A New Credit Union Aims To Lower The Cost Of Clean Energy
September 17th, 2018 | by John Farrell
What if your savings account could enable clean energy investments from insulation to solar to electric vehicles? Starting this summer it can
About John Farrell
John Farrell directs the Democratic Energy program at ILSR and he focuses on energy policy developments that best expand the benefits of local ownership and dispersed generation of renewable energy. His seminal paper, Democratizing the Electricity System, describes how to blast the roadblocks to distributed renewable energy generation, and how such small-scale renewable energy projects are the key to the biggest strides in renewable energy development. Farrell also authored the landmark report Energy Self-Reliant States, which serves as the definitive energy atlas for the United States, detailing the state-by-state renewable electricity generation potential. Farrell regularly provides discussion and analysis of distributed renewable energy policy on his blog, Energy Self-Reliant States (energyselfreliantstates.org), and articles are regularly syndicated on Grist and Renewable Energy World. John Farrell can also be found on Twitter @johnffarrell, or at jfarrell@ilsr.org.
Author Archives: John Farrell
Why Minnesota’s Community Solar Program Is The Best
September 10th, 2018 | by John Farrell
I’ve been asked a lot of questions about Minnesota’s community solar program over the past couple years and it’s time to make one thing clear: Minnesota’s program is the best in the country. Why? Because there 10 times more community solar projects in the queue -- 400 megawatts -- in Minnesota than have been built in the history of community solar in the United States (40 megawatts)
Reverse Power Flow: How Solar+Batteries Shift Electric Grid Decision Making From Utilities To Consumers (In Depth)
August 21st, 2018 | by John Farrell
For 100 years, most decisions about the US electric grid have been made at the top by electric utilities, public regulators, and grid operators. That era has ended
Of New Power Generation, How Much is on the Roof? Quarterly Update — 2018 Q1
August 13th, 2018 | by John Farrell
As new power generation comes online, investments in renewable technologies consistently outpace those in fossil fuel development. Continued growth in both distributed and utility-scale solar has further solidified this trend in recent months
Webinar: Shifting Power From Utilities To Consumers Via Solar Plus Batteries
August 6th, 2018 | by John Farrell
The Institute for Local Self-Reliance invited clean energy advocates, electricity market regulators, utility employees, and energy democracy adherents to join a webinar exploring the technical, economic, and market implications of cost-effective combination of solar with energy storage
Ohio Residents Exercise Community Choice to Bill Themselves for Public Solar — Episode 56 of Local Energy Rules Podcast
July 30th, 2018 | by John Farrell
As consumers, we all want choice: the freedom to decide our own best interests and where our dollars go. In the energy sector, however, there are not always options to choose from. Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) frees communities to collectively choose their energy supplier. In Ohio, one city is stretching its freedom to choose even further
Being A “B Corp” Also Benefits Green Mountain Power’s Bottom Line
July 23rd, 2018 | by John Farrell
For most businesses, profit is the bottom line. Conventional wisdom suggests that concerns about social and environmental impacts, though well-intended, can distract from a public company’s legal obligation to reward shareholders
An Open Letter To California Energy Commissioners On The Rooftop Solar Mandate
July 16th, 2018 | by John Farrell
The conventional wisdom in electricity generation is that scale matters. But this outdated notion rests on the assumption that electricity generators compete only in the wholesale market. California’s nearly 1 million solar roofs already producing power provide the factual counterpunch to this myth, but so does ample research on the economies of scale and the price of competition in the wind and solar markets
New York Solar Bill Encourages Distributed Energy Market To Stay On Target
July 9th, 2018 | by John Farrell
If you like solar power, the waning days of New York’s legislative session might make you feel like fighters at the Rebel base during the last scenes of the original Star Wars film. As the scene shifts from the space battle and back again, a voice from the Death Star crew counts down the time until the superweapon will end the freedom fighters: “The Rebel base will be in range in 1 minute…”
From The Archive: Anya Schoolman (Episode 1 Of Local Energy Rules)
June 25th, 2018 | by John Farrell
In 2013, we hosted an inaugural conversation with Anya Schoolman about her neighborhood solar project then called the Mount Pleasant Solar Cooperative, and the early stages of her journey fighting for local climate solutions and distributed solar
Vote For Decorah Municipal Utility Falls Short, But Local Energy Advocates Persist
June 19th, 2018 | by John Farrell
The final referendum results were stunningly close, with local organizers coming within three votes of advancing an effort for a municipal electric utility in the small town of Decorah, Iowa.
Community Power State Scorecard Comparison — 2018 vs. 2017
June 11th, 2018 | by John Farrell
Earlier this spring, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance released its 2018 Community Power State Scorecard, revealing the the best and worst states for local clean energy across the country
The State(s) Of Distributed Solar — 2017 Update
May 29th, 2018 | by John Farrell
Energy production from renewable sources continues to expand in the US at a rapid clip, thanks in no small part to the substantial growth of solar energy -- and distributed solar in particular -- in recent years. More states than ever are making solar a priority. But where have these gains been greatest, and what are the economic implications for residents from one state to the next
California’s Landmark Solar Homes Mandate Lowers Cost of Home Ownership
May 21st, 2018 | by John Farrell
Starting January 1, 2020, every new home built in California will sport solar panels. The landmark ruling of the state’s Energy Commission is expected to lower the monthly cost of home ownership by $40, as the energy savings from solar (and other building envelope measures) added to new construction offsets the anticipated costs.
