Utility Franchise Fee Update
Franchise fees are an oft-overlooked strategy for cities to fund their climate and energy goals. Read here whether your city can flex its franchise muscles!… Read More
Voices of 100%: St. Louis Coalition Plans to Put Coal in the Past — Episode 106 of Local Energy Rules Podcast
For this episode of our Voices of 100% series, host John Farrell speaks with Rev. Rodrick Burton and Andy Knott. The three discuss how St. Louis created an inclusive clean energy plan and how the city can get to 100% clean energy, despite coal’s dominance.… Read More
Funding, Expertise, Utility Cooperation: Three Things Cities Need to Reach 100% Renewable Energy
This report, written by University of Michigan master’s students in the School for Environment and Sustainability, uses survey results to identify 11 key recommendations city leaders can use to transition to 100% renewable energy.… Read More
Solar Plus Storage Company Seeks to Disrupt the Status Quo — Episode 105 of Local Energy Rules Podcast
In this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell speaks with Anne Hoskins of Sunrun. They discuss how the world’s leading solar-plus-storage vendor is faring in a pandemic and how utility regulation can drive transformative energy policy.… Read More
Voices of 100%: Pandemic Pauses Clean Energy Planning in Georgia
For this episode of our Voices of 100% series of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell speaks with Charles Utley. They discuss Augusta’s commitment to 100% renewable energy and how a global pandemic affects city energy planning.… Read More
Why it’s Short-Sighted to do Centralized Planning in a Decentralizing Electricity Grid
With financial rewards tied to building big, utilities overlook distributed energy resources like rooftop solar. This essay, written to advise utility regulators in Michigan, has implications for utility resource planning nationwide.… Read More
D.C. Neighbors Unite to Fight for Solar Rights for All — Episode 103 of Local Energy Rules Podcast
In this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell speaks with Yesenia Rivera of United Neighbors. The two take a deep dive into the mission and success of SUN in expanding solar access for all in D.C.… Read More
National Community Solar Programs Tracker
Sixteen states have policies allowing some form of community renewable energy development. This quarterly update (2019 Q4) shows the capacity built in states with active programs: Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New York. It focuses on programs in investor-owned utility service territory.… Read More
Utility Regulators Oversee Planning for a Robust, Inclusive Grid in Minnesota
In these comments, John Farrell outlines how Xcel Energy should improve its 2019 Integrated Distribution Plan to best serve the needs of Minnesota customers: increased access to distributed energy generation and a fair analysis of the benefits these systems provide to the grid.… Read More