Community Wins: In the Face of Consolidation, Communities are Opening Their Own Grocery Stores

Date: 2 Aug 2023 | posted in: Retail | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Communities are adopting innovative strategies to sustain their grocery stores or create new ones amidst the challenges posed by grocery sector consolidation. Some local governments are even creating a public option by operating grocery stores themselves. Here’s how these places are ensuring access to fresh, healthy food. … Read More

A New Deal for Electric Co-ops: How Members Can Exercise Ownership to Strengthen Democracy — Episode 89 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

Date: 6 Nov 2019 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

In this episode of Local Energy Rules, host John Farrell speaks with Liz Veazey, Network Director of We Own It, and Chris Woolery, Residential Energy Coordinator at the MACED. The three discuss a new Rural Electric Co-op Toolkit.… Read More

Two Rural Electric Cooperatives Overcome Barriers to Clean, Local Energy — Episode 66 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

Date: 13 Dec 2018 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States, Podcast | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

In our latest Local Energy Rules podcast, John Farrell joins leaders from Farmers Electric Cooperative in Iowa and Kit Carson Electric Cooperative in New Mexico, to discuss how rural areas can source their power locally and renewably. Rural electric co-op leaders Warren McKenna and Luis Reyes share from experience how local renewable energy provides win-wins for co-ops, member-owners, and their local economy.… Read More

Voices of 100%: Abita Springs Fights for Community Solar in Louisiana — Episode 65 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

Date: 19 Nov 2018 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States, Podcast | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Nearly 100 U.S. cities of different sizes have made formal commitments to 100 percent renewable energy. In our sixth episode of Voices of 100%, a multi-part series of Local Energy Rules, we feature the small town of Abita Springs, the first city in Louisiana to set such a goal. LeAnn Magee, who chairs the grassroots, volunteer-led Abita Committee for Energy Sustainability that helped pass the town’s resolution, speaks with co-director of ILSR and Energy Democracy initiative director John Farrell about the motivations for and approach to Abita Springs’ commitment — starting with municipal buildings and advocating for community solar.… Read More

Five Ways Co-ops Are Countering Corporate Power in Cities

Date: 3 Nov 2017 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States, MuniNetworks, Retail | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

This op-ed was originally published in Next City on October 31st, 2017. As local economies suffer from market concentration in economic sectors ranging from retail to banking, cooperatives across industries are helping to strengthen communities and keep resources local. This is nothing new; cooperatives have a long history of serving local needs. Today, the cooperative ownership structure … Read More

Rural Solar At Risk As Co-ops Push for Less Oversight

Date: 30 Mar 2017 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Minnesota’s governor recently vetoed anti-renewables legislation that threatens rural solar development, but the bill’s likely resurgence means the state remains among a growing crop of Midwestern states facing the prospect of heavy-handed limitations on solar growth. The Minnesota legislation would have exempted rural electric cooperatives from all oversight of distributed generation policy by state regulators, putting … Read More

In New England, Cooperative Values Drive Solar Growth – Episode 41 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

Date: 21 Nov 2016 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

New England offers some of the nation’s biggest incentives for renewable energy generation, but high upfront costs and complicated financing mean many residents are still missing out on the opportunity to go solar. But one cooperative, with a series of pioneering programs, is beginning to change that. Co-op Power, headquartered in Massachusetts, has steadily built up … Read More

In Florida’s Fight for Renewables, New Co-op Network Eyes Solar

Date: 14 Oct 2016 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

A simmering fight to keep renewables out of Florida’s energy mix is approaching a boiling point in November, underscoring the need for smarter energy policies and easier solar access  offered by Florida Solar United Neighborhoods. The organization, know as FL SUN, aims to unlock significant untapped solar power potential in the Sunshine State by building out … Read More