Running for Congress on an Anti-Monopoly Platform (Episode 53)
Host Stacy Mitchell is joined by Austin Frerick, former Iowa congressional candidate, to discuss election campaigns that focus on challenging concentrated power. … Read More
A New Credit Union Aims to Lower the Cost of Clean Energy — Episode 59 of Local Energy Rules Podcast
What if your savings account could be put to use enabling clean energy investments from insulation to solar to electric vehicles? Starting this summer it can. John Farrell spoke with volunteer board chair Blake Jones of the newly launched Clean Energy Credit Union in August 2018 about this online-only financial institution dedicated to financing home insulation, solar, electric vehicles, and electric bikes and more.… Read More
Local Storage is Changing the Decision Making Power of the Energy System (Episode 52)
In this episode of Building Local Power, host Nick Stumo-Langer sits down with Energy Democracy initiative director John Farrell to discuss John’s latest report on solar and storage. … Read More
Voices of 100%: Mayor Dale Ross on Georgetown’s Successful Switch to Renewable Power — Episode 58 of Local Energy Rules Podcast
As a growing number of U.S. cities make commitments to reach 100 percent renewable electricity, how can cities actually achieve these goals? In this first episode of Voices of 100%, a multi-part series of Local Energy Rules, John Farrell interviews Mayor Dale Ross from Georgetown, Texas, one of the few communities in the country that has already reached its ambitious goal for renewable power. The two discuss how Georgetown reached its goal, what benefits it has seen from prioritizing local power, and what the city plans to do next.
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Want to Strengthen Independent Businesses? Use These Policies (Episode 51)
Host Nick Stumo-Langer is joined by researchers Stacy Mitchell and Olivia LaVecchia to discuss their new guide to policy tools that strengthen independent businesses. … Read More
Community Solar With an Equity Lens: Generating Electricity and Jobs in North Minneapolis — Episode 57 of Local Energy Rules Podcast
Shiloh Temple, a church two miles from downtown Minneapolis, serves more than just the spiritual needs of the community. After a recent update to its roof, this church in North Minneapolis now serves some of the community’s energy needs, as well.
In May, John Farrell visited the rooftop solar garden and interviewed Timothy DenHerder-Thomas, general manager of Cooperative Energy Futures, the cooperatively-owned company that installed the panels. The two discussed final stages of the project, the justice perspective that makes it unique, and other projects Cooperative Energy Futures has in the queue.… Read More
Webinar Resources: Detailing Successful Local Government Home Composting Programs
Join us for a webinar on July 17th, 2018 at 2PM Eastern to dive into the details of our new report, Yes! In My Backyard: A Home Composting Guide for Local Government. The report advocates for home composting programs as one of the best opportunities to reduce food waste, especially as they can be implemented relatively quickly, and in areas lacking curbside organics collection or facilities to compost. Eleven programs were profiled, demonstrating that there is no one right way to implement a home composting program.… Read More
Amazon’s New Path to Monopoly Is Through Your Local Government (Episode 50)
ILSR’s Communications Manager Nick Stumo-Langer is joined by researchers Stacy Mitchell and Olivia LaVecchia to discuss their new report detailing Amazon’s new thrust into local government procurement and their attempts to capture every aspect of the economy.… Read More
Ohio Residents Exercise Community Choice to Bill Themselves for Public Solar — Episode 56 of Local Energy Rules Podcast
Residents of Athens, Ohio, recently passed a carbon fee ballot initiative that will add 0.2 cents per kilowatt hour to electricity costs. On this episode of Local Energy Rules, Director of the Energy Democracy Initiative John Farrell speaks with UpGrade Ohio’s information and outreach director Mathew Roberts about this first-of-its-kind carbon fee and how a community-run energy utility made it possible.… Read More
