In Depth
Report: Will Long-Term Co-op Contracts Give Way to Affordable Clean Energy?
Maria McCoy
October 30, 2023
ILSR’s new report, The Rural Electric Rift, examines the struggle of electric distribution cooperatives and their members to restore local control over electricity purchasing and harness the benefits of affordable clean energy. READ MORE
Community Solar Tracker
Maria McCoy
December 13, 2023
ILSR tracks community solar capacity in states with formal programs that allow non-utility ownership. This quarterly update (2023 Q3) shows the capacity built in nine states, with a focus on projects in investor-owned utility service territory. READ MORE
The State(s) of Distributed Solar — 2022 Update
Maria McCoy
April 19, 2023
How much of the U.S. solar fleet is made up of smaller, distributed sources that help communities build local wealth? This 2022 update examines the size of state solar markets and the saturation of distributed and community solar systems. READ MORE
Recently Posted
Arizona’s High Stakes Utility Election — Episode 205 of Local Energy Rules
Maria McCoy
March 13, 2024
Charlie Fisher discusses the upcoming Salt River Project election and how clean energy advocates could flip the public utility's board and reverse anti-solar and anti-democratic policies. READ MORE
Smarter Rules for Smart Meters — Episode 204 of Local Energy Rules
Maria McCoy
February 28, 2024
Michael Murray explains the many capabilities of smart meters, his critique of a Rhode Island utility proposal to expand advanced metering, and how state and federal regulators can establish best practices for fairness and data access. READ MORE
Why Utility Execs Hate Distributed Solar
Maria McCoy
February 21, 2024
In this 30 minute presentation to the Just Solar Coalition, Timothy Den-Herder Thomas and John Farrell explain the benefits of distributed solar, why utility companies try to stifle it, and how this conflict has reared its ugly head in Minnesota. READ MORE
The Concrete Benefits of Virtual Power Plants — Episode 203 of Local Energy Rules
Maria McCoy
February 14, 2024
Chris Rauscher explains the benefits of coordinating distributed energy resources, how residential solar and storage customers have saved their neighbors from blackouts, and why every utility could be offering a virtual power plant program. READ MORE
10 Years of Minnesota’s Community Solar Program — Episode 202 of Local Energy Rules
Maria McCoy
January 31, 2024
Pouya Najmaie discusses the strengths and weaknesses of Minnesota’s community solar program, its many regulatory and legislative changes over the years, and how utility Xcel Energy has found a new way to try to suppress distributed generation. READ MORE