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Utility Millions Take Down Popular Measure — Episode 197 of Local Energy Rules

Utility Millions Take Down Popular Measure — Episode 197 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

November 22, 2023

Lucy Hochschartner explains how public power would have been an improvement over Maine’s investor-owned utilities, yet didn’t receive the support of Maine voters on November 7th.READ MORE


Virginia’s Community Solar Program

Virginia’s Community Solar Program

Caroline Petterson

November 16, 2023

Virginia’s shared solar program began enrolling subscribers in 2023, but faces scrutiny due to a high minimum billing feature. This post summarizes the policy and compiles additional Virginia community solar resources.READ MORE


New Paths for Rural Electric Co-op Revival — Episode 196 of Local Energy Rules

New Paths for Rural Electric Co-op Revival — Episode 196 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

November 9, 2023

Frances Sawyer and Maria McCoy discuss ILSR’s new report on rural electric co-ops and how federal dollars can meet the growing momentum of co-op member-owners organizing around affordability, clean energy, and local control.READ MORE


Report: Will Long-Term Co-op Contracts Give Way to Affordable Clean Energy?

Report: Will Long-Term Co-op Contracts Give Way to Affordable Clean Energy?

Maria McCoy

October 30, 2023

ILSR’s new report, The Rural Electric Rift, examines the struggle of electric distribution cooperatives and their members to restore local control over electricity purchasing and harness the benefits of affordable clean energy.READ MORE


Stopping the Spread of Monopolies — Episode 195 of Local Energy Rules

Stopping the Spread of Monopolies — Episode 195 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

October 25, 2023

Lynne Kiesling explains why allowing incumbent monopolies into new markets is too big of a risk for innovation and the public interest, particularly in the context of Xcel Energy’s major electric vehicle charging proposal.READ MORE


Colorado Bill Increases Utility Accountability — Episode 194 of Local Energy Rules

Colorado Bill Increases Utility Accountability — Episode 194 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

October 18, 2023

Steve Fenberg discusses Colorado’s Senate Bill 291, which changed incentives in the investor-owned utility business model to protect Colorado consumers from high fossil fuel costs and protects captive customers from paying for the utility to lobby against their own interests.READ MORE


Utilities Aren’t Telling the Whole Truth About Solar Costs

Utilities Aren't Telling the Whole Truth About Solar Costs

John Farrell

October 5, 2023

Electric utilities recently admitted that they often misrepresent the cost of solar energy to serve their own profit interests.READ MORE


New Power Generation Quarterly: 2023 Q2

New Power Generation Quarterly: 2023 Q2

Maria McCoy

October 3, 2023

Nearly 11 gigawatts of new power generation capacity came online in the second quarter of 2023. Over half of that capacity was solar power (5.5 gigawatts), about a third was fossil gas (3.8 gigawatts), and the rest was wind (1.5 gigawatts).READ MORE


Against All Reason, Indiana Dismantles Rooftop Solar — Episode 193 of Local Energy Rules

Against All Reason, Indiana Dismantles Rooftop Solar — Episode 193 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

September 27, 2023

Ben Inskeep discusses Indiana’s backward solar policy, why local solar is a threat to utilities, and how to go up against the powerful entrenched interests of monopolies.READ MORE


Community Solar Tracker

Community Solar Tracker

Maria McCoy

September 21, 2023

ILSR tracks community solar capacity in states with formal programs that allow non-utility ownership. This quarterly update (2023 Q1) shows the capacity built in seven states, with a focus on projects in investor-owned utility service territory.READ MORE


Don’t Follow California’s Lead on Rooftop Solar — Episode 192 of Local Energy Rules

Don’t Follow California’s Lead on Rooftop Solar — Episode 192 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

September 13, 2023

Sachu Constantine explains the obstacles and opportunities arising for the electric grid as customers become generators and what California got wrong in its 2022 net metering decision.READ MORE


The Anti-Competitive Tricks up Utility Sleeves — Episode 191 of Local Energy Rules

The Anti-Competitive Tricks up Utility Sleeves — Episode 191 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

August 30, 2023

Seth Handy explains how utilities have, through loopholes in federal guidance and friends on public regulatory bodies, protected their own interests at the expense of clean energy projects.READ MORE


Portland Funds Community-Led Clean Energy Projects — Episode 190 of Local Energy Rules

Portland Funds Community-Led Clean Energy Projects — Episode 190 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

August 16, 2023

Maria Sipin discusses what the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund has accomplished, how volunteers from the community have shaped the fund’s priorities, and how to evaluate project success.READ MORE


Maryland’s Community Solar Program

Maryland’s Community Solar Program

Caroline Petterson

August 9, 2023

In 2023, Maryland passed legislation (HB 908) making permanent a successful 7-year community solar pilot program. The now-permanent program allows for unlimited capacity and requires that 40% of each project’s output serves low- to moderate-income subscribers.READ MORE


How Utilities Neglect Certain Customers — Episode 189 of Local Energy Rules

How Utilities Neglect Certain Customers — Episode 189 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

August 2, 2023

Alex Hill discusses a report on utility redlining in electric distribution, the impacts of inadequate grid infrastructure, and how the report helped make a case against the utility’s proposed rate increase.READ MORE