Colorado’s Community Solar Program

Date: 17 Feb 2021 | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

In 2010, Colorado passed the Community Solar Gardens Act, enabling its now fully-fledged community solar program. This post summarizes the policy and compiles additional Colorado community solar resources.… Read More

Model Ordinances to Support Ground-Mounted Distributed Solar

Date: 6 Jan 2021 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

This post explores how a community can put together a model solar ordinance. One example is Stearns County, Minn., whose solar ordinance protects pollinator habitat and ensures benefits to the wider community.… Read More

Report: Could Existing Water Pipes Replace Dirty Energy Utilities?

Date: 13 Oct 2020 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

This report explores water main geothermal: a novel, affordable way to decarbonize home heating and air conditioning using existing city water mains.… Read More

Sparking Grid Savings Starts at Home

Date: 2 Sep 2020 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

This 2020 update to a 2016 report finds that while new technology has made electricity demand response simple and cost-effective, and has opened the opportunity for residential savings, utility implementation of demand response programs is lagging.… Read More

Coal Plant Communities Seek a Just Economic Transition

Date: 7 Aug 2020 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Communities reliant on coal, for tax revenue and jobs, are at risk when the plants go under. In this post, we dig in to coal plant closures and ask whether clean energy opportunities can replace what’s been lost.… Read More

The State(s) of Distributed Solar — 2019 Update

Date: 16 Apr 2020 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

More states are prioritizing solar, but how much of it is coming from smaller, distributed sources? In this 2019 update, we evaluate the status of state solar markets and whether they are helping communities build local wealth through distributed energy.… Read More

More Cities are Kicking Gas Reliance to the Curb

Date: 6 Apr 2020 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Electrification is a component of many city climate action plans, but beyond reducing carbon footprints, it carries important economic and health benefits. In this post, we explore how cities use local authority to electrify — and ditch dirty gas for good.… Read More

Spreading Like Wildfire: An Interest in Making Electric Power Public

Date: 5 Mar 2020 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Despite the time and money required for a public takeover, many cities are taking steps toward municipalizing their electric utility. This post compiles some stories behind these battles in San Francisco, Santa Fe, Boulder, and more.… Read More