In energy policy, lawmakers often prefer carrots to sticks because it minimizes the opposition. But mandatory rules, like building energy codes, can save energy and pay back several times over during the useful life of buildings. The state of Illinois is poised to become a regional leader by adopting … [continued]
In their excellent interactive graphic, Bloomberg Energy Finance calls solar grid parity (when electricity from solar costs less than grid power) the “golden goal.” It’s an excellent illustration of how the right energy policy can help a nation go gold on solar or wallow in metallurgical obscurity. In the case of … [continued]
In a New York Times SundayReview piece last month – Drawing the Line at Power Lines – Elisabeth Rosenthal suggested that our desire for clean energy will require significant tradeoffs: There are pipelines, trains, trucks and high-voltage transmission lines. None of them are pretty, and all have environmental drawbacks. … [continued]
If the cost of electricity were the only factor in energy discussions, we’d probably have a lot more coal and a lot less renewable energy. But the truth is that renewable energy can compete on cost and distributed renewable energy has a lot more value beyond just electricity, as … [continued]
The Germans are debating significant revisions to their landmark renewable energy policy, and instead of declaring the death of the German solar market, Americans should focus on why solar still costs so much on this side of the Atlantic. After a significant step down this month, revisions to the … [continued]
A new report released yesterday by the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research shows that Minnesota can meet 100% of its electricity needs with in-state wind and solar power, and (with ample energy efficiency investments) at a comparable cost to its existing electricity supply. The notion that solar and … [continued]
Community wind promises to expand the economic opportunity of transitioning the electricity system to cleaner energy, and engage local communities in the process. Unfortunately, there’s “community wind” and community wind, as one Minnesota project starkly illustrates. Goodhue Wind was first envisioned as a “community wind” project by National Wind … [continued]
Within a decade, 100 million Americans could get cheaper electricity from rooftop solar — without subsidies — than is provided by their utility. This finding from a new report from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance — Rooftop Revolution: Changing Everything with Cost-Effective Local Solar — inspired our popular animated map, showing … [continued]
While I generally have nothing but praise for the Environmental Protection Agency, its Green Power Partnership program falls short of the agency’s usual standard. In particular, the program – providing media recognition for participating companies who procure renewable energy – inflates the activities of large companies at the expense of … [continued]
In 30 states, citizens have just one choice for their electricity service. It’s like the old communist truism: “you can have any color car you want, as long as it’s red.” What if citizens could collectively shop around for electricity in bulk to get lower prices and cleaner, local … [continued]
