Coal-Killing “Extension Cord” Brings Renewable Energy To Local Communities
US Energy Department deploys a high tech renewable energy “sandbox” to help local communities de-risk and accelerate their decarbonization plans.
Community Solar
How Community Solar Can Benefit Low & Moderate-Income Customers
This is the first installment of a three-part series on community solar for low- and moderate-income costumers. The next piece will focus on how partnerships with community-based organizations can catalyze low- and moderate-income solar, while the third will explore the role local governments can play in accelerating solar adoption in those communities.
The 2020 Community Power Scorecard
Each year, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance tracks and scores states based on their energy policies and how these policies help or hinder local clean energy action.
In the 2020 Community Power Scorecard, two states excelled, seven states and the District of Columbia saw above average scores, 11 were average, 17 were mediocre, and 13 states received failing grades at enabling individuals and communities to take charge of their energy futures.
Hawaiian Electric Co. Gets New CEO & Voted Utility Of The Year
Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) just named a new CEO and was voted as ‘Best Utility’ in the US by Utility Dive. What policies and progress has the utility made in recent years to grab this honor, what’s the new CEO going to do going forward, and what does this really look like for residents of the islands?
Why Minnesota’s Community Solar Program Is The Best
According to ILSR’s analysis, all customers (subscribers or not) are seeing financial benefits from community solar. The $2.2 million figure does not include factoring in the distribution capacity value of solar nor the potential volatility of gas prices that are avoided, nor does it include the benefits of shifting wealth from power generation ownership away from a private monopoly and to a broad set of subscribers across the state.
Could New Mexico’s Proposed Community Solar Program Raise the Bar?
The legislative session is over and the bill was tabled, so New Mexico will be better known for its Energy Transition Act (and its liabilities) for now. But the community solar language that passed the state House in February could set a new standard for community solar program design.
Hannon Armstrong & Summit Ridge To Jointly Invest In Community Solar; Initial Projects Launching in…
Hannon Armstrong (NYSE: HASI), a leading investor in climate change solutions, and Summit Ridge Energy (SRE), a leading developer of U.S. solar power plants, today announced that they will jointly invest in community solar projects across several U.S. markets including Maryland, where the initial solar power plants will come online in Prince George’s and Baltimore Counties this summer.
Why Minnesota’s Community Solar Program Is The Best
Minnesota’s community solar program hit a record 532 megawatts of operational capacity in April 2019.
Why Does One Minnesota Utility Have A Love / Hate Relationship With Community Solar?
If you walk past Xcel Energy’s national headquarters in downtown Minneapolis, you’ll see a giant banner hung just to the right of the entrance doors. In large letters you might mistake for an indication of pride, it proclaims that Xcel hosts the nation’s largest community solar program.
Why ILSR’s 2019 Community Power Scorecard Matters
Last week’s release of the 2019 Community Power Scorecard illustrates which states help and which hurt local renewable energy. Assessing state policy is especially timely/significant because in late 2018 the 100th U.S. city adopted an ambitious 100% renewable energy target. The success of commitments made by cities like Cincinnati, Ohio; Salt Lake City, Utah; or Minneapolis, Minn.; hinges on whether state policy gives them the power to take charge of their energy future and equitably share the economic benefits created by doing so.
