Energy Archives - Institute for Local Self-Reliance

22 May 2018

Community Power State Scorecard Comparison — 2018 vs. 2017

by Marie Donahue | Date: 22 May 2018 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

Earlier this spring, ILSR released its 2018 Community Power State Scorecard, revealing the best and worst states for local clean energy across the country. Did many states improve on their 2017 score? In this new comparison of state rankings, we take a closer look at which states have taken the lead, which are improving, and which have a lot more to do when it comes to creating a policy landscape that enables distributed energy.… Read More

17 May 2018

Why Minnesota’s Community Solar Program is the Best

by John Farrell | Date: 17 May 2018 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

Minnesota’s community solar program hit a record 300 megawatts of operational capacity in March 2018 and is wildly successful because it offers tangible, financial benefits to subscribers, allows third party project development and ownership, and has no cap on program capacity.… Read More

15 May 2018

Energy Democracy Media Roundup — Week of May 14, 2018

by Nick Stumo-Langer | Date: 15 May 2018 | posted in: Energy | 0

This week in Energy Democracy news: California releases new guidance that all new homes have to be built with rooftop solar; Decorah, Iowa’s vote on municipalizing their electric utility falls just short of a positive outcome; new analysis details the benefits of transitioning the Boston metro-area buses to an electric fleet; and a Minnesota group makes the economic case for renewables.… Read More

14 May 2018

The State(s) of Distributed Solar — 2017 Update

by Marie Donahue | Date: 14 May 2018 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

Across the country, more states than ever are making solar energy—and distributed solar at that—a key part of their energy mix. But where have these gains been greatest, and what are the economic implications for residents from one state to the next? To answer these questions, an updated analysis of solar markets, using annual data from 2017, takes a closer look at the state-by-state share of distributed solar, highlighting which states have taken the lead to prioritize small-scale, local energy systems.… Read More

11 May 2018

California’s Landmark Solar Homes Mandate Lowers Cost of Home Ownership

by John Farrell | Date: 11 May 2018 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

Starting January 1, 2020, every new home built in California will sport solar panels. The landmark ruling of the state’s Energy Commission is expected to lower the monthly cost of home ownership by $40, but it will also have significant benefits for the local economy and the electric grid.… Read More

3 May 2018

Supporting Affordable Residential Access to Community Solar in Minnesota

by Marie Donahue | Date: 3 May 2018 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

In April, ILSR submitted comments in support of affordable residential access to community solar for review by Minnesota’s Public Utilities Commission. These comments concerned a proposed residential adder framework outlined as part of the state’s community solar program and Minnesota Department of Commerce Value of Solar calculation. We argue that, in a recent analysis submitted to the Commission by Xcel Energy, the utility exaggerated costs likely to be incurred under this new framework. Our comments support those made by allies such as Cooperative Energy Futures and advocate for adder calculations that ensure financeability and broad participation among residential subscribers to the state’s community solar program.… Read More

1 May 2018

Energy Democracy Media Roundup — Week of April 30, 2018

by Nick Stumo-Langer | Date: 1 May 2018 | posted in: Energy | 0

This week in Energy Democracy news: Local, grassroots groups are speaking up for low-income access to the benefits of small-scale renewables in New York and Ohio; Lancaster has the highest amount of solar energy per capita in sunny California; electrification of buses can truly be a game changer for savings cities money and making them environmentally cleaner; and Minneapolis commits to 100 percent renewable energy.… Read More

25 Apr 2018

Ballot Initiative Shapes Iowa Town’s Fight for Local Power — Episode 54 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

by Marie Donahue | Date: 25 Apr 2018 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

What can a town do to advance clean energy locally if it is fed up with its incumbent, investor-owned monopoly utility? In the latest episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, John Farrell, Director of ILSR’s Energy Democracy Initiative, interviews Andy Johnson and Joel Zook, community members and local energy leaders from Decorah Power, about an upcoming ballot initiative in Decorah, Iowa, and the culmination of an organized, grassroots effort by residents to take back local control of their electric utility and energy future. In a midterm election year, this is one vote that those who care about local, clean energy will not want to miss.… Read More

19 Apr 2018

Of New Power Generation, How Much is on the Roof? — 2017 Update

by Marie Donahue and John Farrell | Date: 19 Apr 2018 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

The U.S. experienced relatively sluggish gains in total new power plant capacity in 2017, when compared to 2016, but it also saw another, more positive outcome: a notable surge in distributed solar. Using the latest available national data on power generation, this most recent look at data on annual and quarterly electricity generation nationwide from the Energy Democracy Initiative at ILSR illustrates how small-scale, distributed solar energy stacks up against its big, fossil fuel and utility-scale renewable energy competitors.… Read More