CleanTechnica » local http://cleantechnica.com Clean Tech News & Views: Solar Energy News. Wind Energy News. EV News. & More. Tue, 30 Dec 2014 18:48:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.0.1 Same Price, More Renewables – San Diego’s Fight for Community Controlled Energy http://cleantechnica.com/2014/11/04/price-renewables-san-diegos-fight-community-controlled-energy/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/11/04/price-renewables-san-diegos-fight-community-controlled-energy/#comments Tue, 04 Nov 2014 22:12:51 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=74480 “San Diego and its community choice energy district would be able to offer a diverse energy mix with all of the solar, biodiesel, biogas, and energy storage resources that we have in San Diego.  A product that is price competitive and yet at the same time would strive for and achieve a higher level of

Same Price, More Renewables – San Diego’s Fight for Community Controlled Energy was originally published on CleanTechnica.

To read more from CleanTechnica, join over 50,000 other subscribers: Google+ | Email | Facebook | RSS | Twitter.

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/11/04/price-renewables-san-diegos-fight-community-controlled-energy/feed/ 1 Local, 33% Renewable, Lower Prices. Sonoma Clean (Community) Power Has Launched http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/08/local-33-renewable-lower-prices-sonoma-clean-community-power-launched/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/08/local-33-renewable-lower-prices-sonoma-clean-community-power-launched/#comments Wed, 08 Oct 2014 21:34:55 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=73144 Starting this May, 20,000 Sonoma County, CA, electricity customers are getting renewable power at a lower cost than from their previous electric utility, Pacific Gas & Electric. The portion of renewable electricity (“CleanStart”) for the average customer will rise by 50%. For those so motivated – 3% of customers already – it’s also possible to

Local, 33% Renewable, Lower Prices. Sonoma Clean (Community) Power Has Launched was originally published on CleanTechnica.

To read more from CleanTechnica, join over 50,000 other subscribers: Google+ | Email | Facebook | RSS | Twitter.

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/08/local-33-renewable-lower-prices-sonoma-clean-community-power-launched/feed/ 2 Why Local Energy Ownership Matters http://cleantechnica.com/2014/09/29/local-energy-ownership-matters/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/09/29/local-energy-ownership-matters/#comments Mon, 29 Sep 2014 18:28:02 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=72597 Solar and wind projects can mean big bucks for communities – but only if they keep them local! Why does ownership of renewable energy matter? Because the number of jobs and economic returns for communities are substantially higher when electricity generation from wind and sun can be captured by local hands. This economic self-interest motivates

Why Local Energy Ownership Matters was originally published on CleanTechnica.

To read more from CleanTechnica, join over 50,000 other subscribers: Google+ | Email | Facebook | RSS | Twitter.

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/09/29/local-energy-ownership-matters/feed/ 2 The Power of Collective Energy Purchasing http://cleantechnica.com/2014/08/18/power-collective-energy-purchasing/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/08/18/power-collective-energy-purchasing/#comments Mon, 18 Aug 2014 14:47:56 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=70660 “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.” Oak Park, IL, is one of hundreds of Illinois towns using their authority to buy electricity in bulk on behalf of its residential and small business customers. So far, most

The Power of Collective Energy Purchasing was originally published on CleanTechnica.

To read more from CleanTechnica, join over 50,000 other subscribers: Google+ | Email | Facebook | RSS | Twitter.

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/08/18/power-collective-energy-purchasing/feed/ 0 Greening Or Greenwashing? Illinois Cities’ Use of RECs Shows Challenges With Local Energy Choice http://cleantechnica.com/2014/08/04/greening-greenwashing-illinois-cities-use-recs-shows-challenges-local-energy-choice/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/08/04/greening-greenwashing-illinois-cities-use-recs-shows-challenges-local-energy-choice/#comments Mon, 04 Aug 2014 15:41:40 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=70181 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 of their residential and small business customers, nearly 100 Midwestern cities have purchased renewable energy credits (RECs) along with their energy supply, giving their electrons a questionable aura of green

Greening Or Greenwashing? Illinois Cities’ Use of RECs Shows Challenges With Local Energy Choice was originally published on CleanTechnica.

To read more from CleanTechnica, join over 50,000 other subscribers: Google+ | Email | Facebook | RSS | Twitter.

