local ownership

5 Mar 2007

25 by 25: Getting the Priorities Right – Speech

by David Morris | Date: 5 Mar 2007 | posted in: Energy | 0

A 2007 speech by ILSR Vice President, David Morris, presented at the 3rd National Renewable Energy Summit focuses on ways to ensure that our nation’s move to have 25 percent of our energy consumption come from renewable energy by 2025 will maximize the benefits to the communities in which these fuels are produced and harvested. Morris said, 25 by 25, by its very nature is a quantitative goal. Thus it is not surprising that most will view the challenge primarily as how to design rules that achieve this level of output. Yet we need to take into account qualitative goals as well. We need to strive not just for more, but for better." … Read More

5 Jan 2007

Report: Making Cellulosic Ethanol Happen – Good and Not So Good Public Policy

by David Morris | Date: 5 Jan 2007 | posted in: Energy | 0

This January 2007 report by David Morris provides an analysis of federal policies that are both good and bad related to creating a viable cellulosic ethanol industry based on two building blocks: 1) Commercial technologies that produce ethanol from cellulose and 2) A cultivation, transportation and storage infrastructure that delivers cellulose to biorefineries.… Read More

19 Dec 2006

A Strategy For Tweaking Existing Federal Energy and Farm Biofuels Policy

by David Morris | Date: 19 Dec 2006 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

Biofuels won’t single-handedly solve the climate crisis, nor will they deliver energy independence. But a base of widely dispersed, farmer- and citizen-owned biofuel plants can displace significant amounts of fossil fuels — while also building local economies. ILSR’s recent column in Grist Magazine outlines a federal energy and agriculture strategy to move us in the right direction.

11 Sep 2006

Farmer Ownership Should Be Federal Focus in Building Cellulosic Ethanol Industry

by David Morris | Date: 11 Sep 2006 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

A new report issued by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance urges the U.S. Department of Energy to change its piecemeal approach to commercializing ethanol from cellulose and develop a comprehensive strategy. "The future of American agriculture may depend on this," says David Morris, Vice President of ILSR and author of Putting the Pieces Together: Commercializing Cellulosic Ethanol.

11 Sep 2006

Farmer Ownership Should Be Federal Focus in Building Cellulosic Ethanol Industry

by David Morris | Date: 11 Sep 2006 | posted in: agriculture, Energy, Energy Self Reliant States, From the Desk of David Morris, Press Release, The Public Good | 0

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 11, 2006 Contact: David Morris, 612-276-3456, dmorris@ilsr.org Farmer Ownership Should Be Federal Focus in Building Cellulosic Ethanol Industry Full report Putting the Pieces Together: Commercializing Cellulosic Ethanol – September 2006 Minneapolis, MN – A new report issued by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance urges the U.S. Department of Energy to change … Read More

5 Sep 2006

Report: Putting the Pieces Together – Commercializing Cellulosic Ethanol

by David Morris | Date: 5 Sep 2006 | posted in: Energy, From the Desk of David Morris, The Public Good | 0

This September 2006 report by David Morris examines federal policies supporting cellulosic ethanol production and advocates that the Federal government adopt strategies that support farmer-owned biorefineries.

On June 14, 2006 the U.S. Department of Energy issued a Request for Information (RFI) — regarding the most beneficial and efficiency way to consider implementation of Section 942 — of the Energy Policy Act. We are concerned that by focusing on a single policy tool–a large government purchase–the RFI undermines holistic thinking.

21 Jun 2006

Report: The New Ethanol Future Demands a New Public Policy

by David Morris | Date: 21 Jun 2006 | posted in: agriculture, Energy, Energy Self Reliant States, environment | 0

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

28 Mar 2006

The Once and Future Carbohydrate Economy

by David Morris | Date: 28 Mar 2006 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

The carbohydrate economy could transform agriculture as well as energy, reviving producer co-ops, and giving farmers a hedge against voilatile commodity prices. For the first time in 60 years, the carbohydrate economy is back on the public-policy agenda. It is an exciting historical opportunity, but one we should approach with deliberation and foresight.

13 Feb 2006

Minnesota’s Future Wind Energy Development An Opportunity to Nurture Local Ownership

by David Morris | Date: 13 Feb 2006 | posted in: Energy, Press Release | 0

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 13, 2006 Contact: David Morris or John Bailey, 612-276-3456 Minnesota’s Future Wind Energy Development An Opportunity to Nurture Local Ownership MINNEAPOLIS – “In the next five years, Minnesota is poised to become the community-owned wind energy capital of the nation,” says David Morris, co-author of a new report from the Minneapolis-based … Read More