Energy Democracy Initiative - Institute for Local Self-Reliance

Key Topics

Individuals subscribe to a portion of a nearby solar garden and get credits on their utility bill for the electricity it produces.

Solar panels on the roofs of homes, businesses, and government buildings.

Private companies with a government-granted monopoly over electricity delivery.

Utility companies owned by the cities they serve.

When communities get to make their own decisions about clean energy projects.

Community-scaled heating and cooling networks that do not produce greenhouse gasses.

We help people aspire and argue for what they need: clean, local, affordable energy and the chance to own it, individually or collectively.
We help people understand why those in power won’t provide it for them by explaining the monopoly utility system, its perverse incentives, and the failure of public oversight.
We push those in power to act in alignment, either directly or in partnership with allies, by intervening in regulatory proceedings, advocating for new policies, and supporting a wide network of climate and community advocates.
We pressure or collaborate with those with power in the climate movement to care about scale, ownership, and energy justice.
We highlight and amplify the successes of others to fuel the work of local organizers, especially through our Local Energy Rules podcast.

See the top states in energy democracy policy

Podcast highlighting local successes and strategies to fight utility monopoly power

Report on the benefits of distributed, community-owned, locally-sourced clean energy

Strategies for cities and communities to pursue energy democracy

Where can you find the most community solar?

Report exposing investor-owned utilities as an abusive monopoly harming our communities, climate, and democracy

This post summarizes Connecticut’s community solar program and compiles state community solar resources.

California’s Senate Bill 332 aims to address the immediate harms of the state's investor-owned utilities while also investing in a resilient future.

This post summarizes Alaska’s community solar program and compiles state community solar resources.

This post summarizes Vermont’s community solar program and compiles state community solar resources.