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/08/04/greening-greenwashing-illinois-cities-use-recs-shows-challenges-local-energy-choice/feed/ 1 Choosing Local (Renewable) Power: One California Community A Leader In Collective Action http://cleantechnica.com/2014/07/28/choosing-local-renewable-power-one-california-community-leader-collective-action/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/07/28/choosing-local-renewable-power-one-california-community-leader-collective-action/#comments Mon, 28 Jul 2014 15:24:59 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=69980 Community choice aggregation describes a situation where a town can become the bulk buyer of electricity on behalf of its residential and small business customers. Such local aggregations serve about 5% of utility customers in Illinois, Ohio, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and California, but it’s Marin Clean Energy in California that stands above the crowd for

Choosing Local (Renewable) Power: One California Community A Leader In Collective Action was originally published on CleanTechnica.

To read more from CleanTechnica, join over 50,000 other subscribers: Google+ | Email | Facebook | RSS | Twitter.

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/07/28/choosing-local-renewable-power-one-california-community-leader-collective-action/feed/ 0 A ‘Perfect Storm’ Will Make This Utility 40% Renewable http://cleantechnica.com/2014/07/07/perfect-storm-will-make-utility-40-renewable/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/07/07/perfect-storm-will-make-utility-40-renewable/#comments Mon, 07 Jul 2014 18:12:42 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=69200 “We have a perfect storm for renewables,” says Jan TenBruggencate, second-term board member of the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative. The Hawaiian utility, made into a local cooperative when the investor-owned utility left the business a decade ago, is surging toward 40% renewable energy in the next year, with a third of that total from customer-generated

A ‘Perfect Storm’ Will Make This Utility 40% Renewable was originally published on CleanTechnica.

To read more from CleanTechnica, join over 50,000 other subscribers: Google+ | Email | Facebook | RSS | Twitter.

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/07/07/perfect-storm-will-make-utility-40-renewable/feed/ 1 What Your City Can Do To Fight Climate Change http://cleantechnica.com/2014/06/24/city-can-fight-climate-change/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/06/24/city-can-fight-climate-change/#comments Tue, 24 Jun 2014 10:31:11 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=68555 The Obama administration is pushing power plant regulations to reduce carbon emissions and most states have some sort of renewable energy policy. But there’s plenty of opportunity left for action at the local level; action that can also boost the local economy. The following presentation by ILSR’s Director of Democratic Energy John Farrell to the

What Your City Can Do To Fight Climate Change was originally published on CleanTechnica.

To read more from CleanTechnica, join over 50,000 other subscribers: Google+ | Email | Facebook | RSS | Twitter.

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/06/24/city-can-fight-climate-change/feed/ 1 How One Town Keeps Fighting for Control of Their Energy Future http://cleantechnica.com/2014/06/16/how-one-town-keeps-fighting-for-control-of-their-energy-future/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/06/16/how-one-town-keeps-fighting-for-control-of-their-energy-future/#comments Tue, 17 Jun 2014 00:21:31 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=68236 How can a community take control of its energy future from a 100-year monopoly electric utility? Citizens of Boulder, CO, are testing answers to that question, trying to discover how a single city can do more for its economy and the environment with more power over its energy system. At the core of their efforts

How One Town Keeps Fighting for Control of Their Energy Future was originally published on CleanTechnica.

To read more from CleanTechnica, join over 50,000 other subscribers: Google+ | Email | Facebook | RSS | Twitter.

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/06/16/how-one-town-keeps-fighting-for-control-of-their-energy-future/feed/ 3 David & Goliath Fight To Tap World-Class Solar http://cleantechnica.com/2014/05/19/david-goliath-fight-tap-world-class-solar/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/05/19/david-goliath-fight-tap-world-class-solar/#comments Mon, 19 May 2014 15:12:29 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=67144 “It’s the most inspirational work that I’m doing…this is an inspirational and aspirational effort…at the heart of it is love of place and energy democracy.” Mariel Nanasi and the citizens of Santa Fe, NM, are exploring the economic and environmental benefits of more local and locally-controlled energy production.  Is their city ready to take the

David & Goliath Fight To Tap World-Class Solar was originally published on CleanTechnica.

To read more from CleanTechnica, join over 50,000 other subscribers: Google+ | Email | Facebook | RSS | Twitter.

