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ILSR provides technical assistance and information on environmentally sound economic development strategies. Since 1974, ILSR has worked with citizen groups, governments and private businesses in developing policies that extract the maximum value from local resources.
Washington Office
927 15th St. NW, 4th Fl.
Washington, DC 20005
Tel: 202-898-1610
Minnesota Office
1313 5th St. SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414
Tel: 612-379-3815
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Notably New Resources at ILSR
 Memo to President-elect Barack Obama on Democratizing the Energy System
ILSR's recommendations to President-elect Obama on making decentralized energy a focus of Obama's intention to make "a new energy economy" a "No. 1 priority." We urge him follow a path that leads not only to changes in the fuels underpinning our energy system but also to changes in the structure and dynamic of that system. The key distinguishing characteristic of renewable energy, its virtually universal availability, offers Obama and the country an unprecedented opportunity to decentralize and democratize our energy system. More...
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Major Flaws Uncovered in Study Claiming Wal-Mart Has Not Harmed Small Business
This December 2008 paper by Stacy Mitchell debunks another new and widely publicized study claiming that there is no evidence that Wal-Mart has had a negative impact on the small business sector. A close inspection of the study by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, however, found fatal flaws and this paper highlights the problems.
Full Report - Press Release
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Meeting Minnesota’s Renewable Energy Standard Using The Existing Transmission System
This November 2008 report examines the implications that two recent distributed generation studies in Minnesota may have on the need for building new high-voltage transmission lines in the state. The authors conclude that project over a certain size be compared to alternative ways sufficient power transfer capability for dispersed renewable electricity generation may be available on the existing grid or with relatively modest, strategic enhancements to the existing grid system to meet the Minnesota's 2025 renewable energy goal without building major new 345 kV transmission facilities. Full Report
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Energy Self-Reliant States: Homegrown Renewable Power
How much energy could be generated by states tapping into internal renewable resources? This November 2008 report by David Morris and John Farrell presents preliminary data that suggests that at least half of the fifty states could meet all their internal energy needs from renewable energy generated inside their borders, and the vast majority could meet a significant percentage. Full Report - Executive Summary
See also this video of David Morris speaking about Energy Self-Reliant States - broadcast on CleanSkies.TV, November 10, 2008
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 Self-Reliant Cities
Energy and the Transformation of Urban America - by David Morris
Full book with a new 2008 foreword
Originally published in 1982, we're making this book available as a free download since many of its discussions are as relevant today as they were 25 years ago. The first half discusses the century-long struggle by cities to gain autonomy and authority from state governments and create their own planning and service delivery capacities. The second part describes the first urban-based localization movements and the successes and challenges. As a standalone document, we've also included the new foreword and the book's final chapter, The Ecological City given the current revived debate about the subject.
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Rural Power: Community-Scaled Renewable Energy and Rural Economic Development.
The next 20 years could generate as much as $1 trillion in new renewable energy investment in rural America. This new Ford Foundation-sponsored study by John Farrell and David Morris provides a policy roadmap for states and the federal government that would encourage modest-sized renewable energy facilities and local ownership.
Full Report - Executive Summary - Press Release
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 New Rules Podcast, Audio and Video Archives
Most States Can Be Energy Independent, New Report Shows - ILSR Release, November 10, 2008
Will the Economic Crash Take Down Our Hopes for Clean Energy? - published on Alternet, October 29, 2008
Voter fraud? No, voter suppression. - published in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, October 28, 2008
Court Victory Paves Way For Publicly Owned Broadband - ILSR Release, October 9, 2008
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Electric Cars Are the Key to Energy Independence - By David Morris, published on AlterNet, August 2, 2008
A response to Al Gore's recent speech proposing a 10 year effort to move the United States to a 100% renewable electricity system. A crash renewable electricity initiative would provide an immediate boost to our economy and could slow climate change, but it would do little to enhance our national security as Gore suggested. Gore misses the key element of moving our transportation system to electricity. |
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CapX 2020 Transmission Line - Background and Minnesota Regulatory Information
Based on concerns from the public, we've set up a section of our web site to allow for easy access to information about the CapX 2020 transmission lines proposal in Minnesota and the regulatory review process that's underway.
Public Comments Due September 26, 2008
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Listen to the national teleconference - held June 5, 2008
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Stop Trashing the Climate
Released to coincide with the UN's World Environment Day on June 5th, this report documents the link between climate change and unsustainable patterns of consumption and wasting. The study dispels myths about the climate benefits of landfill gas recovery and waste incineration, outlines policies needed to effect change, and offers a roadmap to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions within a short period. Co-authored by ILSR, the Global Anti-Incinerator Alliance (GAIA) and Eco-Cycle, Stop Trashing the Climate concludes that reducing waste disposed in landfills and incinerators can have climate benefits equivalent to removing 21% of U.S. coal-fired power plants.
