Depositing Public Funds in Local Banks – Minnesota (Proposed)
This bill gives local banks and credit unions a 10 percent pricing preference when bidding to manage the state’s bank accounts. … Read More
Depositing Public Funds in Local Banks – New Mexico (Proposed)
The bill would give New Mexico-based banks and credit unions that otherwise meet the state’s banking requirements a 10 percent preference in bidding to be the state’s fiscal agent, the institution that manages its day-to-day banking business. The bill also requires the New Mexico Treasurer and the State Investment Council to develop an investment policy for funds held in CDs (certificates of deposit) that would increase community bank lending to local residents and businesses.… Read More
Market Share Cap — State Deposit Caps
Federal law prohibits banks from amassing, through mergers and acquisitions, more than 30 percent of the deposits in any one state. The law also gives each state the authority to raise or lower its own cap, or to abolish it altogether. Here we list the cap adopted by each state.… Read More
Regional Plug-In Electric Vehicle Planning – Southern California
This effort was announced in December 2009 and is a nice example of the start of a regional effort to do some comprehensive planning to facilitate the smooth transition to electric vehicles. The initiative is a collaboration between cities, utilities, automakers and others in the Southern California region who will work actively to support and build the necessary infrastructure for the commercial launch of electric vehicles.… Read More
Electric Vehicle Charging Systems Required For New Buildings – Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver has established an electric vehicle (EV) charging system requirement for new construction – both single family and multi-family properties. In October 2009, a new rule requires 20% of the parking spots in new multi-family developments in Vancouver to have charging ports for electric vehicles.
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Electric Vehicle Charging Rates
With respect to charging electric vehicles (EVs), the ideal scenario would result in a maximum amount of renewable energy flowing into the vehicle’s battery packs while at the same time utilizing our existing infrastructure (power plants, transmission/distribution lines) as efficiently as possible. To meet this scenario, the timing of charging up vehicles must be compared to the timing of power plant
Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Planning Requirement
The idea here would be to get a head start on the emerging market penetration of electric vehicles (EVs) and enact legislation that opens a regulatory proceeding covering electric utility related EV issues. At a minimum, the legislation should require utilities to develop a coordinated infrastructure plan for EVs. Issues included would be: ensuring interoperability of EV equipment, requirements for infrastructure, cost recovery, smart grid integration, time-of-use (TOU) pricing, other rate and billing issues. The proceeding should also bring to light a clear picture of what power plants will be operating during the likeliest charging periods for EVs.… Read More
Economic Impact Review
States and municipalities have long evaluated the impact that large retail development projects may have on such things as traffic and the environment. Some are now adopting policies that require that the economic and fiscal impact of these developments be considered as well.(Economic impacts include the effect on local businesses, jobs, and wages. Fiscal impact refers … Read More
Antitrust Policies
When U.S. antitrust laws were first enacted, and for many decades following, they were infused with both an economic and a civic purpose. The goal of antitrust policy was not only to protect consumers from monopoly pricing, but to foster an economy compatible with democracy. Concentrated market power amounted to “a kingly prerogative, inconsistent with our form of government,” said Senator John Sherman, author of the first major piece of antitrust legislation in 1890. “If we will not endure a king as a political power we should not endure a king over the production, transportation, and sale of the necessaries of life.” Dispersing ownership and maintaining a decentralized economy of numerous small businesses would both ensure healthy competition and be accordant with democratic self-governance.… Read More