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/05/19/david-goliath-fight-tap-world-class-solar/feed/ 11 How Solar is Cutting Grid Costs http://cleantechnica.com/2014/04/28/solar-cutting-grid-costs/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/04/28/solar-cutting-grid-costs/#comments Mon, 28 Apr 2014 22:20:34 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=66098 With solar power, “we can avoid that $100 million investment in transmission lines, distribution lines, in capital infrastructure…” That was Vice President of Environmental Affairs Michael Deering of the Long Island Power Authority in a remarkable podcast interview, explaining how local solar energy can help offset expensive grid upgrades for bringing in remote power generation,

How Solar is Cutting Grid Costs was originally published on CleanTechnica.

To read more from CleanTechnica, join over 50,000 other subscribers: Google+ | Email | Facebook | RSS | Twitter.

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/04/28/solar-cutting-grid-costs/feed/ 1 Can A Novel City-Utility Partnership Green A Big City Grid? http://cleantechnica.com/2014/03/11/can-novel-city-utility-partnership-green-big-city-grid/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/03/11/can-novel-city-utility-partnership-green-big-city-grid/#comments Tue, 11 Mar 2014 10:45:04 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=63701 In pursuit of a cleaner energy future last August, the city of Minneapolis came to the brink of putting a city-owned utility on the ballot. It was the culmination of a grassroots effort to get cleaner energy and local investment from the city’s energy utilities. It won’t be a city-owned utility on the agenda this

Can A Novel City-Utility Partnership Green A Big City Grid? was originally published on CleanTechnica.

To read more from CleanTechnica, join over 50,000 other subscribers: Google+ | Email | Facebook | RSS | Twitter.

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/03/11/can-novel-city-utility-partnership-green-big-city-grid/feed/ 1 5 Reasons Solar’s Win Over Gas In Minnesota Is Just The Beginning http://cleantechnica.com/2014/03/03/5-reasons-solars-win-gas-minnesota-just-beginning/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/03/03/5-reasons-solars-win-gas-minnesota-just-beginning/#comments Mon, 03 Mar 2014 19:17:33 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=63388 Solar advocates were popping corks when a New Year’s Eve ruling by an administrative law judge in Minnesota said that distributed solar arrays were a more cost-effective resource than natural gas to meet Xcel Energy’s peak power needs. The energy media were aflutter for weeks, but many missed the bigger significance. If solar trumps gas

5 Reasons Solar’s Win Over Gas In Minnesota Is Just The Beginning was originally published on CleanTechnica.

To read more from CleanTechnica, join over 50,000 other subscribers: Google+ | Email | Facebook | RSS | Twitter.

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/03/03/5-reasons-solars-win-gas-minnesota-just-beginning/feed/ 8 Is Utility 2.0 A Forecast Or A Post-Mortem? http://cleantechnica.com/2014/02/27/utility-2-0-forecast-post-mortem/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/02/27/utility-2-0-forecast-post-mortem/#comments Thu, 27 Feb 2014 06:48:51 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=63188 For the last six months, the energy news sphere (perhaps led by the Edison Electric Institute) has been rife with a discussion about the threat to the utility business from distributed energy like local solar, as their customers shift to getting their own power from nearby renewable resources.  Reports and news stories – e.g. “Adapt

Is Utility 2.0 A Forecast Or A Post-Mortem? was originally published on CleanTechnica.

To read more from CleanTechnica, join over 50,000 other subscribers: Google+ | Email | Facebook | RSS | Twitter.

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/02/27/utility-2-0-forecast-post-mortem/feed/ 7 The #1 Solar Utility Is In…Iowa? http://cleantechnica.com/2014/02/18/1-solar-utility-iniowa/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/02/18/1-solar-utility-iniowa/#comments Tue, 18 Feb 2014 22:32:54 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=62877 It may be one of the oldest cooperative utilities in the country, but in the next six months, Farmers Electric Cooperative (FEC) of southeastern Iowa will be leading the nation in this 21st century energy source. Upon completion of a new solar array, the 640-member cooperative will have over 1,500 Watts of solar per customer

The #1 Solar Utility Is In…Iowa? was originally published on CleanTechnica.

To read more from CleanTechnica, join over 50,000 other subscribers: Google+ | Email | Facebook | RSS | Twitter.

