Tools & How To

If you think you might have a useful resource, please e-mail your idea to John Bailey. Thanks!

Lessons from the Pioneers: Tackling Global Warming at the Local Level This January 2007 report looks at ten of the most visible and successful cities involved in global warming solutions and finds that reducing GHG emissions below 1990 levels will be a major challenge. Many cities will likely not meet their goals unless complementary state and federal policies are put in place very soon. download the report - view executive summary Climate Neutral Bonding: Building Global Warming Solutions at the State And Local Level This February 2006 policy brief by John Bailey provides background and analysis to support a state or local policy that would require construction projects funded with tax-exempt bonds to result in no net increases in greenhouse gases within the community. Ownership Matters: Three Steps to Ensure a Biofuels Industry That Truly Benefits Rural America This February 2006 paper by David Morris was adapted from a speech given at the Minnesota Ag Expo 2006. The paper provides a snapshot of today's biofuels industry and a roadmap to ensure that local farmers see significant benefits from the expanding industry in the future. The Carbohydrate Economy, Biofuels and the Net Energy Debate This August 2005 report by David Morris addresses the never-ending question "Doesn’t it take more energy to make ethanol than is contained in the ethanol?" In 1980, the short and empirical answer to this question was yes. In 1990, the answer was, probably not. In 2005 the answer is clearly no. The Energetics of Ethanol: An Introduction and Link to Studies How much energy does it take to make a gallon of ethanol? Make up your own mind by looking at the studies themselves! - ongoing updates How Much Energy Does It Take to Make a Gallon of Ethanol? - Institute for Local Self-Reliance, August 1995

A Better Way to Get From Here to There: A Commentary on the Hydrogen Economy and a Proposal for an Alternative Strategy - by David Morris, January 2004

Seeing the Light: Regaining Control of Our Electricity System provides the overarching discussions of the framework for the electricity rules on our web site. By David Morris. Order Online Now! $15.00

DG News and Blog Sources

• Alternative Energy Blog
• Connecting to the Grid - Interstate Renewable Energy Council's Interconnection Newsletter
• Harvesting Clean Energy eNews Bulletins
• OffGrid.net
• Renewable Energy Law Blog
• Small Wind E Newsletter

Distributed Generation Project Calculators and Misc.

• PVWATTS - The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) developed this web-based tool that calculates the energy production and cost savings for grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems in the United States.
• RETScreen International: Clean Energy Decision Support Centre - has software tools for evaluating renewable energy and distributed generation technology projects.
• OnlineConversion.com - Convert just about anything to anything else. Over 5,000 units, and 50,000 conversions. They have subsections on Energy and Power and Light

Primer Materials

• Kilowatt Counter: A Consumers Guide to Energy Concepts, Quantities, and Uses - Institute for Local Self-Reliance
• Electricity Terms A to Z
• What is Electricity?
• History of the U.S. Electric Power Industry 1882 - 1991
• Overview of the Electric Power Industry
• A Guide to Cogeneration - European Association for the Promotion of Cogeneration, 2001

Electricity

• Distributed Generation and Local Governments: An Introduction - by Tom Hoff
• The Renewables Portfolio Standard: A Practical Guide - by Nancy Rader and Scott Hempling, February 2001
• Community Aggregation News by American Local Power Project
• Information on Forming a Community-owned Electric Utility - from American Public Power Association
• Status of State Electric Industry Restructuring
• State Regulatory and Legislative Electric Restructuring Links

Tax Incentives

• Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE)

Archive of Classic ILSR Resources

• Be Your Own Power Company - ILSR, 1983
• The Dawning of Solar Cells - ILSR, 1975
• Do We Need a National Energy Bill?
  Just before the August 2003 recess an energy bill moved out of the Senate stalemate and into a Conference Committee. It would be good to have a national energy bill that promoted decentralized and renewable energy and energy efficiency but at this time, and perhaps in most times, Washington is not the place one should look for such a bill. States may be a better level of government for innovative and sustainable energy policies to move forward. More...