Energy

In Depth

The 2022 Community Power Scorecard

Maria McCoy

February 24, 2022

Communities can do a lot to advance energy democracy, but some of their options depend on 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

Petitioners Ask Feds to Investigate Utility Abuses of Monopoly Power — Episode 158 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

June 9, 2022

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell and guests Howard Crystal and Liz Veazey discuss a recent petition to the Federal Trade Commission and why electric utility practices require federal investigation. READ MORE

Xcel’s Hosting Capacity Map Is Better, but Needs Improvement Before It’s Useful for Interconnecting Distributed Solar

Maria McCoy

April 8, 2022

In these comments filed to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, ILSR notes some improvements in Xcel Energy's hosting capacity map and points to issues that require further attention. READ MORE

Recently Posted

Public Power Pt. 4: Game Over? — Episode 167 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

September 28, 2022

John Farrell describes three municipalization attempts: Boulder, Minneapolis, and Decorah. Each city failed to form its own utility, but found silver linings in trying. This is part four of a special series: The Promise and Peril of Publicly-Owned Power. READ MORE

Public Power Pt. 3: Ingredients For Success — Episode 166 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

September 14, 2022

John Coyle describes how to form a publicly-owned utility and lists the four ingredients for baking up a public takeover. This is part three in a special series: The Promise and Peril of Publicly-Owned Power. READ MORE

Are Utilities Blocking Rooftop Solar From the Power Grid?

Katie Kienbaum

September 9, 2022

Delays connecting local solar to the electric grid slow the growth of clean energy. We need more data to figure out if utilities are blocking solar on purpose to protect their monopoly power. READ MORE

National Community Solar Programs Tracker

Maria McCoy

September 7, 2022

20 states have policies allowing some form of community renewable energy. This quarterly update (2022 Q2) shows the capacity built in six states: Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, and New York. It focuses on programs in investor-owned utility service territory. READ MORE

How the Inflation Reduction Act Makes it Easier to Go Solar — and Where it Falls Short

Katie Kienbaum

September 5, 2022

As the government implements the Inflation Reduction Act, funding equitable local solar projects will help maximize the law’s benefits for households and put power back in the hands of people, instead of monopoly energy utilities. READ MORE

In Depth

The 2022 Community Power Scorecard

Petitioners Ask Feds to Investigate Utility Abuses of Monopoly Power — Episode 158 of Local Energy Rules

Xcel’s Hosting Capacity Map Is Better, but Needs Improvement Before It’s Useful for Interconnecting Distributed Solar

Recently Posted

Public Power Pt. 4: Game Over? — Episode 167 of Local Energy Rules

Public Power Pt. 3: Ingredients For Success — Episode 166 of Local Energy Rules

Are Utilities Blocking Rooftop Solar From the Power Grid?

National Community Solar Programs Tracker

How the Inflation Reduction Act Makes it Easier to Go Solar — and Where it Falls Short

How Big Utilities Are Impeding Clean Energy

This report explores how corporate concentration in the energy sector is harming Americans — and what we can do to fight back.

Local Energy Rules Podcast

Sharing powerful stories of successful local renewable energy

Community Power Map

Mapping local renewable energy and how states help or hinder local power.

Community Power Toolkit

Your starting point for building local power for renewable energy.