Release: How Big Cable and Telephone Monopolies Have Carved Up the Country

Date: 31 Jul 2018 | posted in: MuniNetworks, Press Release | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Despite receiving billions in federal funding to help rural Americans access the internet, the biggest telecom companies have focused investment on urban areas, leaving rural communities with DSL that the cannot meet the Federal Communication Commission’s broadband definition. In the latest policy brief, the Institute for Local Self Reliance (ILSR) mapped out broadband availability by six of the largest Internet Service Providers (ISPs): Comcast, Charter, AT&T, CenturyLink, Frontier, and Verizon. The resulting maps and analysis illustrate where broadband service is available across the U.S. from each of the six ISPs and where each faces competition.… Read More

Release: Solar and Energy Storage Threatens Utility Business Models, Enables Energy Democracy

Date: 17 Jul 2018 | posted in: Press Release | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

What happens to an electric utility when its big bets on new power plants are undercut by customers producing their own power from solar and storing it in cost-effective batteries?

Hundreds of utility power plants could become stranded assets if electric customers pursue these affordable alternatives to utility provided power, undercutting a century of the traditional “bigger is better” electric utility business model. The latest report from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance details how battery storage literally and figuratively reverses the grid’s power flow and puts customers in charge. It offers policymakers, utilities, and individuals a roadmap of rules to capture this opportunity for energy democracy and save everyone money.… Read More

Release: Amazon’s National Contract to Supply Local Governments Puts Cities and Schools at Risk, ILSR Report Finds

Date: 10 Jul 2018 | posted in: Press Release | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

A national contract that Amazon secured last year to provide local governments with office and classroom supplies lacks standard safeguards to protect public dollars and public transparency, and puts cities and schools at risk of paying more and getting less, according to an investigation published today by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR). View more information from our press release.… Read More

Release: New Report Argues Home Composting Is Vital to Local Waste Reduction Strategies

Date: 22 May 2018 | posted in: Composting, Press Release | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tackling the problem of food waste is gaining attention to avoid garbage, conserve resources, create jobs, alleviate hunger, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A new report from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) details how home composting is among the best opportunities to reduce food waste, especially in the near term and in areas lacking curbside collection or facilities to compost.… Read More

Press Release: Over 750 communities have a community network, according to new ILSR map update

Date: 5 Feb 2018 | posted in: MuniNetworks, Press Release | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Updated Community Networks Map now includes over 750 communities. The Institute for Local Self-Reliance’s map details the communities that are making investments in better connectivity providing the opportunity for other communities to build their own Internet infrastructure.… Read More

Press Release: Record Number of U.S. Households Have Access to Food Waste Collection

A record number of U.S. households have access to food waste collection. Residential access to curbside food waste collection has almost doubled in past three years; drop-off sites provide access to millions more. Explore the latest report from ILSR and BioCycle.… Read More

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