Utilities Aren’t Telling the Whole Truth About Solar Costs
Electric utilities recently admitted that they often misrepresent the cost of solar energy to serve their own profit interests.… Read More
New Power Generation Quarterly: 2023 Q2
Nearly 11 gigawatts of new power generation capacity came online in the second quarter of 2023. Over half of that capacity was solar power (5.5 gigawatts), about a third was fossil gas (3.8 gigawatts), and the rest was wind (1.5 gigawatts).… Read More
Against All Reason, Indiana Dismantles Rooftop Solar — Episode 193 of Local Energy Rules
Ben Inskeep discusses Indiana’s backward solar policy, why local solar is a threat to utilities, and how to go up against the powerful entrenched interests of monopolies.… Read More
Don’t Follow California’s Lead on Rooftop Solar — Episode 192 of Local Energy Rules
Sachu Constantine explains the obstacles and opportunities arising for the electric grid as customers become generators and what California got wrong in its 2022 net metering decision.… Read More
The Anti-Competitive Tricks up Utility Sleeves — Episode 191 of Local Energy Rules
Seth Handy explains how utilities have, through loopholes in federal guidance and friends on public regulatory bodies, protected their own interests at the expense of clean energy projects.… Read More
Portland Funds Community-Led Clean Energy Projects — Episode 190 of Local Energy Rules
Maria Sipin discusses what the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund has accomplished, how volunteers from the community have shaped the fund’s priorities, and how to evaluate project success.… Read More
Maryland’s Community Solar Program
In 2023, Maryland passed legislation (HB 908) making permanent a successful 7-year community solar pilot program. The now-permanent program allows for unlimited capacity and requires that 40% of each project’s output serves low- to moderate-income subscribers.… Read More
How Utilities Neglect Certain Customers — Episode 189 of Local Energy Rules
Alex Hill discusses a report on utility redlining in electric distribution, the impacts of inadequate grid infrastructure, and how the report helped make a case against the utility’s proposed rate increase.… Read More
13 States Flunk This Standard Test — Episode 188 of Local Energy Rules
Mari Hernandez explains why we need transparent and efficient interconnection standards, how the regulatory landscape can adapt to new technologies, and where IREC’s Freeing the Grid initiative can help.… Read More