“Over the last decade, the price of solar installations has declined significantly, but the electric utilities industry continues to debate the value and cost effectiveness of utility scale versus rooftop solar.” In this Daily Energy Insider article, ILSR’s John Farrell is quoted discussing the impact that distributed level solar energy is offering to the grid.… Read More
Published in Midwest Energy News, this commentary from ILSR energy researchers John Farrell & Karlee Weinmann details a Minnesota legislative action that would reduce oversight of rural electric cooperatives. “A plan floated by Minnesota lawmakers to exempt rural electric cooperatives from virtually all regulatory oversight would allow these utilities to restrict development of local solar power, even where their member-owners support renewable energy.”… Read More
This week in Energy Democracy news:
A lot of state-level activity on renewable energy issues. Indiana and Wyoming put forward bills to limit net metering and any fair solar valuation, while Maryland and Massachusetts assert themselves as champions of economic development via renewables. Finally, NC Clean Energy Technology Center’s 50 States of Solar counted up a total of 212 solar policy actions (for good and ill) that were taken in 2016.… Read More
Nestled in the gently rolling hills of southeastern Iowa, it’s at first difficult to tell what sets Kalona apart from countless similar places on the Midwestern landscape. Small towns like these form the backbone of a region whose economy depends on a rich farming tradition, even well into the 21st century.
But Kalona’s charm doesn’t obscure the innovation that makes it a national leader in clean power generation. In this small community, where many Amish and Mennonite families shun electricity and cars, solar power has proliferated. In fact, the Kalona area is a surprising national leader in solar power generation.… Read More
Circumventing a decades-old pact providing a market monopoly in exchange for public oversight, an investor-owned utility has proposed legislation to allow it to build a new natural gas plant criticized for its financial and environmental impact, and then stick customers with the tab. Legislation supporting Xcel Energy’s billion-dollar plans cropped up earlier this month, three months … Read More
This week in Energy Democracy news: Mississippi implements net metering, Montana grapples with proper solar valuation, and the opportunity of infrastructure funding in a new administration offers grid modernization (but caution, too). Featured Stories: As Trump heads to White House, lack of actual policy threatens US energy future by John Farrell, CleanTechnica How co-ops can make … Read More
It’s simple to promote solar power as a money saver and clean alternative to fossil fuel generation. But it sells solar short to focus only on savings, when it also gives Americans the freedom to generate their own energy and to challenge the economic and political power of big corporations. Individual Freedom If individuals want to … Read More
After seeing a presentation on “deep decarbonization” outlining necessary changes to the U.S. economy in order to reach our greenhouse gas emission reduction goals, John Farrell discusses some of the nuances of the fascinating elements where we should focus our attention during this clean energy transition.… Read More
This week in Energy Democracy news: GreenTech Media ranked the states most friendly to solar, the fight for proper valuation of solar energy continues in Montana and Maine, and Iowa’s latest energy plan promotes the vast potential of renewable energy of all stripes in their state. Featured Stories: Beyond Sharing Report — Part 1: Benefits of … Read More
