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Drone Data Helps a Minnesota City Conserve Energy — Episode 141 of Local Energy Rules

Drone Data Helps a Minnesota City Conserve Energy — Episode 141 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

October 20, 2021

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell and guest Shannon Mortenson discuss Warren’s first-of-its-kind thermal imaging project, lessons learned from the pilot, and how cities can help residents conserve energy.READ MORE


Massachusetts’s Community Solar Program

Massachusetts’s Community Solar Program

Maria McCoy

October 13, 2021

Massachusetts enabled virtual net metering in 2008’s Green Communities Act and the state has incentivized community solar development through several programs. This post summarizes the policy and compiles additional Massachusetts community solar resources.READ MORE


Rep. Seth Berry on the Movement for Publicly-Owned Power in Maine — Episode 140 of Local Energy Rules

Rep. Seth Berry on the Movement for Publicly-Owned Power in Maine — Episode 140 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

October 6, 2021

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, a rebroadcast from the Building Local Power Podcast, host John Farrell and guest Seth Berry discuss Our Power Maine: an initiative to replace Maine's investor-owned utilities with a consumer-owned utility.READ MORE


Utility Conflict of Interest is at the Heart of Minnesota’s Solar Interconnection Frustration

Utility Conflict of Interest is at the Heart of Minnesota’s Solar Interconnection Frustration

Maria McCoy

October 4, 2021

In these reply comments to the Minnesota PUC, ILSR points out that as long as the utility’s interest is to profit off of new generation assets, it cannot successfully manage grid access for third parties.READ MORE


New Power Generation Quarterly: 2021 Q2

New Power Generation Quarterly: 2021 Q2

Maria McCoy

September 29, 2021

Fossil gas contributed only five percent of new power plant capacity in the second quarter of 2021. Gas has pitched in less than 10 percent in four of the last eight quarters. Here's the latest update from ILSR’s Energy Democracy Initiative.READ MORE


Colorado Law Creates Transparency at Rural Electric Co-ops — Episode 139 of Local Energy Rules

Colorado Law Creates Transparency at Rural Electric Co-ops — Episode 139 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

September 22, 2021

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell and guest Joe Smyth discuss barriers to democratic participation in rural electric cooperative decision-making and how to promote transparency at all electric co-ops.READ MORE


National Community Solar Programs Tracker

National Community Solar Programs Tracker

Maria McCoy

September 13, 2021

20 states have policies allowing some form of community renewable energy. This quarterly update (2021 Q2) 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


Queremos Sol: Seeking Solar Power for All Puerto Rican Homes — Episode 138 of Local Energy Rules

Queremos Sol: Seeking Solar Power for All Puerto Rican Homes — Episode 138 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

September 9, 2021

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell and guest Ingrid Vila discuss why rooftop solar should power every home in Puerto Rico, reducing residential electricity rates and covering basic needs during future crises.READ MORE


Why Minnesota’s Community Solar Program is the Best

Why Minnesota's Community Solar Program is the Best

John Farrell

September 2, 2021

Minnesota's community solar program reached 811 megawatts in August 2021, enough to power more than 100,000 homes each year or about as much capacity as a typical nuclear power plant!READ MORE


Voices of 100%: A Renewable City Coalition Grows in Western Montana — Episode 137 of Local Energy Rules

Voices of 100%: A Renewable City Coalition Grows in Western Montana — Episode 137 of Local Energy Rules

Angel Ornelas

August 25, 2021

For this Voices of 100% episode of Local Energy Rules, host John Farrell and guests Patrick Judge and Mark Juedeman discuss Helena’s commitment to 100% renewable energy. Helena has joined Missoula and Bozeman, building a commanding coalition in western Montana.READ MORE


The Role of Antitrust Law in Creating Energy Democracy — Episode 136 of Local Energy Rules

The Role of Antitrust Law in Creating Energy Democracy — Episode 136 of Local Energy Rules

Angel Ornelas

August 11, 2021

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell and guest Jean Su discuss how legal advocacy for energy democracy can overcome some of the utility hurdles to a renewable energy economy.READ MORE


Get More Solar by Making Utilities Share Data — Episode 135 of Local Energy Rules

Get More Solar by Making Utilities Share Data — Episode 135 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

July 28, 2021

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell and guest Yochi Zakai discuss utility hosting capacity analysis and how publicly shared grid information can help solar developers, electric customers, and others make informed decisions.READ MORE


New Mexico’s Community Solar Program

New Mexico’s Community Solar Program

Aidan Checkett

July 22, 2021

The New Mexico legislature passed the Energy Transition Act (SB 489) in 2021. This post summarizes the policy and compiles additional New Mexico community solar resources.READ MORE


Voices of 100%: Eau Claire Solar Gardens Save the Day — Episode 134 of Local Energy Rules

Voices of 100%: Eau Claire Solar Gardens Save the Day — Episode 134 of Local Energy Rules

Angel Ornelas

July 14, 2021

For this Voices of 100% episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell and guests Kate Beaton and Ned Noel examine Eau Claire’s clean energy goal, the citizen participation that has supported its work, and the strategies the City is using to advance renewable energy.READ MORE


Oregon’s Community Solar Program

Oregon’s Community Solar Program

Aidan Checkett

July 7, 2021

Passed in 2016, Section 22 of SB 1547 establishes a program for community solar projects. The Oregon Solar Dashboard tracks developments by year. This post summarizes the policy and compiles additional Oregon community solar resources.READ MORE