Audio

20 Apr 2016

Sunshine and Ownership: A Cooperative Solar Garden Blooms in North Minneapolis – Episode 34 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

by Matt Grimley | Date: 20 Apr 2016 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States, Podcast | 0

One such model is offered by Cooperative Energy Futures. It launched in Minneapolis in 2009 under the leadership of Timothy DenHerder-Thomas (pictured, left), offering members energy efficiency upgrades and renewable energy installations on their own property. Now, thanks in part to a 2013 state law, they’re offering members an opportunity to “own” a share of a community solar garden atop a North Minneapolis church.

In September 2015, DenHerder-Thomas stopped by ILSR’s studio to talk with John Farrell about the Shiloh Temple Community Solar Garden, and what community-owned power means for the energy industry and everyday people.… Read More

7 Apr 2016

Freeing Electric Cooperatives from Fossil Fuel Serfdom? – Episode 33 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

by Matt Grimley | Date: 7 Apr 2016 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States, Podcast | 0

This week Ed Marston, former board member of the Delta-Montrose Electric Association in western Colorado, joins John Farrell on Local Energy Rules to talk about the electric cooperative world. He highlights the good, the bad, and what his and other cooperatives are doing to spur clean energy investment in a region that so desperately needs local economic development.… Read More

6 Apr 2016

A Kansas Electric Cooperative Offers Energy Savings with $0 Down – Episode 32 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

by Matt Grimley | Date: 6 Apr 2016 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States, Podcast | 0

On-bill financing is not new. The Tennessee Valley Authority has offered it for years. More recently, numerous municipal utilities and electric cooperatives have created programs. But Midwest Energy, on the prairies of western Kansas, might have the best track record.

Brian Dreiling, manager of energy services at Midwest Energy, shared his utility’s story with Local Energy Rules this week, explaining the on-bill program, what makes it successful, and how an investment in the member-owner’s home is an investment in the utility.… Read More

5 Apr 2016

Members Reviving Atlanta Electric Co-op After CEO Takes Millions – Episode 31 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

by Matt Grimley | Date: 5 Apr 2016 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

Cobb EMC serves around 175,000 member-owners just outside of Atlanta, Ga., and is one of 900 member-owned electric cooperatives in the United States. Mark Hackett, president of member-driven Cobb EMC Forum, joins John Farrell this week to talk about how an engaged membership continues to be essential to defending the vitality of a locally owned electric company.… Read More

17 Mar 2016

Listen: John Farrell Gives Plenary Presentation at NESEA – Local Energy Rules Podcast Extra

by Nick Stumo-Langer | Date: 17 Mar 2016 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States, Podcast | 0

ILSR’s John Farrell was a plenary speaker at the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association’s 2016 annual conference in Boston, MA. The conference was held from March 8th through the 10th and focused on advancing the adoption of sustainable energy practices by bringing over 3,500 renewable energy professionals together. John’s opening plenary pinpointed key challenges of our current centralized energy … Read More

3 Mar 2016

Microgrids and Regulation with Chris Villarreal – Episode 30 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

by Matt Grimley | Date: 3 Mar 2016 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States, Podcast | 0

With the release of ILSR’s new report, “Mighty Microgrids,” ILSR is releasing two podcasts with the developers and regulators of microgrids in the United States. This is the second podcast.
In 2014, Chris Villarreal helped write the white paper, Microgrids: A Regulatory Perspective. As a regulatory analyst with the California Public Utilities Commission, he outlined the regulatory questions of microgrid development at a time when the state was mulling over how to allow more distributed, renewable energy come onto the grid.… Read More

3 Mar 2016

Clean Coalition’s Community Microgrids – Episode 29 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

by Matt Grimley | Date: 3 Mar 2016 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

Most microgrids today are single buildings that rely on diesel generators to run when the grid is out. They’re simple backup, redundant power.

But some more advanced microgrids, such as the Clean Coalition’s planned community microgrids, are looking into the future, when multiple sources of generation can support a community of homes and businesses.

In anticipation of the release of ILSR’s new report, “Mighty Microgrids,” ILSR is releasing two podcasts with the developers, regulators, and practitioners of microgrids in the United States today. This is the first.… Read More

21 Jan 2016

David Morris Interviewed on KFAI’s Truth To Tell Radio Show

by Nick Stumo-Langer | Date: 21 Jan 2016 | posted in: From the Desk of David Morris, The Public Good | 0

In 2014, on ILSR’s 40th anniversary co-founder David Morris sat down with Siobhan Kierans and Tom O’Connell, co-hosts of TruthToTell, a weekly public affairs program on KFAI radio in Minneapolis to talk about our history, our approach and our decentralist perspective. TruthToTell Description: AIRING MONDAYS @ 9:00 a.m., TruthToTell is produced by CivicMedia/Minnesota as part of … Read More

4 Jan 2016

Listen: John Farrell Interviewed for Solar Energy Show Podcast

by Nick Stumo-Langer | Date: 4 Jan 2016 | posted in: Energy | 0

John Farrell was recently interviewed by Barry Cinnamon for his Solar Energy Show podcast, titled “The Path to Energy Independence.” In this conversation, John and host Barry discuss the increasing availability of distributed generation of solar energy and the ways in which electric utilities are trying to keep their customers from benefitting. John argues for a change in … Read More