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
Yesterday, following weeks of anticipation, State Gov. Jay Islee signed the Public Broadband Act (H.B. 1336), removing all restrictions on public broadband in the state of Washington, according to the bill’s primary sponsor, State Rep. Drew Hansen. This critical leap forward in Washington drops the number of states with laws restricting community broadband to 17. … Read More
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 table was a bombshell revelation about the relative economic benefits of solar at small scale: for every million the utility proposed spending on rooftop solar, it would create 30 times more jobs than $1 million spent on utility-scale solar.… Read More
In this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell speaks with Jamie Valdez about Pueblo, Colo.’s efforts to transition to municipal power and the opposition of Pueblo’s monopoly utility.… Read More
Yesterday in an announcement via livestream, the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Hamilton County Schools, and the fiber arm of municipal utility Electric Power Board (EPB) announced a partnership to provide free Internet access and hardware to the 17,700 homes with school children on free or reduced lunch programs in the county.… Read More
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
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
Fort Collins, Colorado, officially launched Connexion, their municipal fiber optic network, on August 29th. … Read More
Neil Seldman was recently interviewed by Waste Dive on cities and counties as the primary drivers of recycling market development. This is a follow up post containing additional information relevant to the interview.
