All Posts

Hosting Capacity Analysis Could Simplify Grid Interconnection for Distributed Energy Resources

Maria McCoy

April 13, 2021

These comments, submitted to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on April 7, underline the value Xcel Energy's hosting capacity analysis could have as part of the interconnection process.READ MORE

Community Solar Collective Gives Member-Owners Power — Episode 127 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

April 7, 2021

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell and guest Timothy DenHerder-Thomas discuss the People’s Solar Energy Fund, an initiative to pool together community-owned solar developers and scale up community solar nationwide.READ MORE

New Power Generation Quarterly: Annual Update — 2020

Maria McCoy

April 1, 2021

The U.S. energy industry in 2020: though the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic showed up, renewables resources showed out. Here's the latest update from ILSR’s Energy Democracy Initiative.READ MORE

Illinois's Community Solar Program

Abby Hornberger

March 31, 2021

The Future Energy Jobs Act, passed in 2016, is a comprehensive bill that established Illinois’s community solar program and a commitment to expand access to solar for low- and moderate-income residents.READ MORE

Why Minnesota's Community Solar Program is the Best

John Farrell

March 26, 2021

Minnesota's community solar program hit 789 megawatts in March 2021, enough to power more than 100,000 homes each year or about as much capacity as a typical nuclear power plant!READ MORE

Connecting Customers to Create a Virtual Power Plant — Episode 126 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

March 24, 2021

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell and CEO of OhmConnect Cisco DeVries discuss demand response and the 550 megawatt Resi-Station “virtual power plant.”READ MORE

Much More Rooftop Solar from an Alternative to Monopoly Utility Models

John Farrell

March 21, 2021

A new modeling approach from Vote Solar and the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) might finally put distributed solar on the same footing in grid planning as the large power plants that utilities prefer.READ MORE

National Community Solar Programs Tracker

Maria McCoy

March 19, 2021

19 states have policies allowing some form of community renewable energy. This quarterly update (2020 Q4) 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

The State(s) of Distributed Solar — 2020 Update

Maria McCoy

March 16, 2021

How much of the U.S. solar fleet is made up of smaller, distributed sources that help communities build wealth locally? This 2020 update examines the size of state solar markets and their corresponding shares of distributed and community solar systems.READ MORE

Voices of 100%: Hanover Residents Raise Hands for Renewable Energy — Episode 125 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

March 10, 2021

For this Voices of 100% episode of Local Energy Rules, host John Farrell talks with Hanover, N.H. Sustainability Director April Salas about coalition building, taking action in a small town, and slowing down to achieve goals the right way.READ MORE

Should Big Utilities Pay for Their Bad Choices? — Episode 124 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

February 24, 2021

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, republished from ILSR’s Building Local Power podcast, host John Farrell and guest Leslie Glustrom discuss utility accountability and how to equitably transition to clean energy.READ MORE

Greenpenny Puts Community Banking to Work for Clean Energy — Episode 123 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

February 10, 2021

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell speaks with Greenpenny’s Jason MacDuff. They discuss what’s needed for a prompt clean energy transition, the value of community banks, and the success of the innovative Greenpenny model.READ MORE

The 2021 Community Power Scorecard

Maria McCoy

February 10, 2021

In the 2021 Community Power Scorecard, 3 states excelled, 8 states and the District of Columbia saw above average scores, 12 were average, 14 were mediocre, and 14 states received failing grades at enabling individuals and communities to take charge of their energy futures.READ MORE

In Support of an Improved Securitization Bill in Minnesota

Maria McCoy

February 8, 2021

Read John Farrell's testimony in favor of a power plant securitization bill, which he gave to the Minnesota the House Climate and Energy Finance and Policy committee on February 2.READ MORE

Expanding Access to Energy Efficient Appliances — Episode 122 of Local Energy Rules

Drew Birschbach

January 27, 2021

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell and guest Marti Frank discuss the Shift Model: an approach that uses utility rebates to shift home appliance sales to more efficient models.READ MORE