All Posts
ILSR Asks Arizona Commissioners to Consider Community Solar
Maria McCoy
May 19, 2022
In this letter to the Arizona Corporation Commission, ILSR highlights community solar as a pathway to building distributed solar capacity and extending the benefits of solar to more Arizona residents, businesses, and public entities.READ MORE
A People’s Playbook on Advancing Energy Justice, Despite Utility Misdirection — Episode 156 of Local Energy Rules
Maria McCoy
May 11, 2022
For this episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell and guest Yesenia Rivera discuss the People’s Utility Justice Playbook and how to combat utility tactics that undermine energy democracy.READ MORE
Why Minnesota's Community Solar Program is the Best
May 2, 2022
Minnesota's community solar program reached 831 megawatts in April 2022, enough to power more than 100,000 homes each year or about as much capacity as a typical nuclear power plant!READ MORE
Monopolistic Utility Companies Suppress the Use of Customer Data — Episode 155 of Local Energy Rules
Maria McCoy
April 27, 2022
For this episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, a rebroadcast from the Building Local Power Podcast, host John Farrell and guest Michael Murray discuss how utilities resist data portability, even though customers have a right to their data.READ MORE
Implemented Correctly, Community Choice Energy Can Support Colorado Communities in Their Goals
April 20, 2022
In these comments filed to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, ILSR describes how a community choice agency can better manage energy efficiency programs, support the expansion of distributed energy resources, and align with local interests.READ MORE
The Movement to Take Back Control From Monopoly Electric Utilities — Episode 154 of Local Energy Rules
Maria McCoy
April 13, 2022
For this episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, a rebroadcast from the Building Local Power Podcast, we share a recording of ILSR’s Democratizing Power event: a conversation with advocates about how communities have challenged monopoly power.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
Despite Promising Policies, Advocates Are Still Fighting for Community Power — Episode 153 of Local Energy Rules
Maria McCoy
March 30, 2022
For this episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell and guests Crystal Huang and Al Weinrub discuss the gap between policy and implementation and how ILSR’s Community Power Scorecard could better represent and mobilize local organizers.READ MORE
New Power Generation Quarterly: Annual Update — 2021
Maria McCoy
March 24, 2022
37.6 gigawatts of electric generation capacity were added to the grid in 2021, and for the first time, nearly half of that was solar. Here's the latest update from ILSR’s Energy Democracy Initiative.READ MORE
The Legal Case for a Clean and Competitive Energy Sector — Episode 152 of Local Energy Rules
Maria McCoy
March 16, 2022
For this episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell and guest Jean Su discuss a landmark court ruling's implications for antitrust enforcement and how President Biden could defend the U.S. from climate and economic harms.READ MORE
Tweaking a Tax Credit Would Help More Americans Go Solar [Infographic]
Katie Kienbaum
March 14, 2022
Current solar tax incentives have disproportionately benefited wealthier Americans and big businesses and banks. Changes to these tax credits could help millions of families, schools, and community organizations go solar.READ MORE
National Community Solar Programs Tracker
Maria McCoy
March 8, 2022
20 states have policies allowing some form of community renewable energy. This quarterly update (2021 Q4) shows the capacity built in states with most active programs: Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New York. It focuses on programs in investor-owned utility service territory.READ MORE
Voices of 100%: Idaho Coalition Crafts a Data-Driven Clean Power Pledge — Episode 151 of Local Energy Rules
Maria McCoy
March 2, 2022
For this Voices of 100% episode of Local Energy Rules, guests Lynne Barker, Scott Runkel, and host John Farrell discuss Blaine County's 2020 commitment to 100 percent renewable energy and how Idaho communities can reach their goals.READ MORE
ILSR Asks Regulators to Protect Customers From Unjust Utility Spending
Maria McCoy
February 28, 2022
In February 2022, ILSR filed comments to FERC on utility rate recovery and industry association dues. These comments argue that monopoly utilities must prove they are not spending ratepayer dollars on advocacy for anti-competitive, anti-consumer policies.READ MORE
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