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/02/18/1-solar-utility-iniowa/feed/ 3 Enabling More Democratic Energy http://cleantechnica.com/2014/01/13/enabling-democratic-energy/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/01/13/enabling-democratic-energy/#comments Mon, 13 Jan 2014 21:04:16 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=61292 From outdated technical rules to local permitting to incentive policies, there are opportunities to increase the potential for local solar power. This is the fourth of five parts of ILSR’s Rooftop Revolution report being published in serial.  Read Part 1 or Part 2 or Part 3. Download the entire report and see our other resources

Enabling More Democratic Energy was originally published on CleanTechnica.

To read more from CleanTechnica, join over 50,000 other subscribers: Google+ | Email | Facebook | RSS | Twitter.

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/01/13/enabling-democratic-energy/feed/ 1 Top 5 Democratic Energy Resources Of 2013 http://cleantechnica.com/2014/01/06/top-5-democratic-energy-resources-2013/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/01/06/top-5-democratic-energy-resources-2013/#comments Mon, 06 Jan 2014 17:03:09 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=61013 From the Democratic Energy initiative at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance: Rooftop Revolution A combination resource of our two reports on residential and commercial solar grid parity, including a slideshow, infographic, and an amazing interactive map (#5 on this list by itself). Germany Has More Solar Power Because Everyone Wins It got press because someone

Top 5 Democratic Energy Resources Of 2013 was originally published on CleanTechnica.

To read more from CleanTechnica, join over 50,000 other subscribers: Google+ | Email | Facebook | RSS | Twitter.

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/01/06/top-5-democratic-energy-resources-2013/feed/ 0 ‘Watershed’ Climate and Energy Agreement Between CenterPoint Energy and City of Minneapolis http://cleantechnica.com/2013/12/09/watershed-climate-energy-agreement-centerpoint-energy-city-minneapolis/ http://cleantechnica.com/2013/12/09/watershed-climate-energy-agreement-centerpoint-energy-city-minneapolis/#comments Mon, 09 Dec 2013 23:15:29 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=59969 In a groundbreaking agreement announced earlier this year, the gas utility serving Minneapolis, MN – CenterPoint Energy – will work with the city of Minneapolis to achieve a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025.  The agreement, negotiated with the grassroots campaign Minneapolis Energy Options, secures the support of the gas utility for a

‘Watershed’ Climate and Energy Agreement Between CenterPoint Energy and City of Minneapolis was originally published on CleanTechnica.

To read more from CleanTechnica, join over 50,000 other subscribers: Google+ | Email | Facebook | RSS | Twitter.

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2013/12/09/watershed-climate-energy-agreement-centerpoint-energy-city-minneapolis/feed/ 0 How Vermont Has Promoted Local Renewable Energy: Episode 10 of Local Energy Rules Podcast http://cleantechnica.com/2013/11/11/vermont-promoted-local-renewable-energy-episode-10-local-energy-rules-podcast/ http://cleantechnica.com/2013/11/11/vermont-promoted-local-renewable-energy-episode-10-local-energy-rules-podcast/#comments Mon, 11 Nov 2013 22:36:48 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=58831 “A lot of the utilities don’t totally understand this new paradigm that’s coming.” David Blittersdorf of AllEarth Renewables has been working to advance renewable energy in Vermont for years, and was instrumental in getting the state’s standard offer program (a feed-in tariff) passed in 2009. He’s adamant that the state should accelerate its standard offer

How Vermont Has Promoted Local Renewable Energy: Episode 10 of Local Energy Rules Podcast was originally published on CleanTechnica.

To read more from CleanTechnica, join over 50,000 other subscribers: Google+ | Email | Facebook | RSS | Twitter.

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2013/11/11/vermont-promoted-local-renewable-energy-episode-10-local-energy-rules-podcast/feed/ 1 On November 5th, Local Power Is On The Line http://cleantechnica.com/2013/11/05/november-5th-local-power-line/ http://cleantechnica.com/2013/11/05/november-5th-local-power-line/#comments Tue, 05 Nov 2013 08:17:30 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=58608 In 2011, citizens of Boulder, CO, opted to explore alternatives to their monopoly, corporate electric utility that pumps coal-fired energy into town and sucks millions in energy profits out. They won at the ballot box despite being outspent more than 10-to-1. But tomorrow they have to win again against deep corporate pockets, or lose everything

On November 5th, Local Power Is On The Line was originally published on CleanTechnica.

To read more from CleanTechnica, join over 50,000 other subscribers: Google+ | Email | Facebook | RSS | Twitter.

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2013/11/05/november-5th-local-power-line/feed/ 3