Business coalition in submitting a joint...

Stacy MitchellFebruary 4, 2015

Another Contraction in the Garbage Incineration Industry

The Big Island of Hawaii has just pulled back from a garbage incinerator planned for...

Neil SeldmanJanuary 26, 2015

Trash Incinerators: Don’t Call it a Comeback

Mike Ewall, director of Energy Justice Network (EJN), Washington, DC, responded to the recent article...

Neil SeldmanJanuary 22, 2015

What Might Have Been

Since its passage in 2009, ferocious opposition to the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) had proven a...

David MorrisJanuary 12, 2015

“The Secret Side of Global Trade” – David Morris, International Forum on Globalization

In 1995, David Morris spoke at the Riverside Church about localism and globalism. In...

Rebecca ToewsJanuary 8, 2015

Democratic Energy Media Roundup – January 5, 2015

This week in democratic energy, community solar projects are predicted to rule 2015 and net...

Rebecca ToewsJanuary 7, 2015

The Three Biggest Solar Charts of 2014

The rise of solar power allows a further democratizing of the electricity system, and these...

John FarrellJanuary 6, 2015

Image: ILSR 2015 Annual Report

Building Community, Strengthening Economies: ILSR’s 2014 Annual Report

As we confront the daunting challenges of a severely compromised climate, crippling inequality, and a...

ILSRDecember 29, 2014

Failure of the Wilmington Compost Facility Underscores Need for a Locally Based and Diverse Composting Infrastructure

The rapid increase in community-scale composting in the Mid-Atlantic is sorely needed. The recent closing...

Neil SeldmanDecember 18, 2014

The Comic Book that Started a Movement: The Lone Recycler

Return with us now to the thrilling days of yesteryear, when the Lone Recycler, lead...

Neil SeldmanDecember 16, 2014

Will Pope Francis Put His Institution Where His Values Are?

On December 10th the Vatican released the text of still another vigorous message by Pope...

David MorrisDecember 16, 2014

Working Partner Update: Recycling Advances in Delaware

Rick Anthony recalls a conversation he had in 2007 with officials from the Delaware Chamber...

Neil SeldmanDecember 16, 2014

Training The Zero Waste Workforce

Community Environmental Services, part of Portland State University, trains and employs students to offer zero...

Neil SeldmanDecember 15, 2014

The New Rules for Retail Workers

Every month the federal government issues a new jobs report. The stock market gyrates, pundits...

David MorrisDecember 14, 2014

Alaska’s Enlightened Approach to Drugs and Privacy

Politicians left and right often use pet phrases to justify their positions: states rights, individual...

David MorrisDecember 4, 2014

Maryland Counties Scrap Waste-to-Energy Project

Organized citizens and small business owners in Carroll and Frederick Counties, MD just completed a...

Neil SeldmanNovember 21, 2014

Photo: Walmart store

New Report: Walmart’s Dirty Energy Secret

Walmart talks a lot of talk about its renewable energy initiatives, but a new ILSR...

Stacy MitchellNovember 20, 2014

The History and Hope for a First-in-the-Nation City-Utility Clean Energy Partnership

In the past month, the city of Minneapolis and its two investor-owned utilities adopted the...

John FarrellNovember 17, 2014

Image: Detail from infographic

Get the Facts on Shopping Local for the Holidays with this Infographic

Independent businesses are poised to draw more people this holiday season. To illustrate the ways that...

ILSRNovember 14, 2014

ILSR Presenting on Food Waste Composting to Philadelphia City Council – Nov. 12th

ILSR’s Brenda Platt will be presenting on the benefits of food waste composting before the...

Brenda PlattNovember 6, 2014

Democrat Candidates Lost. Democrat Issues Won

On Tuesday Democrats lost big when they ran a candidate but won big when they...

David MorrisNovember 5, 2014

Photo - Beulah Drug in North Dakota

In Big Win for Local Ownership, North Dakota Votes to Keep State’s Pharmacy Law

At North Dakota polls on Tuesday, local ownership was the winner. The state voted...

Olivia LaVecchiaNovember 5, 2014

Photo: Forman Drug

Why North Dakotans Should Vote to Keep the State’s Unique Pharmacy Law this Election Day

This Tuesday, North Dakota voters will decide the fate of the state's Pharmacy Ownership Law....

Olivia LaVecchiaNovember 3, 2014

Job Opening: Director of Development

Reporting to ILSR's Co-Directors, the Director of Development will be responsible for leading ILSR’s fund...

ILSROctober 30, 2014

Second National Cultivating Community Composting Forum – October 25th

ILSR is pleased to announce — along with co-organizers BioCycle and Civic Works — the...

Brenda PlattOctober 13, 2014