Report: Rooftop Revolution

Date: 14 Dec 2012 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 1 Facebooktwitterredditmail

At the start of 2012, the United States had over 4,000 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaics (PV) connected to the grid, with the pace of new installations accelerating as the price continues to fall. There has never been a better opportunity for Americans to generate their own electricity on-site nor such a challenge to the electricity … Read More

The Catholics and Wind Power in History

Date: 7 Dec 2012 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 1 Facebooktwitterredditmail

A funny historical tidbit courtesy of David Morris, showing the exercise of papal power over wind power: “In Northern Europe, one of the earliest records of windmills were the ones in England recorded in 1185…Also, in 1191, records show that a windmill in Bury St. Edmunds was constructed in defiance of the local abbot. The windmill … Read More

Report: Commercial Rooftop Revolution

Date: 4 Dec 2012 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 2 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Although only 0.1% of electricity is generated by solar power in 2012; within a decade, 300,000 MW of unsubsidized solar power will be at parity with retail electricity prices in most of the United States and more than 35 million buildings may be generating their own solar electricity sufficient to power almost 10% of the country.… Read More

Going Local Gives More Value to Solar Power

Date: 27 Nov 2012 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 2 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Update: you can now read the whole essay – Wide-scale Implementation of Solar Power I just read an essay by a Canadian utility executive arguing that solar is the most economic energy source, and he systematically dismantles the notion that “cheap baseload coal” is more competitive that solar electricity. First: Solar is Cheaper Than Coal He … Read More

Community-Owned Transmission?

Date: 15 Nov 2012 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

The enormous growth in local renewable energy is decentralizing the electricity system, often supplanting energy from centralized power plants.  But not all renewable energy is built locally, even in a country like Germany with massive local ownership of its renewable energy systems.  The Germans are undergoing significant upgrades to their electricity grid as they push 25% … Read More

Clean Break Inspires Americans to Pursue “Energy Change”

Date: 14 Nov 2012 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 1 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Friend and renewable energy journalist Osha Gray Davidson released a book today called Clean Break, detailing the German Energiewende (translation: energy change).  It’s a story of how the Germans systematically shifted to clean energy, finding as they proceeded that the possibilities were greater, the costs lower, and the benefits for ordinary citizens more prodigious than anyone … Read More

Finding Value in Distributed Generation, Before it Finds You

Date: 9 Nov 2012 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 2 Facebooktwitterredditmail

ILSR Senior Researcher John Farrell is giving this presentation to a collaborative meeting of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the National Association of Regulatory Commissioners (NARUC) this weekend.  It highlights the proven value of distributed solar to utility grid systems and the urgent need for regulators and utilities to incorporate this value into their … Read More

The Missing Piece in the Clean Local Energy Transformation

Date: 1 Nov 2012 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

A presentation by ILSR Senior Researcher John Farrell explores how decentralized biogas production could provide a key piece of the future, renewable electricity system.  Given Oct. 29, 2012, in St. Louis to the Biocycle Annual Conference. The Missing Piece in Clean Local Energy from John Farrell

What Utilities Can Do for Distributed Solar

Date: 31 Oct 2012 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 2 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Last week the Minnesota Public Utility Commission had a rare live public comment period on Xcel Energy’s long term planning process (called an Integrated Resource Plan).  At the urging of several fellow clean energy advocates, I gave my 3 minute testimony about the enormous gulf between Xcel’s 10-year plan for solar power and the solar opportunity. … Read More

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