Investment Funds v. A Democratic Future
A community advocacy organization fought to transfer power from a fossil fuel-backed investment firm to community-driven clean energy. … Read More
Report: Will Long-Term Co-op Contracts Give Way to Affordable Clean Energy?
ILSR’s new report, The Rural Electric Rift, examines the struggle of electric distribution cooperatives and their members to restore local control over electricity purchasing and harness the benefits of affordable clean energy.… Read More
Portland Funds Community-Led Clean Energy Projects — Episode 190 of Local Energy Rules
Maria Sipin discusses what the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund has accomplished, how volunteers from the community have shaped the fund’s priorities, and how to evaluate project success.… Read More
Report: How Local Ownership of Clean Energy Boosts Benefits, Busts Barriers, and Builds Power
ILSR’s new report, Advantage Local: Why Local Energy Ownership Matters, breaks down how locally owned clean energy can maximize economic benefits for households and communities while putting power back in the hands of people.… Read More
Scoring Justice in Clean Energy Standards — Episode 185 of Local Energy Rules
Haley Havens explains the ways that states can advance equity through their clean energy standards and how Minnesota’s 2023 standard performs on the Initiative for Energy Justice’s scorecard. … Read More
Advocates Applaud Equitable Clean Energy Wins in Minn. Legislation, Look to Next Session for More Progress
A coalition of clean energy advocates celebrates new legislation in Minnesota, which will increase access to clean energy and local solar across the state.… Read More
Why is Connecting Clean Energy to the Grid So Hard?
A terrific Brad Plumer New York Times article highlights the barriers to connecting renewable energy to the grid. This post explains WHY these barriers exist, and how we can overcome them.… Read More
The 2023 Community Power Scorecard
Communities can do a lot to advance energy democracy, but some tools must be granted by state policy. This annual scorecard from ILSR’s Energy Democracy Initiative grades states on whether their policies help or hinder local clean energy action.… Read More
ILSR Urges Environmental Protection Agency to Prioritize Grants in Low-Income and Disadvantaged Communities
Katie Kienbaum, Senior Researcher for ILSR’s Energy Democracy Initiative made the following statement on the importance of submitting these comments to the agency.… Read More