ILSR Co-Director and Energy Democracy Initiative Director John Farrell gave a presentation for the Local Control of Energy panel at The Solutions Summit 2023. In his presentation, Farrell emphasized the importance of self-determination over the energy system.
Americans prefer local control, explains Farrell, yet continue to tolerate a costly, undemocratic energy system. Monopoly utilities disconnect millions of customers for nonpayment, yet rake in billions of dollars for their shareholders and executives. Utilities are also some of the top players in political lobbying, pushing for policies that diminish the power of their ratepayers. Meanwhile, local ownership of clean energy has big benefits: reduced energy costs, a boost to local economies, and opportunities to address the historic harms of the fossil fuel industry.
Communities can have meaningful choices if their states and cities step up to the challenge. States can pass policies that empower communities or hold utilities to the public interest. Cities also have a lot of power through permitting, pressuring state regulatory agencies, or even setting up local climate action funds.
Watch Farrell’s fifteen minute presentation:
Learn more about the problems and solutions that Farrell raises in his presentation:
- Report: America’s Monopolized Energy Sector… and How We Can Fix It
- Report: How Local Ownership of Clean Energy Boosts Benefits, Busts Barriers, and Builds Power
- Report: 47 States Could Meet 100% of Electricity Needs Using In-State Renewables
- Colorado Bill Increases Utility Accountability — Episode 194 of Local Energy Rules
- How Cities Can Steer State Action — Episode 186 of Local Energy Rules
- Portland Funds Community-Led Clean Energy Projects — Episode 190 of Local Energy Rules
- Minneapolis Health Department Splits the Bill with Green Investors — Episode 121 of Local Energy Rules
- In Seattle, Corporations Must Pay Their Fair Share to Support Climate Justice — Episode 119 of Local Energy Rules
This article originally posted at ilsr.org. For timely updates, follow John Farrell on Twitter, our energy work on Facebook, or sign up to get the Energy Democracy weekly update.
