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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


Why Minnesota’s Community Solar Program is the Best

Why Minnesota's Community Solar Program is the Best

John Farrell

July 20, 2021

Minnesota's community solar program reached 800 megawatts in July 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%: 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


New Power Generation Quarterly: 2021 Q1

New Power Generation Quarterly: 2021 Q1

Maria McCoy

July 2, 2021

Wind energy took the prize for the most new generating capacity in the first quarter of 2021, which included the first utility-owned offshore wind project. Here's the latest update from ILSR’s Energy Democracy Initiative.READ MORE


For Public Utilities, Customers Spark Pioneering Policy with a Vote — Episode 133 of Local Energy Rules

For Public Utilities, Customers Spark Pioneering Policy with a Vote — Episode 133 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

June 30, 2021

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell and guest Eric Williams discuss the growing momentum for clean energy and how people drive change within public utilities.READ MORE


Targeting Subscriber Inequities in Minnesota’s Community Solar Program

Targeting Subscriber Inequities in Minnesota’s Community Solar Program

Maria McCoy

June 23, 2021

In these comments, submitted to Minnesota utility regulators, ILSR asks that the Commission extends the residential adder: a program designed to increase residential participation in community solar gardens.READ MORE


Entrepreneurs, Innovators, and Roadblocks in the Rooftop Revolution — Episode 132 of Local Energy Rules

Entrepreneurs, Innovators, and Roadblocks in the Rooftop Revolution — Episode 132 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

June 16, 2021

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell and guest Danny Kennedy discuss rooftop solar revolutions, Kennedy’s work at New Energy Nexus, and the importance of innovation in the energy sector.READ MORE


In the Star Tribune: Wrong Incentives Drive Energy Decisions in Minnesota, Most States

In the Star Tribune: Wrong Incentives Drive Energy Decisions in Minnesota, Most States

Jess Del Fiacco

June 8, 2021

In the Star Tribune, ILSR Co-Director and Director of the Energy Democracy Initiative John Farrell explains that thanks to a lack of competition, Minnesota energy companies have little incentive to invest in clean energy.READ MORE


Voices of 100%: In Case of Emergency, Break Down Barriers to Net Zero — Episode 131 of Local Energy Rules

Voices of 100%: In Case of Emergency, Break Down Barriers to Net Zero — Episode 131 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

June 3, 2021

For this Voices of 100% episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell talks with guests Mark Gamba and Natalie Rogers of Milwaukie, Oregon. In 2020, the city declared a climate emergency and accelerated its climate action goals.READ MORE


National Community Solar Programs Tracker

National Community Solar Programs Tracker

Maria McCoy

May 25, 2021

20 states have policies allowing some form of community renewable energy. This quarterly update (2021 Q1) 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


Greetings From Hawaii, Where Utility Profit Depends on Performance — Episode 130 of Local Energy Rules

Greetings From Hawaii, Where Utility Profit Depends on Performance — Episode 130 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

May 19, 2021

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell and guest Isaac Moriwake discuss how Hawaii’s new performance-based utility regulation will adjust utility incentives, ultimately saving customer dollars and propelling the transition to clean energy.READ MORE


New York’s Community Solar Program

New York’s Community Solar Program

Abby Hornberger

May 14, 2021

NY-Sun’s Shared Renewables program, enacted by the Reforming the Energy Vision initiative in 2017, offers community solar to homes and businesses. This post summarizes the policy and compiles additional New York community solar resources.READ MORE


How Big Utilities’ Climate Pledges Fall Short — Episode 129 of Local Energy Rules

How Big Utilities’ Climate Pledges Fall Short — Episode 129 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

May 5, 2021

For this episode of Local Energy Rules, host John Farrell and guest John Romankiewicz discuss The Dirty Truth About Utility Climate Pledges: utilities are doing far too little to retire coal, replace it with clean energy, and fulfill their promises.READ MORE


30 Times More Jobs from Rooftop Solar, Utility Filing Says

30 Times More Jobs from Rooftop Solar, Utility Filing Says

John Farrell

April 30, 2021

Tucked into a proposal from Xcel Energy, the state's largest electric company, was a comparison of two proposed solar projects: one, a giant solar array on the site of a closing coal plant; the other, a small collection of rooftop solar projects to serve low-income residents. In a nondescript tableREAD MORE