Press Release - Exec Summ. - Full Report
More at www.stoptrashingtheclimate.org
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Balancing Budgets By Raising Depletion Taxes
This June 2008 policy brief concludes that states could generate hundreds of millions, in some cases billions, of dollars in additional revenue each year by implementing or adjusting depletion tax policies. The report illustrates how current depletion tax policies, in many cases, fail to account for the full value of the natural resources, depriving state and local governments of additional revenue that could be useful in current and future fiscal years. View the Press Release and Download the full report |
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Concentrating Solar and Decentralized Power: Government Incentives Hinder Local Ownership
Can residential rooftop solar compete with new utility-scale concentrating solar electric plants? Only if federal and state incentives are amended to level the playing field. This May 2008 report explores the economics of solar PV and concentrating solar and shows how local ownership is hindered unless government solar incentives change. View the Press Release and Download the full report |
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ILSR's new Sustainable Plastics web site describes problems with conventional fossil-fuel-based plastics and provides information on a new generation of biobased plastics that could take their place. Please take a look at our newest online resource, we'd like to get your feedback.
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Broadening Wind Energy Ownership by Changing Federal Incentives
This April 2008 policy brief shows how current federal law discriminates against people owning their own power plants and highlights how the removal of two barriers at the federal level could dramatically enhance local ownership and investment in renewable energy projects. View Press Release and Download the full report |
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Driving Our Way to Energy Independence
This April 2008 report describes how commercially available technologies today could transform our petroleum powered transportation system into one powered by electricity and biofuels. Provisions in the recently passed Energy Act could accelerate that transformation. With the adoption of complementary policies, the revolution in our transportation sector can generate an equally profound revolution in our electricity sector. Hundreds of thousands of locally owned wind turbines and solar electric arrays supplying flexible fueled, plug-in hybrid vehicles can allow tens of millions of Americans to become energy producers not just energy consumers.
View Executive Summary and Download the full report
Podcast of Driving Our Way author, David Morris, on Minnesota Public Radio's Midday Program - May 23, 2008
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Ethanol and Land Use Changes
This February 2008 policy brief criticizes the authors of two recent studies published in Science for advancing a conclusion not supported by their own studies. The paper notes that the vast majority of today’s ethanol production comes from corn cultivated on land that has been in corn production for generations. Since little new land has come into production, either directly or indirectly, the current use of ethanol clearly reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
View Press Release and Download the full report |
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Carbon Caps With Universal Dividends: Equitable, Ethical & Politically Effective Climate Policy
This January 2008 policy brief concludes that universal dividends are a critically important tool to create the political will and public acceptance for a carbon cap. Universal dividends have the potential to hold harmless a large segment of consumers while we move to a low-carbon economy. Moreover, the universal dividend honors the principle that the sky belongs to all of us equally. Private investment in clean and efficient technologies will be driven by a carbon cap that leads to steady reductions over time of GHG emissions and carbon-based fuels. View Executive Summary and Download the full report |
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Burlington Telecom Case Study
This case study by Christopher Mitchell examines how one community in Vermont solved its broadband problems and created a new revenue source by building a city wide fiber optic network.
[download the report or read the summary] |
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BigBoxToolKit.com Helps Grassroots Groups Counter Big-Box Stores - Big Box Tool Kit has the resources you'll need to both beat the big box and to chart a new course for economic development in your community. |
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Big Box Swindle: The True Cost of Mega-Retailers and the Fight for America's Independent Businesses
In this deft and revealing book, Stacy Mitchell illustrates how mega-retailers are fueling many of our most pressing problems, from the shrinking middle class to rising pollution and diminished civic engagement. She then shows how communities and independent businesses are effectively fighting back. Buy Big Box Swindle Today! [published by Beacon Press]
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The Hometown Advantage - December 2008
The latest e-bulletin to learn about land use policies and other tools that can protect the character and vitality of your home town. Get Hometown Advantage by e-mail or Get the Hometown Advantage Feed
Democratic Energy - December 2008
The latest e-bulletin reporting on how individuals, communities and governments are working towards a clean, decentralized energy system. Syndicate DE
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© Copyright Institute for Local Self-Reliance
927 15th St. NW, 4th Fl., Washington, DC 20005 Tel: 202-898-1610
1313 5th St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414 Tel: 612-379-3815
www.ilsr.org |
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