Using Disaster To Build A New Democratic Energy Paradigm — Episode 78 Of Local Energy…
Can an island economy overcome hurricane devastation to seize the opportunity for energy democracy?
Author: John Farrell
Power Plant Securitization: Coming To A State Capitol Near You
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
Minnesota’s community solar program hit a record 532 megawatts of operational capacity in April 2019.
Rebuilding Puerto Rico’s Electricity System Democratically
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?
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
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?
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
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
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
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.
