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Coal Plant Communities Seek a Just Economic Transition

Coal Plant Communities Seek a Just Economic Transition

Lilli Ambort

May 28, 2020

Communities reliant on coal, for tax revenue and jobs, are at risk when the plants go under. In this post, we dig in to coal plant closures and ask whether clean energy opportunities can replace what's been lost.READ MORE


Why Minnesota’s Community Solar Program is the Best

Why Minnesota's Community Solar Program is the Best

John Farrell

May 26, 2020

Minnesota's community solar program hit 688 megawatts in May 2020, enough to power more than 100,000 homes each year or about half as much capacity as a typical nuclear power plant!READ MORE


Voices of 100%: Pandemic Pauses Clean Energy Planning in Georgia

Voices of 100%: Pandemic Pauses Clean Energy Planning in Georgia

Maria McCoy

May 20, 2020

For this episode of our Voices of 100% series of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell speaks with Charles Utley. They discuss Augusta's commitment to 100% renewable energy and how a global pandemic affects city energy planning.READ MORE


Why it’s Short-Sighted to do Centralized Planning in a Decentralizing Electricity Grid

Why it’s Short-Sighted to do Centralized Planning in a Decentralizing Electricity Grid

John Farrell

May 11, 2020

With financial rewards tied to building big, utilities overlook distributed energy resources like rooftop solar. This essay, written to advise utility regulators in Michigan, has implications for utility resource planning nationwide.READ MORE


D.C. Neighbors Unite to Fight for Solar Rights for All — Episode 103 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

D.C. Neighbors Unite to Fight for Solar Rights for All — Episode 103 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

Maria McCoy

May 6, 2020

In this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell speaks with Yesenia Rivera of United Neighbors. The two take a deep dive into the mission and success of SUN in expanding solar access for all in D.C.READ MORE


National Community Solar Programs Tracker

National Community Solar Programs Tracker

Maria McCoy

April 30, 2020

Sixteen states have policies allowing some form of community renewable energy development. This quarterly update (2019 Q4) shows the capacity built in states with active programs: Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New York. It focuses on programs in investor-owned utility service territory.READ MORE


Utility Regulators Oversee Planning for a Robust, Inclusive Grid in Minnesota

Utility Regulators Oversee Planning for a Robust, Inclusive Grid in Minnesota

John Farrell

April 27, 2020

In these comments, John Farrell outlines how Xcel Energy should improve its 2019 Integrated Distribution Plan to best serve the needs of Minnesota customers: increased access to distributed energy generation and a fair analysis of the benefits these systems provide to the grid.READ MORE


Voices of 100%: Michigan City Sets Steady Pace to a Clean Electricity Goal — Episode 102 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

Voices of 100%: Michigan City Sets Steady Pace to a Clean Electricity Goal — Episode 102 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

Maria McCoy

April 22, 2020

For this episode of our Voices of 100% series of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell speaks with Amy Shamroe and Tim Werner. They talk about the city’s optimistic, yet pragmatic plan for clean energy in Traverse City.READ MORE


The State(s) of Distributed Solar — 2019 Update

The State(s) of Distributed Solar — 2019 Update

Lilli Ambort

April 16, 2020

More states are prioritizing solar, but how much of it is coming from smaller, distributed sources? In this 2019 update, we evaluate the status of state solar markets and whether they are helping communities build local wealth through distributed energy.READ MORE


Why 30 Million Solar Rooftops Should Be In the Next Relief Bill

Why 30 Million Solar Rooftops Should Be In the Next Relief Bill

John Farrell

April 10, 2020

As the federal government looks to a second (or even third) stimulus bill, Congress should consider a huge opportunity to pay Americans that pays back: solar rooftops. By investing $450 billion in rooftop solar, the federal government could slash energy bills for Americans, cut air pollution, and create over 3.7READ MORE


Local Energy Production Builds Resiliency in the Bay Area — Episode 101 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

Local Energy Production Builds Resiliency in the Bay Area — Episode 101 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

Maria McCoy

April 8, 2020

In this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell speaks with Jessie Denver of East Bay Community Energy. Farrell and Denver discuss how distributed energy resources can prepare communities for disaster — and increase resilience after it hits.READ MORE


More Cities are Kicking Gas Reliance to the Curb

More Cities are Kicking Gas Reliance to the Curb

Lilli Ambort

April 6, 2020

Electrification is a component of many city climate action plans, but beyond reducing carbon footprints, it carries important economic and health benefits. In this post, we explore how cities use local authority to electrify — and ditch dirty gas for good.READ MORE


New Power Generation Quarterly: Annual Update — 2019

New Power Generation Quarterly: Annual Update — 2019

Maria McCoy

April 1, 2020

Added wind and small-solar generation reached new heights in 2019. Could 2020 be the year that distributed solar overtakes utility-scale solar? Here's the latest update from ILSR’s Energy Democracy Initiative.READ MORE


Celebrating 100: A Spotlight on 6 Leaders of 100% Renewable Cities — Episode 100 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

Celebrating 100: A Spotlight on 6 Leaders of 100% Renewable Cities — Episode 100 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

Maria McCoy

March 25, 2020

For our 100th episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, we compiled a highlight reel from the Voices of 100% series. This episode celebrates the cities that are working toward our vision: community-driven, equitable, 100% renewable energy economies.READ MORE


Webinar: Equitable Community Solar

Webinar: Equitable Community Solar

Maria McCoy

March 17, 2020

The Institute for Local Self-Reliance hosted a webinar exploring a February 2020 report on Equitable Community Solar. Watch the recorded webinar, in which co-authors Jonathan Welle and Timothy DenHerder Thomas walk through the report.READ MORE