Same Price, More Renewables. San Diego’s Fight for Community Choice – Episode 23A of Local Energy Rules Podcast
In this 2014 episode of Local Energy Rules, ILSR Energy Democracy initiative director John Farrell talks with Lane Sharman, co-founder and chair of the San...
Citizen Ownership Remains Foundation of German Renewable Energy Explosion
I’ve been posting updates on local ownership of renewable energy in Germany since early 2011, and it’s abundantly clear that the Germans have yet to...
Why is an Island Electric Utility Hindering Incredibly Cost-Effective Solar?
The Northern Mariana Islands are one of several island U.S. territories, lying three-quarters of the way from Hawai’i to the Philippines. Like most islands, their...
A Deep Dive on Value of Solar and the Future of Solar Energy – Episode 22 of Local Energy Rules Podcast
“Utility regulation and rates is a contact sport,” says Karl Rabago, and that makes the implementation of a new “value of solar” policy complex. Will...
Local. 33% Renewable. And Lower Prices. Sonoma Clean Power “CCA” Launches.
Starting last week, 20,000 Sonoma County, CA, electricity customers will get more renewable power at a lower cost than from their previous utility, Pacific Gas...
A Little Tapped City Strategy for Boosting Local Renewable Energy
Many cities served by private utilities think they have little capacity to encourage local renewable energy development. But a largely untapped tool – utility franchise...
On April 7, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission resoundingly rejected (click the link for an annotated ruling) a severely lacking community solar gardens proposal from...
The Power of the Collective Energy Purchasing – Episode 20 of Local Energy Rules Podcast
“We can’t do it as an individual, But four hundred communities aggregating and asking for local wind power and solar power – that’s really powerful.”...
Watch: How Democratic Energy Fits the Rural Electric Philosophy
The following presentation was given by ILSR’s Director of Democratic Energy John Farrell at the Electrons on the Run mini-conference in Alexandria, MN, on March...
Two weeks ago, Minnesota’s Public Utilities Commission ratified the first-ever statewide policy for setting a fair and transparent price on solar energy. This week, a...
In March 2014, Minnesota became the first state to adopt a “value of solar” policy. It may fundamentally change the financial relationship between electric utilities...
Greening or Greenwashing? Illinois Cities’ Use of RECs Shows Challenges with Local Aggregation
A recent report from the World Wildlife Fund (and others) touts how city energy aggregation is “unleashing” renewable energy in Illinois. Buying electricity on behalf...
