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17 May 2013

A Community Solar Gold Standard – Episode 9 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

by John Farrell | Date: 17 May 2013 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States, Podcast | 0

Joy Hughes was living in the San Luis Valley of Colorado, a place with a “tremendous amount of solar potential,” so good that the valley’s residents were being overwhelmed by proposals for large scale solar power plants. One had a “field of things like radar dishes” and another included a “600 foot tower.” The influx of outside companies seeking solar profit led Joy to ask, “Why not just set up solar arrays that can provide power for people in the local community and offset their electric bills?”… Read More

15 May 2013

Half of Germany’s 63,000 Megawatts of Renewable Energy is Locally Owned

by John Farrell | Date: 15 May 2013 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 4

Courtesy of Craig Morris and the Germany Renewable Energy industry, evidence that Germany’s renewable energy program remains people powered. Total megawatts represent wind and solar only.

13 May 2013

8 Vivid Charts – 8 Reasons for a Solar Energy Standard in Minnesota

by John Farrell | Date: 13 May 2013 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

A conference committee is resolving differences between House and (much weaker) Senate versions of a solar energy standard in Minnesota today. Here’s 8 graphic reasons why the state should go for solar as aggressively as it can. 8 Vivid Charts – 8 Reasons for a Solar Energy Standard in Minnesota from John Farrell

8 May 2013

Composting Supports Jobs and Healthy Watersheds, Say New ILSR Reports

by Brenda Platt | Date: 8 May 2013 | posted in: Composting, waste - composting, waste - zero waste, Waste to Wealth | 0

Two new reports from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance’s Composting Makes $en$e Project document the importance of expanded composting and compost use to enhance soils, protect watersheds, reduce waste, and create green jobs and a new made-in-America industrial sector. For press release, click here. With compostable material making up almost one-half of municipal solid waste, there is … Read More

8 May 2013

Composting Makes $en$e: Jobs through Composting & Compost Use

by Brenda Platt | Date: 8 May 2013 | posted in: Composting, waste - composting, waste - zero waste, Waste to Wealth | 0

Recycling is an economic development tool as well as an environmental tool. Reuse, recycling, and waste reduction offer direct development opportunities for communities. When collected with skill and care, and upgraded with quality in mind, discarded materials are a local resource that can contribute to local revenue, job creation, business expansion, and the local economic base.… Read More

3 May 2013

Watch: 5 Barriers To and Solutions for Community Renewable Energy

by John Farrell | Date: 3 May 2013 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 3

Community renewable energy has significant political and economic benefits, but is often hindered by five major barriers. Watch this vividly illustrated presentation to learn how communities can overcome the barriers and advance more local renewable energy. ILSR Senior Researcher John Farrell gave this presentation as part of a Sustainable Economies Law Center webinar on April 30, … Read More

2 May 2013

Florida City a World Leader in Solar – Episode 8 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

by John Farrell | Date: 2 May 2013 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States, Podcast | 0

“It’s the only time I’ve done a rate increase when nobody was opposed,” says Ed Regan of the Gainesville utility’s feed-in tariff for solar power. The program, launched in 2009, has resulted in nearly 15 megawatts of new, local solar energy generation on or near buildings in the northeast Florida town, enough to make it one … Read More

29 Apr 2013

Soft Costs Make a Bigger Difference as Solar Gets Cheap

by John Farrell | Date: 29 Apr 2013 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

Last week’s graphic on the impact of local permitting on the cost of solar power was a big hit, so here’s a follow up on “soft costs,” the expenses in a solar installation (including permitting) that are not the solar module. The chart compares the soft costs in the U.S. to Germany (thanks to LBNL’s analysis), … Read More

25 Apr 2013

Minnesota’s Proposed Solar Standard in Comparison

by John Farrell | Date: 25 Apr 2013 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

Some Minnesota legislators are getting a little weak-kneed listening to utility lobbyists make hugely ironic claims about the cost of the proposed solar standard and thinking about how much solar this is. Time for some context. The originally proposed 10% solar energy standard might have been ambitious by national standards, but the current 4% by 2025 … Read More