This week in Energy Democracy news: Florida voters pass a property tax exemption for renewable energy, Minnesota churches are installing solar in record numbers, and new research proves that the Eastern U.S. can handle more renewable energy than previously thought. Featured Stories: A new logo, and a definition of Energy Democracy by John Farrell, CleanTechnica The … Read More
States nationwide continued to adjust their solar generation policies in ways that curtail the benefits of distributed generation in the second quarter of this year, a trend that softened slightly after a harsh start to 2016. All told, 42 states plus Washington D.C. saw policy action related to net metering, rate design or solar ownership between … Read More
Where are communities taking charge of their energy future? Which states give communities the most power? ILSR’s newly-released Community Power Map provides an interactive illustration of how communities are accelerating the transition toward 100% renewable energy and how state policies help or hinder greater local action. You can help. If we’re missing a state policy, grassroots energy … Read More
This week in Energy Democracy news: A study released last week rules that it is cheaper to retrain coal workers to install solar arrays, Arizona adopts a new method for crediting rooftop solar, and Xcel Energy in Colorado (due to a settlement with solar advocates) is eschewing solar grid-use fees. Featured Stories Members reviving Atlanta electric … Read More
What happens when utility companies lose ground as their customers cut consumption and seek innovative technologies like rooftop solar? New business ventures to capture customer interest? Other new technologies? Instead, investor-owned utilities (through the Edison Electric Institute trade organization) poured money into communications consultants, and the result of this “Lexicon Project” says volumes about their plans for … Read More
In May of 2016, the U.S. Representative from Silicon Valley, Mike Honda (D), introduced the Energy Storage for Grid Resilience and Modernization Act (H.R. 5350). In short, this bill extends the current 30% Renewable Energy Tax Credit (which was just extended last year) to energy storage technologies, not just the wind, solar, and geothermal power plants … Read More
Each Summer, we invite interns to work with our team to help write articles, research projects, and produce multimedia content for our audiences. Here’s a look at the excellent work they’ve accomplished here and where their education and careers will take them next! Waste-to-Wealth Jess Wachtler writes articles for the Waste-to-Wealth initiative about reuse, recycling, … Read More
Across the country, utilities are battling their customers over solar, and typically trying to undermine customers that want to cut their energy bills by installing solar arrays. But not all fights end with one side or the other “winning.” In April 2016, New York utilities—already starting down the road to a new market structure under the … Read More
This week in Energy Democracy news: The unstoppable march towards rooftop solar, the difference between our political parties’ views on renewable energy, and a plan to help Connecticut farmers to earn income from solar. Featured Stories City Power Play Report: Part 1 – Municipal Utilities by John Farrell, CleanTechnica Richmond helps farmers earn income from solar … Read More
