Why Minnesota’s Community Solar Program is the Best
Minnesota’s community solar program reached 822 megawatts in November 2021, enough to power more than 100,000 homes each year or about as much capacity as a typical nuclear power plant!… Read More
Ithaca Races Against the Clock to Decarbonize All Buildings by 2030 — Episode 144 of Local Energy Rules
For this episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell and guest Luis Aguirre-Torres discuss Ithaca’s Green New Deal, financing the city’s decarbonization effort, and getting the work done as time runs out.… Read More
New Mexico Co-op Dumps Monopoly Supplier to Offer More Solar — Episode 143 of Local Energy Rules
For this episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell and guest Luis Reyes discuss how Kit Carson’s exit from Tri-State Generation and Transmission allowed the co-op to target 100 percent daytime solar power — without sacrificing affordability.… Read More
Voices of 100%: Des Moines Commits to Clean Electricity Around the Clock — Episode 142 of Local Energy Rules
For this Voices of 100% episode of Local Energy Rules, host John Farrell and guests Kari Carney and Josh Mandelbaum discuss Des Moines’s round-the-clock clean electricity resolution and how it differs from traditional clean energy commitments.… Read More
Cities Use Drone-Flown Cameras To Find Heat Loss, Conserve Energy, and Save Money
This post summarizes the initiatives of several communities that, using drones with thermal cameras, have democratized access to information about building heat loss.… Read More
Drone Data Helps a Minnesota City Conserve Energy — Episode 141 of Local Energy Rules
For this episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell and guest Shannon Mortenson discuss Warren’s first-of-its-kind thermal imaging project, lessons learned from the pilot, and how cities can help residents conserve energy.… Read More
25 Reasons for 25D Direct Pay: Why Solar Tax Incentives Should Benefit More Americans
The residential solar Investment Tax Credit is the main federal incentive for rooftop solar, but many Americans — especially low-income households — aren’t able to benefit from it. Here are 25 reasons why Congress should make this tax credit more equitable.… Read More
Massachusetts’s Community Solar Program
Massachusetts enabled virtual net metering in 2008’s Green Communities Act and the state has incentivized community solar development through several programs. This post summarizes the policy and compiles additional Massachusetts community solar resources.… Read More
Rep. Seth Berry on the Movement for Publicly-Owned Power in Maine — Episode 140 of Local Energy Rules
For this episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, a rebroadcast from the Building Local Power Podcast, host John Farrell and guest Seth Berry discuss Our Power Maine: an initiative to replace Maine’s investor-owned utilities with a consumer-owned utility.… Read More