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.
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
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.
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?
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?
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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.
February 26th, 2018 | by John Farrell
In September of 2017, ILSR Energy Democracy initiative director John Farrell spoke in front of the Minnesota Solar Energy Industry Association‘s Midwest Gateway to Solar event. In his talk he spoke about the importance of sound renewable energy policies that enable growth in locally-owned solar energy and how massive electric utilities are doing their best to harm locally-owned renewables.
February 20th, 2018 | by John Farrell
The shift toward electric vehicles means more than cleaner, greener transportation. It offers an opportunity to build out new infrastructure in a way that supports local economies and a pathway to bolstering local renewable energy, all while generating meaningful cost savings for drivers nationwide.
February 15th, 2018 | by John Farrell
In most states with regulated, monopoly utilities, utilities are compensation based on two factors: energy sales and a return on capital spent, such as when they build a new power plant. Although energy efficiency standards have been layered on top of this model, the fundamental incentive for the utility remains “build things, get rewards for shareholders.”
February 12th, 2018 | by John Farrell
Measure 2L passed with 51.7% of the vote, keeping Boulder on course to make history as first city to municipalize its electric company in years, and the only one ever to do it specifically to advance clean, local power
February 8th, 2018 | by John Farrell
Puerto Rico’s history of intervention and mismanagement created a financially disastrous backdrop for Hurricane Maria.
February 5th, 2018 | by John Farrell
A wave of consolidation has swept across the U.S. economy over the past decade, reshaping already-powerful corporations into financial and political powerhouses. The trend has taken particular hold among electric utilities, a sector where monopoly reigns virtually unchecked.
February 1st, 2018 | by John Farrell
A citizen-led effort to establish a city-run electric utility in the small northeast Iowa community of Decorah is picking up steam, with advocates -- including some local officials -- forecasting significant local economic growth powered by the transition.
January 29th, 2018 | by John Farrell
Originally published on ilsr.org. From ILSR’s newest report on electric vehicles, here are six reasons your next car should be electric: 1. [&hellip
January 25th, 2018 | by John Farrell
Today, there’s a battle brewing across the US to reinvigorate a little-used law and bring it into alignment with a modern marketplace riper than ever for small-scale renewables. Like other policies that present compelling local economic value -- among them net metering and community solar -- PURPA lives or dies by its implementation
January 22nd, 2018 | by John Farrell
I’ve gotten a lot of inquiries about Minnesota’s community solar program since its launch in December 2014, and it’s time to make something clear: Minnesota’s program is the best in the country
January 18th, 2018 | by John Farrell
Minnesota’s largest utility is planning a pilot community solar program specifically targeted to low-income customers, an important first step in bridging significant gaps in accessing the benefits of the state’s burgeoning clean energy economy
January 15th, 2018 | by John Farrell
Rather than implicate renewables, it shows that low prices drove utilities into the arms of gas power plants and away from coal and nuclear power (it still has plenty of insinuations about renewable energy)
January 11th, 2018 | by John Farrell
As energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies continue to improve both functionally and economically, Zero Net Energy (ZNE) buildings are spreading in communities around the country. The energy savings and environmental benefits of ZNE buildings, which produce as much energy using on-site renewables as they consume, are catching the attention of city leaders, regulators, and individuals nationwide
December 21st, 2017 | by John Farrell
Originally published at ilsr.org. Dear Santa, We’ve been very good this year and, if it isn’t too much trouble, we’d [&hellip
