Minneapolis MN (July 25, 2013) – In a groundbreaking agreement announced yesterday, the gas utility serving Minneapolis – CenterPoint Energy – will work with the city of Minneapolis to achieve a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025. The agreement, negotiated with the grassroots campaign Minneapolis Energy Options, secures the support of the gas utility … Read More
For the first time a court of law has disqualified trash burning as a non-renewable energy source. The Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter in Arizona has been victorious in its challenge to the Arizona Corporation Commission’s ruling that trash burning could qualify for renewable energy credits.… Read More
This presentation by Director of Democratic Energy John Farrell shows the politics, process, and policy that led to Minnesota becoming the 17th state with a solar or distributed renewable energy standard in 2013. Delivered to a webinar audience of Oregonians for Renewable Energy Progress (OREP) on July 16, 2013, it explains the new solar standard, the … Read More
The word “parity” is to the solar advocate as the word “abracadabra” is to the magician. Through it, all things are possible. But there’s really two kinds of solar parity with electricity prices, and the difference is significant. Take this article from Renewable Energy World last month. It claims that solar installations in New Mexico are … Read More
GreenTech Solar, July 3, 2013 According to SolarCity representatives, four “unnecessarily burdensome” practices at Xcel, Colorado’s dominant utility, are slowing the growth of solar in the state. Xcel Energy spokesperson Gabriel Romero provided a written rebuttal to SolarCity’s claims, but added, “We have decided to forego an interview and will simply leave you with this statement.” … Read More
Texas Climate News, July 2, 2013 The non-profit Institute for Local Self-Reliance says its mission “is to provide innovative strategies, working models and timely information to support environmentally sound and equitable community development.” The organization has offices in Minneapolis and Washington, D.C. Journalist Greg Harman of San Antonio talked with John Farrell, director of the institute’s … Read More
Midwest Energy News, July 2, 2013 Installing solar panels or wind turbines on city or county-owned property can be fraught with more complexities than doing so on private land. That was demonstrated earlier this month when the City of Jackson, Michigan, opted not to move forward on what appeared on the surface to be a slam-dunk … Read More
From outdated technical rules to local permitting to incentive policies, there are opportunities to increase the potential for local solar. This is the fourth of five parts of our Rooftop Revolution report being published in serial. Read Part 1 or Part 2 or Part 3. Download the entire report and see our other resources here. Removing … Read More
KCET, June 24, 2013 As we’ve reported here before, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is embarking on a program in which it will buy solar energy from smaller-scale installations within city limits. The program has taken some heat for setting its sights too low, but one distributed generation expert with impeccable credentials has … Read More
