10 years after Minnesota enabled community solar, a 2023 policy has expanded the program. It also introduced new rules and limitations. This post explains the policy and compiles additional Minnesota community solar resources.… Read More
How much of the U.S. solar fleet is made up of smaller, distributed sources that help communities build local wealth? This 2022 update examines the size of state solar markets and the saturation of distributed and community solar systems.… Read More
ILSR’s March 2023 report, A Growing Movement: 2022 Community Composter Census, is the first census of community composters to track the nature and growth of this sector, identify its key challenges, and demonstrate its benefits. Select figures are available for download to help share the impressive growth of the composting sector with your community!… Read More
As dollar stores multiply rapidly across the U.S., cities are developing dollar store-specific policies to rein in their growth. Such policies include “dispersal restrictions” that set limits on how close new dollar stores can be to existing ones. These ordinances account for the existing concentration of dollar stores within a neighborhood or city and help ensure that these chains cannot amass at such a density that they impede opportunities for grocery stores and other businesses to take root and grow. Our new map shows dollar store defeats and restrictions across the country. … Read More
8.4 gigawatts of new power generation capacity came online in the fourth quarter of 2022. 60 percent of that total, or nearly six gigawatts, was new solar power. Wind power generation capacity grew steadily with 3.4 gigawatts added.… Read More
20 states have policies allowing some form of community renewable energy. This quarterly update (2022 Q4) shows the capacity built in seven states: Colo., Ill., Mass., Md., Minn., N.J., and N.Y. It focuses on programs in investor-owned utility service territory.… Read More
Communities can do a lot to advance energy democracy, but some tools must be granted by state policy. This annual scorecard from ILSR’s Energy Democracy Initiative grades states on whether their policies help or hinder local clean energy action.… Read More
Composting is a process driven by organisms too small to be seen with the naked eye, that transforms raw materials into a valuable soil amendment. Use our new poster to share the magic of compost with your community!… Read More
U.S. developers installed 5.8 gigawatts of electric generation capacity in the third quarter of 2022: one third small solar (setting yet another quarterly record), one third large solar, and the final third split between fossil gas and wind generation resources.… Read More
