Spanish wind energy giant Gamesa has launched a “pioneering” offgrid solution to supply power to remote areas without grid access. Announced this week, Gamesa will now offer an offgrid power system which combines solar, wind, diesel, and batteries, with an installed capacity of over 2 MW, which will provide reliable … [continued]
Originally published on ilsr.org. Register now for our webinar based on our newly-released report, Beyond Sharing: How Communities Can Take Ownership of Renewable Power. If you’re interested in attending on Wednesday, May 11 (at 11AM CST) or want to receive a copy of the presentation, register here. Shared solar is just a small … [continued]
Originally published on ilsr.org. Because they only sell 11% of the country’s electricity and they largely overlap politically conservative areas, electric cooperatives are often the forgotten stepchild of the clean energy movement. But with 7 of the top 10 dirtiest power systems (as measured by carbon intensity) and territory that overlaps some … [continued]
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has just announced a round of funding, in the form of loans and grants, to more than 1100 rural renewable energy and energy efficiency projects nationwide, which are aimed at helping small businesses and agricultural producers reduce both their energy use and costs. … [continued]
Originally published on ilsr.org. Last week I asked why rural electric cooperatives haven’t been leaders on renewable energy. This week, I explain a $6 billion opportunity they can seize to take leadership. One of the biggest barriers to making investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy is the upfront cost. … [continued]
Originally published on ilsr.org. When it comes to ownership, there are few better structures for keeping a community’s wealth local than a cooperative. So why is it that America’s rural electric cooperatives are tethered to dirty, old coal-fired power plants instead of local-wealth generating renewable power? There are a lot … [continued]
US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced $68 million in funding Thursday for 540 US renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in the nation’s rural communities. This legislation is part of the “Swiss Army knife” of tools for jobs, innovation, infrastructure, research, and conservation President Obama has been talking about. Of … [continued]
Mid-August. A great time for four researchers from Climate Central to publish their new report on urban heat islands—areas with high daily urban vs. rural temperature differences. Almost anybody over 60 will tell you the organization of leading scientists and journalists is right on. My city’s stats are just above. … [continued]
Off-grid renewable energy promises speedy electrification for a huge world sector of communities that now lack power or suffer from intermittent supply. Of the 1.3 billion world citizens with sketchy or no electric power in their lives, fully 95% live in Africa or Asia. In Accra, Ghana, in November 2012, … [continued]
International Off-Grid Renewable Energy Conference and Exhibition, Manila, June 16, 2014 (IRENA) The efforts of the fledgling—but remarkably effective—International Off-Grid Renewable Energy Conference and Exhibition are paying off again this week. To more than 400 IOREC delegates in Manila, the International Renewable Energy Agency, Asian Development Bank, and Alliance for … [continued]