Supporting Affordable Residential Access To Community Solar In Minnesota
May 14th, 2018 | by John Farrell
How can community solar gardens be financed in ways that ensure broad participation?
Podcast: Ballot Initiative Shapes Iowa Town’s Fight for Local Power
May 7th, 2018 | by John Farrell
Fed up with their electricity provider Alliant Energy, one of Iowa’s largest monopoly utilities, Decorah area residents decided to explore their options for pursuing cleaner, local energy and how the city could create a municipal electric utility for its 8,000 residents and business community. Advocates formed Decorah Power, a grassroots group of residents and community organizers making a clear case for municipal control, and the group has been garnering support for putting the public back in their public utility.
Of New Power Generation, How Much Is On The Roof? — 2017 Update
May 3rd, 2018 | by John Farrell
Drawing on the latest national data available on new electricity sources, 2017 may have brought more sluggish gains in total new power plant capacity to the US than it had the year before, but it also brought another, more positive outcome: a notable surge in the nation’s distributed solar generation.
Podcast: South Miami — A Bright Spot For Solar In Sunshine State
April 30th, 2018 | by John Farrell
What can a city do to advance clean energy locally, if its state commissioners and legislators are not willing to take their jobs regulating these utilities seriously
Presentation: Iowa Town Looks To City-Owned Utility
April 23rd, 2018 | by John Farrell
Frustrated with incumbent utility Alliant Energy for high costs and resistance to local renewable energy, the city council in Decorah, IA, has put a municipal utility takeover on the ballot on May 1,
Video: Rochester Seeks 100% Renewable — Local Power For The Local Economy
April 19th, 2018 | by John Farrell
Why should a city seeking 100% renewable energy focus on local generation? ILSR’s Director of Energy Democracy, John Farrell, provided a short presentation to a University of Minnesota forum in Rochester, MN, with three reasons to buy energy locally
Leaked Draft Bill Confirms Xcel Energy’s Priority For Profits Over Community Solar
April 16th, 2018 | by John Farrell
Xcel’s top priority -- and legal obligation -- is maximizing profits for shareholders, even if that comes at the expense of customers and the country’s most successful community solar program, as a new parody video, released today by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and Community Power reveals.
States Agree: Third-Party Ownership Enables Distributed Solar, But What’s Next?
April 9th, 2018 | by John Farrell
Much has changed in the national solar market since an earlier analysis of the market and policy landscape in 2014. The solar market as a whole has continued to grow, and small-scale systems are proving to be better deals for communities than larger ones. So, compared with previous rankings of solar capacity, do states that allow third-party leases and power purchase agreements still dominate?
Getting San Diego Ready For 100% Renewable Energy — Episode 52 Of Local Energy Rules Podcast
April 5th, 2018 | by John Farrell
More than 50 US cities have made commitments to reach 100% renewable electricity, many inspired by Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 campaign and the cost-effectiveness of solar and wind power. But how do communities build the political will to adopt such goals, and how do they plan to meet them?
ILSR Video Parody Lampoons Xcel Energy’s Ask For “Blank Check” In Minnesota Legislature
April 2nd, 2018 | by John Farrell
In March, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and Community Power released a video that tells Minnesotans the truth about the bill Xcel is attempting to jam through the Legislature. The video is being released ahead of the impending Senate Energy Committee hearing where members will vote on the bill Xcel drafted to give itself a blank check for upkeep costs of its Prairie Island nuclear plant
Solar Surprise: Small-Scale Solar A Better Deal Than Big
March 19th, 2018 | by John Farrell
What do grid customers actually pay for distributed solar, when taking into account the cost of delivery and the portion of energy that solar owners use for themselves? What is the value of local spending on distributed solar projects? It’s a result that may surprise many in the energy industry
Utility Proposes Electric Vehicle Charging Pilot, But Will Anyone Opt In For No Benefit?
March 15th, 2018 | by John Farrell
Off-peak charging programs for electric vehicles can provide a discount for utility customers to charge their vehicles when electricity is abundant or demand for it is low, or both. So why would a utility propose a program that offers customers no benefit to charge
The 2018 Community Power State Scorecard
March 12th, 2018 | by John Farrell
Originally published at ilsr.org. Each year, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance provides a score for each state’s energy policies based [&hellip
Colorado State Senator Steve Fenberg On Local Power Versus Corporate Power (Episode 39)
March 9th, 2018 | by John Farrell
When author local activist saw that his community wanted a better, more renewable future he took action — now he’s doing the same work in the Colorado State Senate.
Community Solar & Value Of Solar Under Review in Minnesota
March 5th, 2018 | by John Farrell
Minnesota’s leading community solar program is about to go through its first major change, from using net metering retail compensation (plus a credit payment) to using Minnesota’s value of solar payment. Unlike other states that have torpedoed net metering, Minnesota’s alternative compensation actually takes into account the value of solar energy to the utility, the grid, and society.
Environmental Justice & Local Activism, A Conversation With NAACP Leader Jacqui Patterson (Episode 38)
March 1st, 2018 | by John Farrell
Jacqui Patterson, the director of the NAACP’s Environmental and Climate Justice Program, joined ILSR co-founder and Waste to Wealth initiative researcher Neil Seldman and ILSR’s Communications Manager Nick Stumo-Langer for the latest edition of our Building Local Power podcast.
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