The Other 2020 Elections: Communities Put Clean Energy/Climate on the Ballot

Date: 11 Nov 2020 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

In the 2020 election, several communities had clean energy on the ballot as well as candidates for President, Congress, and state and local races. Here’s a brief overview several ballot measures illustrating how cities are moving at a rapid pace, creating new funding to support local clean energy, and how clean energy has a much broader appeal than either political party.… Read More

Planning for Local Energy and Climate Action in Minneapolis — Episode 70 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

Date: 14 Feb 2019 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States, Podcast | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

In this episode of Local Energy Rules, Energy Democracy Initiative director John Farrell speaks with Minneapolis City Councilmember Jeremy Schroeder about the city’s unique partnership with its incumbent utility companies and other tools the city can use to address climate change locally.… Read More

How Your Local Electeds Can Support Clean Energy

Date: 25 Sep 2018 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Municipal elections often fall off the radar during national ones, but cities retain a surprising amount of power over their energy future. What can you ask a local candidate or elected official to pursue? The following list of 11 resolutions, actions, and rules can make your local city council or mayor a clean energy champion.… Read More

Why Energy Codes Matter, and What Cities Can Do

Date: 24 Aug 2018 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

How efficient are buildings in your community? That depends a lot on the building code, which states (and sometimes cities) can use to set minimum standards for energy efficiency. See a chart comparing building energy codes and what cities can do to save their residents and businesses money on heating and cooling their buildings.… Read More

Colorado State Senator Steve Fenberg on Local Power Versus Corporate Power (Episode 39)

Steve Fenberg (D-Boulder) talks with John Farrell about his history as a renewable energy activist and local control advocate and how he translates that work into his role in the state legislature.… Read More

San Francisco Breaks the Chain Stores, Strengthens Neighborhood Economies (Episode 31)

Date: 19 Oct 2017 | posted in: Building Local Power, Podcast, Retail | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

San Francisco has one-third as many chain stores as the national average. That’s thanks in large part to a city ordinance that restricts “formula” businesses. We talk with AnMarie Rodgers, senior policy advisor to the city’s planning department, about how the city implemented the policy, how it works, and what advice she has for other cities that want to do it too.… Read More

How States and Cities Can Unlock Local Clean Energy

Date: 2 Jun 2017 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Yesterday’s news about the Paris Climate Accords has provoked a groundswell of commitments for local action on climate change. But what can cities actually do in the absence of federal support? A lot. In fact, with the help of states, cities have many avenues to boost their economies and drive down energy costs with local clean … Read More

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