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Coal Plant Communities Seek a Just Economic Transition

Coal Plant Communities Seek a Just Economic Transition

Lilli Ambort

August 7, 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


Is Energy Still a “Natural Monopoly”? — Episode 109 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

Is Energy Still a “Natural Monopoly”? — Episode 109 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

Drew Birschbach

July 30, 2020

In this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, an interview from ILSR’s Building Local Power podcast, host John Farrell speaks with Scott Hempling about the role of natural monopolies in markets seeking decentralization.READ MORE


Why Minnesota’s Community Solar Program is the Best

Why Minnesota's Community Solar Program is the Best

John Farrell

July 27, 2020

Minnesota's community solar program hit 705 megawatts in July 2020, enough to power more than 100,000 homes each year or about as much capacity as a typical nuclear power plant!READ MORE


Why Utilities in Minnesota and Other States Need to Plan for More Competition

Why Utilities in Minnesota and Other States Need to Plan for More Competition

John Farrell

July 22, 2020

This report explores the undercounting of customer-sited and non-utility solar in utility distributed resource forecasting. It finds that Xcel Energy's forecasts for distributed solar in Minnesota are strikingly low.READ MORE


Co-op Power Raises the Bar for Community Solar Nationwide — Episode 108 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

Co-op Power Raises the Bar for Community Solar Nationwide — Episode 108 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

Drew Birschbach

July 15, 2020

In this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell speaks with Lynn Benander from Co-op Power about community solar, its barriers, and how communities across the country are building a cleaner, cheaper future.READ MORE


Can Southern Cities Sever Ties with Tennessee Valley Monopoly? — Episode 107 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

Can Southern Cities Sever Ties with Tennessee Valley Monopoly? — Episode 107 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

Drew Birschbach

July 1, 2020

In this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell speaks with Maggie Shober of SACE. They discuss how Tennessee Valley Authority grew from a federally mandated utility commission to an unresponsive, restrictive monopoly.READ MORE


National Community Solar Programs Tracker

National Community Solar Programs Tracker

Maria McCoy

June 29, 2020

16 states have policies allowing some form of community renewable energy. This quarterly update (2020 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


New Power Generation Quarterly: 2020 Q1

New Power Generation Quarterly: 2020 Q1

David Howard

June 26, 2020

New solar capacity hit a record high in the first quarter of 2020. Will the coronavirus pandemic slow renewable energy installation for the rest of the year? Here's the latest update from ILSR’s Energy Democracy Initiative.READ MORE


Utility Franchise Fee Update

Utility Franchise Fee Update

Lilli Ambort

June 24, 2020

Franchise fees are an oft-overlooked strategy for cities to fund their climate and energy goals. Read here whether your city can flex its franchise muscles!READ MORE


Voices of 100%: St. Louis Coalition Plans to Put Coal in the Past — Episode 106 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

Voices of 100%: St. Louis Coalition Plans to Put Coal in the Past — Episode 106 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

Maria McCoy

June 17, 2020

For this episode of our Voices of 100% series, host John Farrell speaks with Rev. Rodrick Burton and Andy Knott. The three discuss how St. Louis created an inclusive clean energy plan and how the city can get to 100% clean energy, despite coal’s dominance.READ MORE


Funding, Expertise, Utility Cooperation: Three Things Cities Need to Reach 100% Renewable Energy

Funding, Expertise, Utility Cooperation: Three Things Cities Need to Reach 100% Renewable Energy

Maria McCoy

June 10, 2020

This report, written by University of Michigan master’s students in the School for Environment and Sustainability, uses survey results to identify 11 key recommendations city leaders can use to transition to 100% renewable energy.READ MORE


Solar Plus Storage Company Seeks to Disrupt the Status Quo — Episode 105 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

Solar Plus Storage Company Seeks to Disrupt the Status Quo — Episode 105 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

Maria McCoy

June 4, 2020

In this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell speaks with Anne Hoskins of Sunrun. They discuss how the world’s leading solar-plus-storage vendor is faring in a pandemic and how utility regulation can drive transformative energy policy.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