9 Jul 2020

Is Energy Still a “Natural Monopoly”? (Episode 104)

by | Date: 9 Jul 2020 | posted in: Building Local Power | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

On this episode of Building Local Power, John Farrell, ILSR Co-Director and Director of the Energy Democracy initiative, interviews Scott Hempling, a lawyer and professor with decades of experience working on utility regulatory issues. Scott and John talk about why energy utilities were once considered to be “natural monopolies,” and how that assumption is being challenged by new energy technologies and the push for more choice in the energy market.… Read More
6 Jul 2020

Is Your City Allowed to Close the Digital Divide During the Pandemic?

by | Date: 6 Jul 2020 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

As the pandemic drags on, local governments across the country are looking for ways to connect their residents. To help local officials and advocates figure out if their community is able to take action, we worked with the Local Solutions Support Center (LSSC) to develop a step-by-step guide.… Read More
1 Jul 2020

Can Southern Cities Sever Ties with Tennessee Valley Monopoly? — Episode 107 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

by | Date: 1 Jul 2020 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

In this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell speaks with Maggie Shober of SACE. They discuss how Tennessee Valley Authority grew from a federally mandated utility commission to an unresponsive, restrictive monopoly.… Read More
30 Jun 2020

Spelling Out Our Vision at the Community Broadband Networks Initiative

by | Date: 30 Jun 2020 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

After many years working to promote community networks, we here at Community Broadband Networks want to lay out our broader vision of a better connected country. We hope this vision pulls together all we’ve done and continue to do, and provides a framework for understanding our worldview.… Read More
29 Jun 2020

National Community Solar Programs Tracker

by | Date: 29 Jun 2020 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

16 states have policies allowing some form of community renewable energy. This quarterly update (2020 Q1) shows the capacity built in states with most active programs: Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New York. It focuses on programs in investor-owned utility service territory.… Read More
26 Jun 2020

In The Nation: How Amazon Used the Pandemic to Amass More Monopoly Power

by | Date: 26 Jun 2020 | posted in: Retail | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Amazon has a long history of using its monopoly power to squeeze its workers and the small businesses that depend on its platform. Now, under the strains of Covid-19, Amazon has begun to turn its quest for dominance against its own customers.… Read More

1 2 3 4 … 550