Energy Resources – Search Results
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Minnesota’s Community Solar Program
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
Proof in the Public Takeover Pudding — Episode 184 of Local Energy Rules
Randy Knight explains how the Winter Park, Fla., overcame utility opposition to create a publicly-owned electric utility and shares his advice to other cities. Portions of this interview were released as part of last year’s series on public power.… Read More
Tennessee Valley’s Unchecked Authority — Episode 183 of Local Energy Rules
Maggie Shober discusses how the Tennessee Valley Authority operates like a for-profit utility, despite its public ownership. Portions of this interview were released as part of last year’s series on public power.… Read More
The Value Idling in Electric Vehicles — Episode 182 of Local Energy Rules
Brian Callnan discusses New Hampshire Electric Cooperative’s Transactive Energy Rate pilot program and how the energy sitting in electric vehicle batteries can provide additional value to the owner and the grid.… Read More
The State(s) of Distributed Solar — 2022 Update
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
Central California District Pushes for Public Power — Episode 181 of Local Energy Rules
Peter Rietkerk discusses how a public agency could do a better job than Pacific Gas & Electric and the South San Joaquin Irrigation District’s 18 year endeavor to provide retail electric service in California’s Central Valley.… Read More
Extremely Comfortable Home Makeovers — Episode 180 of Local Energy Rules
Nate Adams explains how to electrify homes in cold climates, which policies and incentives actually support home electrification, and the problems we must solve to reach net zero emissions by 2050.… Read More
StarTribune: Utility Lobbying Violates Ratepayers’ Free Speech
In this commentary from the Minneapolis StarTribune, John Farrell makes a case against monopoly utilities using customer funds for political lobbying. Compelling captive customers to pay for political speech is a violation of their first amendment right, says Farrell.… Read More
New Power Generation Quarterly: 2022 Q4
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
Interconnection and Grid Planning — Episode 179 of Local Energy Rules
Sky Stanfield discusses how good interconnection policy and proactive grid planning can capitalize on existing distribution infrastructure for the most cost-effective clean energy transition.… Read More
Arizona Adopts a Useless Community Solar Policy
On March 7, the Arizona Corporation Commission adopted a community solar policy statement that takes into account few, if any, stakeholder suggestions. The policy has many fatal flaws and will not spur any community solar development in Arizona.… Read More
National Community Solar Programs Tracker
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
Mainstreaming Electric Homes — Episode 178 of Local Energy Rules
Nate Adams and Steve Pantano discuss how education is the foundation for informed decision making, what builds trust between contractors and homeowners, and the additional support needed to make home electrification mainstream.… Read More
Why is Connecting Clean Energy to the Grid So Hard?
A terrific Brad Plumer New York Times article highlights the barriers to connecting renewable energy to the grid. This post explains WHY these barriers exist, and how we can overcome them.… Read More
The 2023 Community Power Scorecard
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