Few communities have more effectively practiced the concept of energy self-reliance than Boulder. Citizens taxed themselves to fund energy savings improvements that reduced carbon emissions, the city enacted "SmartRegs" requiring landlords to meet energy efficiency criteria or lose their rental licenses, and citizens have overcome massive utility spending to pass three referenda to approve the city's move to a city-owned electric company (see stories below). Listen to several podcasts with Boulder leaders and read our coverage of this Colorado city's struggle to take charge of its energy future.
Over 100 U.S. cities have now set goals to transition to 100 percent renewable energy. In a new episode of our Voices of 100% series from Local Energy Rules, we feature the city of Boulder, Colo., and the strategies it is using to make its ambitious local, clean energy goal a reality.EXPLORE...
Steve Fenberg (D-Boulder) talks with John Farrell about his history as a renewable energy activist and local control advocate and how he translates that work into his role in the state legislature.EXPLORE...
The Boulder County program's financial benefits for the community far outpaced its costs, Brad Smith, the county’s Sustainability Outreach and Education Specialist, recently told ILSR’s John Farrell. The county spent just $650 on marketing and outreach, a minuscule price for the gains it has seen.EXPLORE...
We spoke with New Era Colorado executive director Stephen Fenberg about the grassroots campaign to fight Xcel Energy and build a better energy future.EXPLORE...
Listen in to the podcast to hear Ken Regelson describe how the remarkable results of Boulder’s citizen-driven energy model have given them power to stand up to the incumbent electric monopoly with a vision for a 21st century clean energy system.EXPLORE...
Watch John Farrell's 2021 Empower Hour presentation on franchise agreements, the value of solar, and other strategies to wring clean energy opportunities out of monopoly utility companies.READ MORE
Over 100 U.S. cities have now set goals to transition to 100 percent renewable energy. In a new episode of our Voices of 100% series from Local Energy Rules, we feature the city of Boulder, Colo., and the strategies it is using to make its ambitious local, clean energy goal a reality.READ MORE
Steve Fenberg (D-Boulder) talks with John Farrell about his history as a renewable energy activist and local control advocate and how he translates that work into his role in the state legislature.READ MORE
The Boulder County program's financial benefits for the community far outpaced its costs, Brad Smith, the county’s Sustainability Outreach and Education Specialist, recently told ILSR’s John Farrell. The county spent just $650 on marketing and outreach, a minuscule price for the gains it has seen.READ MORE
We spoke with New Era Colorado executive director Stephen Fenberg about the grassroots campaign to fight Xcel Energy and build a better energy future.READ MORE
Listen in to the podcast to hear Ken Regelson describe how the remarkable results of Boulder’s citizen-driven energy model have given them power to stand up to the incumbent electric monopoly with a vision for a 21st century clean energy system.READ MORE
In an unexpected move, the CEO of the American Public Power Association writes in to the Boulder Daily Camera to defend publicly-owned utilities against the investor-owned utility's attacks during a campaign by local citizens to take over the incumbent electric utility.READ MORE
As renewable energy grows, the grid needs to grow more flexible to accommodate variations in the wind and sun. This video explains the limitations of "baseload" nuclear and coal power plants to work alongside large amounts of clean power.READ MORE
Two years ago, Boulder citizens voted to take over the electric utility but the incumbent monopoly is fighting back with a ballot initiative to cut off the localization effort at the knees. Local activists started a crowdfunding campaign to push back against the incumbent's financial advantage.READ MORE
The municipal utility serving Denton, Texas, has already achieved 40% renewable energy. Their general manager presented to the Boulder, Colo., city council in 2013 as inspiration for their pursuit of a city-owned utility.READ MORE
In this episode of Local Energy Rules, John Farrell and Wade Underwood talk with Susan Osborne, the former Mayor of Boulder, CO, about that city’s effort to take control of its energy future.READ MORE
In this video, Mayor Susan Osborne of Boulder, Colo., presents to an audience in Minneapolis, Minn., about why her city opted to take over the electric company, after years of futile negotiations for more local renewable energy.READ MORE
This presentation explores the potential for a city to leverage expiring franchise contracts with its utility companies to push for a cleaner, more local energy future.READ MORE
