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Arizona’s High Stakes Utility Election — Episode 205 of Local Energy Rules

Arizona’s High Stakes Utility Election — Episode 205 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

March 13, 2024

Charlie Fisher discusses the upcoming Salt River Project election and how clean energy advocates could flip the public utility's board and reverse anti-solar and anti-democratic policies.READ MORE


Smarter Rules for Smart Meters — Episode 204 of Local Energy Rules

Smarter Rules for Smart Meters — Episode 204 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

February 28, 2024

Michael Murray explains the many capabilities of smart meters, his critique of a Rhode Island utility proposal to expand advanced metering, and how state and federal regulators can establish best practices for fairness and data access.READ MORE


Why Utility Execs Hate Distributed Solar

Why Utility Execs Hate Distributed Solar

Maria McCoy

February 21, 2024

In this 30 minute presentation to the Just Solar Coalition, Timothy Den-Herder Thomas and John Farrell explain the benefits of distributed solar, why utility companies try to stifle it, and how this conflict has reared its ugly head in Minnesota.READ MORE


The Concrete Benefits of Virtual Power Plants — Episode 203 of Local Energy Rules

The Concrete Benefits of Virtual Power Plants — Episode 203 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

February 14, 2024

Chris Rauscher explains the benefits of coordinating distributed energy resources, how residential solar and storage customers have saved their neighbors from blackouts, and why every utility could be offering a virtual power plant program.READ MORE


10 Years of Minnesota’s Community Solar Program — Episode 202 of Local Energy Rules

10 Years of Minnesota’s Community Solar Program — Episode 202 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

January 31, 2024

Pouya Najmaie discusses the strengths and weaknesses of Minnesota’s community solar program, its many regulatory and legislative changes over the years, and how utility Xcel Energy has found a new way to try to suppress distributed generation.READ MORE


Self-Determination Can Save the Energy System

Self-Determination Can Save the Energy System

Maria McCoy

January 24, 2024

In this 15 minute presentation for The Solutions Summit 2023, John Farrell makes the case for self-determination over the energy system. Instead of tolerating costly energy monopolies, states and cities can empower communities and harness the benefits of local ownership.READ MORE


Petitioners Ask Feds to Investigate Utility Abuses of Monopoly Power — Episode 201 of Local Energy Rules

Petitioners Ask Feds to Investigate Utility Abuses of Monopoly Power — Episode 201 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

January 17, 2024

In this episode from the archive, Howard Crystal and Liz Veazey discuss a petition to the Federal Trade Commission and why electric utility practices require federal investigation. ILSR first published this interview in June of 2022.READ MORE


200 Episodes, 10 Lessons, and Your Questions — Episode 200 of Local Energy Rules

200 Episodes, 10 Lessons, and Your Questions — Episode 200 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

January 3, 2024

For this milestone 200th episode, John Farrell reflects on 10 years of making the Local Energy Rules podcast, shares what he has learned from over 200 guests, and answers some listener questions.READ MORE


Scaling Up Home Energy Investment — Episode 199 of Local Energy Rules

Scaling Up Home Energy Investment — Episode 199 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

December 20, 2023

Matt Flaherty discusses the barriers to home energy upgrades, how inclusive utility investment is a scalable solution that addresses many of these barriers, and what it will take to get utilities on board with on-bill financing.READ MORE


New Power Generation Quarterly: 2023 Q3

New Power Generation Quarterly: 2023 Q3

Maria McCoy

December 15, 2023

7.2 gigawatts of new power generation capacity came online in the third quarter of 2023. Half of that capacity (3.6 gigawatts) was large-scale solar alone, while small-scale solar contributed nearly a third with a record-setting 2.1 gigawatts.READ MORE


Community Solar Tracker

Community Solar Tracker

Maria McCoy

December 13, 2023

ILSR tracks community solar capacity in states with formal programs that allow non-utility ownership. This quarterly update (2023 Q3) shows the capacity built in nine states, with a focus on projects in investor-owned utility service territory.READ MORE


Loopholes and Scams in New York Gas Plans — Episode 198 of Local Energy Rules

Loopholes and Scams in New York Gas Plans — Episode 198 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

December 6, 2023

Ben Kuebrich discusses New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, what to expect when gas utilities do their own decarbonization planning, and how states and clean energy advocates can actually address methane gas use in the buildings sector.READ MORE


Utility Millions Take Down Popular Measure — Episode 197 of Local Energy Rules

Utility Millions Take Down Popular Measure — Episode 197 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

November 22, 2023

Lucy Hochschartner explains how public power would have been an improvement over Maine’s investor-owned utilities, yet didn’t receive the support of Maine voters on November 7th.READ MORE


Virginia’s Community Solar Program

Virginia’s Community Solar Program

Caroline Petterson

November 16, 2023

Virginia’s shared solar program began enrolling subscribers in 2023, but faces scrutiny due to a high minimum billing feature. This post summarizes the policy and compiles additional Virginia community solar resources.READ MORE


New Paths for Rural Electric Co-op Revival — Episode 196 of Local Energy Rules

New Paths for Rural Electric Co-op Revival — Episode 196 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

November 9, 2023

Frances Sawyer and Maria McCoy discuss ILSR’s new report on rural electric co-ops and how federal dollars can meet the growing momentum of co-op member-owners organizing around affordability, clean energy, and local control.READ MORE