Better technology and falling costs for years have buoyed the clean energy economy, steadily putting rooftop solar, energy efficiency, and other distributed energy resources within reach of more U.S. households and businesses. Still, many utilities remain averse to accommodating these amenities despite significant — and rising — demand in the marketplace. The disconnect between what customers … Read More
Grid modernization is a useful tool for monopoly utilities to justify massive spending on stranded assets that ratepayers will have to pay for. For this piece for Midwest Energy News reporter Frank Jossi quotes ILSR’s research on energy.… Read More
New Hampshire, home to some of the highest utility costs in the nation, could be fertile ground for community energy projects that promote lower-cost, renewable generation — especially after investors in one shared solar array pioneered a strategy to promote greater local ownership. Regulatory and legal roadblocks forced solar advocates in Keene to develop a comprehensive … Read More
This week in Energy Democracy news: This week we are featured in a number of great articles that range from inclusive financing policies by utilities, the appeal of energy democracy for cooperatives, and how states are rolling back environmental laws in the Trump era. Check them all out, below! Featured Stories: State move to roll back … Read More
In The Nation, cooperative model researcher Nathan Schneider details the economic development potential of cooperatives for furthering issues like renewable energy and broadband Internet access. In his piece he quotes our research at Institute for Local Self-Reliance.… Read More
While a high level of focus is on the Trump administration’s environmental policy, the policies at the state level can wreak more havoc than many may think. Ari Natter of Bloomberg covers this issue by reaching out to our renewable energy expert John Farrell for perspective and the fights he’s been a part of.… Read More
In recent months, a raft of cities and states pushed up their renewable energy targets to 50%, 80%, or even 100%. But how will that energy be delivered? Will it be from the top down, by merchant wind and solar power plants? Or from the bottom up, by customers producing their own power? The answer likely … Read More
This week in Energy Democracy news: The governor of Montana vetoed an anti-solar bill from the legislature, Boulder is moving forward on its municipalization, and Curbed Magazine features a Brooklyn microgrid. Featured Stories: Boulder City Council votes to proceed with municipalization by Jeannine Anderson, Public Power Daily In Florida’s fight for renewables, new co-op network eyes … Read More
In this 2017 episode of Local Energy Rules, John Farrell, director of ILSR’s Energy Democracy initiative spoke with Glenn Weinberg, who helped launch Westchester Power, a community choice aggregation program for 20 communities just north of New York City. … Read More
