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

New Power Generation Quarterly: 2022 Q1

Maria McCoy

June 29, 2022

Only 6.4 gigawatts of electricity generation capacity went online in the first quarter of 2021. Solar generation facilities comprised 3.7 of those 6.4 gigawatts. Here's the latest update from ILSR’s Energy Democracy Initiative. READ MORE

Why Minnesota's Community Solar Program is the Best

John Farrell

June 27, 2022

Minnesota's community solar program reached 837 megawatts in June 2022, enough to power more than 100,000 homes each year or about as much capacity as a typical nuclear power plant! READ MORE

How Colorado Electric Customers Are Leading a Co-op's Clean Energy Journey — Episode 159 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

June 22, 2022

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell and guest Bryan Hannegan discuss how cultural change, led by the customers, pushed Holy Cross Energy to offer innovative programs in its transition to 100 percent renewable energy. READ MORE

National Community Solar Programs Tracker

Maria McCoy

June 16, 2022

20 states have policies allowing some form of community renewable energy. This quarterly update (2022 Q1) shows the capacity built in five states: Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, and New York. It focuses on programs in investor-owned utility service territory. READ MORE

A Solar Policy Shows How Solar Protects Households From High Gas Prices

John Farrell

June 14, 2022

State "value of solar" policies, as in Minnesota, create an incentive to install more solar energy in response to high natural gas prices and reduce long-term impacts on electricity customers. 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

New Power Generation Quarterly: 2022 Q1

Why Minnesota's Community Solar Program is the Best

How Colorado Electric Customers Are Leading a Co-op's Clean Energy Journey — Episode 159 of Local Energy Rules

National Community Solar Programs Tracker

A Solar Policy Shows How Solar Protects Households From High Gas Prices

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.