Using Disaster To Build A New Democratic Energy Paradigm — Episode 78 Of Local Energy Rules Podcast
June 11th, 2019 | by John Farrell
Can an island economy overcome hurricane devastation to seize the opportunity for energy democracy
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
Power Plant Securitization: Coming To A State Capitol Near You
May 28th, 2019 | by John Farrell
As clean energy advocates urge retirement of fossil fuel power plants, securitization has become a billion-dollar word with huge implications for who will pay for and who will own the clean energy future
Why Minnesota’s Community Solar Program Is The Best
May 6th, 2019 | by John Farrell
Minnesota’s community solar program hit a record 532 megawatts of operational capacity in April 2019.
Rebuilding Puerto Rico’s Electricity System Democratically
April 22nd, 2019 | by John Farrell
Host John Farrell talks with Marcel Castro Sitiriche, co-director of CoHemis at the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez, about the challenges Puerto Rico faces in building a clean and resilient energy system. They also discuss
Why Does One Minnesota Utility Have A Love / Hate Relationship With Community Solar?
April 15th, 2019 | by John Farrell
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
Of New Power Generation, How Much Is On The Roof? Annual Update — 2018
April 8th, 2019 | by John Farrell
Last year saw the largest growth in new power generation capacity in the US in more than a decade — 34.7 gigawatts of new capacity came online. While growth across a mix of energy resources contributed to this jump, new gas plant development overshadowed all renewable energy sources, combined
Which Regions & States Are Leading In Local Clean Energy?
April 1st, 2019 | by John Farrell
A comparison of how well policies in nearby states support distributed energy, including rooftop and community solar, provides insights into which states are regional leaders and where cross-pollination of state policy ideas that support local energy might improve areas that lag behind
The State(s) of Distributed Solar — 2018 Update
March 25th, 2019 | by John Farrell
Renewable energy continued to expand across the country in 2018. This expansion in renewable energy complements a growing number of states, utilities, and cities that have set ambitious goals to transition to 100% renewable and carbon-free power generation
Why Garbage Incinerators Are A Bad Deal For Communities
March 25th, 2019 | by John Farrell
Host John Farrell speaks with Marie Donahue, ILSR researcher, and Neil Seldman, Director of ILSR’s Waste to Wealth Initiative, about the harmful impacts of burning trash to generate electricity.
Don’t-Miss Opportunity For Local Choice In Landmark Carbon-Free Bills
March 12th, 2019 | by John Farrell
Mariel Nanasi, executive director of New Energy Economy in New Mexico, joined ILSR’s Director of Energy Democracy, John Farrell, in March 2019, for a new episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, to discuss the state’s proposed Energy Transition Act and its big giveaways to one of New Mexico’s incumbent monopoly utilities, PNM. The two also discussed the pitfalls of state policy that ignores how rooftop solar and other distributed energy offer huge opportunities to share the wealth of a climate-friendly energy system
Why ILSR’s 2019 Community Power Scorecard Matters
March 4th, 2019 | by John Farrell
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
The 2019 Community Power Scorecard
February 25th, 2019 | by John Farrell
In the 2019 Community Power Scorecard, four states excelled, 11 states and the District of Columbia saw above average scores, 15 were mediocre, and 20 states received failing grades at enabling individuals and communities to take charge of their energy futures
Why Minnesota’s Community Solar Program Is The Best
February 19th, 2019 | 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)
Electric Utilities Must Stop Illegally Concealing Public Cost Data
February 11th, 2019 | by John Farrell
Utilities in many states have undercut competition by playing “hide the peanut.” Instead of sharing their avoided cost publicly, as required by Congress and state laws, utilities have hidden them behind a “trade secret” designation. This illegal shield––if left in place by state and federal regulators––requires prospective clean energy developers to lawyer up in order to extract a fair priced contract from the utility company.
Minnesota Utility Tees Up Programs To Support An Electric Vehicle Future
February 4th, 2019 | by John Farrell
In a filing late last year, Xcel Energy’s Minnesota division put forward two new electric vehicle charging pilots. One targets fleet vehicle users and the other public access to vehicle charging. Both proposals address some big opportunities in helping more vehicle users save money by switching to electricity
Good Public Policy Key To Building A Renewable-Friendly Utility
January 28th, 2019 | by John Farrell
So how do we get climate-friendly utilities? @xcelenergy is a leader among industry peers, but it was the visionary citizens and legislators in its markets who took the risk, made the map, built the roads, and gave them a push
Of New Power Generation, How Much Is On The Roof? Quarterly Update — 2018 Q3
January 22nd, 2019 | by John Farrell
The third quarter of 2018 saw notable reductions in the growth and total capacity of new natural gas and utility-scale solar nationwide, but continued growth in distributed solar and wind power
Two Rural Electric Cooperatives Overcome Barriers To Clean, Local Energy
January 14th, 2019 | by John Farrell
Originally published at ilsr.org. Rural communities formed rural electric cooperatives as a way to get energy where no one else would provide [&hellip
A “Year Of 100” For Local, Renewable Energy In 2018
January 7th, 2019 | by John Farrell
Co-director of ILSR and Energy Democracy initiative director John Farrell and research associate Marie Donahue sat down before the winter break to reflect on what they are describing as the “Year of 100” — a landmark year for 100% renewable energy commitments in
Report: Waste Incineration: A Dirty Secret In How States Define Renewable Energy
December 17th, 2018 | by John Farrell
Burning garbage to generate power is neither clean nor renewable. Yet, aging, costly, and polluting solid waste incinerators have been bolstered by a dirty secret — 23 states legally classify incineration as “renewable” in their energy goals and commitments
Voices of 100%: Abita Springs Fights For Community Solar In Louisiana
December 10th, 2018 | by John Farrell
Abita Springs has claimed the title of the first community in Louisiana and among a select number of towns its size nationwide committed to a 100% renewable energy future. Located in St. Tammany Parish, the community is home to only a few thousand people
Solar Co-ops Support Clean Energy Advances In D.C.
December 3rd, 2018 | by John Farrell
How does a growing, national nonprofit organization help homeowners complete the circle between clean energy ownership and policy advocacy? ILSR’s Energy Democracy Initiative director John Farrell talks with Anya Schoolman of Solar United Neighbors in this October 2018 recording about two major clean energy policies before the Washington, D.C., city council
How Cities Can Fund Their 100% Renewable Ambitions
November 19th, 2018 | by John Farrell
We’re inspired by the passage of the Portland Clean Energy Initiative this week, a ballot measure that will now provide $30 million per year for the city’s clean energy and climate work. Even better, the funds will target local energy deployment that lifts up low-income folks and people of color with energy savings and solar energy, as well as jobs installing these cost-saving measures.
Local Clean Energy On The Ballot This November
November 5th, 2018 | by John Farrell
In early November, millions will go to the polls to cast votes in this year’s midterm elections. In addition to electing candidates, some voters have a unique opportunity to directly shape their local energy system
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