community solar Archives - Institute for Local Self-Reliance

5 Nov 2018

ILSR’s Community Power Map Gets a Facelift

by John Farrell | Date: 5 Nov 2018 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

How do states help or hinder local progress toward renewable energy? ILSR’s Community Power Map illustrates the ways, with an interactive interface that received a refresh this week. The companion to the annual Community Power Scorecard, the map highlights state policies like community solar and community choice energy that enable local clean energy deployment. It also shows the impacts of those policies by listing where projects have been developed, where communities have made 100% renewable energy commitments, and where communities have taken charge of their energy systems.… Read More

24 Oct 2018

Minnesota Regulators Give Boost to Residential Community Solar

by John Farrell | Date: 24 Oct 2018 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

In a decision earlier this month, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved a 1.5-cent adder to the per-kilowatt-hour compensation offered to residential subscribers of community solar projects offered in Xcel Energy territory in Minnesota. The Commission’s decision gives hope that residential participation will continue, with the adder effective for projects started in 2019 and 2020.… Read More

24 Oct 2018

Why Minnesota’s Community Solar Program is the Best

by John Farrell | Date: 24 Oct 2018 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

Minnesota’s community solar program hit a record 445 megawatts of operational capacity in October 2018. We note a new finding, that the total queue has actually shrunk in size since January 2017. Two charts show the progress of the program.… Read More

11 Oct 2018

Video: Advancing Energy Democracy with Community Renewable Energy

by John Farrell and Maria McCoy | Date: 11 Oct 2018 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

This 30-minute video is a companion guide to the NAACP’s Just Energy Toolkit. It begins with an interview on the site of a community solar project in north Minneapolis, a project that in many ways epitomizes energy democracy.… Read More

3 Oct 2018

New Jersey Publishes Model Community Solar Program Rules

by John Farrell | Date: 3 Oct 2018 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

Joining 14 other states, New Jersey’s Board of Public Utilities recently rolled out its draft community solar (or “shared renewables”) program rules. The program captures many of the best aspects of community solar programs, including generous compensation, project sizes, and a focus on access for low-income customers.… Read More

5 Sep 2018

Video: Solutionary Perspectives Clean Energy, Community Economy, and Energy Democracy Webinar

by Marie Donahue | Date: 5 Sep 2018 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

Earlier this summer, ILSR Energy Democracy Research Associate Marie Donahue participated in an online video series entitled Solutionary Perspectives, produced by the Backbone Campaign’s Solutionary Rails project. The recent episode “Clean Energy, Community Economy, and Energy Democracy” released last week focuses on the topic of community solar, highlighting on-the-ground examples from Maryland and key resources from ILSR.… Read More

24 Jul 2018

Community Solar With an Equity Lens: Generating Electricity and Jobs in North Minneapolis — Episode 57 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

by Maria McCoy | Date: 24 Jul 2018 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States, Podcast | 0

Shiloh Temple, a church two miles from downtown Minneapolis, serves more than just the spiritual needs of the community. After a recent update to its roof, this church in North Minneapolis now serves some of the community’s energy needs, as well.

In May, John Farrell visited the rooftop solar garden and interviewed Timothy DenHerder-Thomas, general manager of Cooperative Energy Futures, the cooperatively-owned company that installed the panels. The two discussed final stages of the project, the justice perspective that makes it unique, and other projects Cooperative Energy Futures has in the queue.… Read More

22 May 2018

Community Power State Scorecard Comparison — 2018 vs. 2017

by Marie Donahue | Date: 22 May 2018 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

Earlier this spring, ILSR released its 2018 Community Power State Scorecard, revealing the best and worst states for local clean energy across the country. Did many states improve on their 2017 score? In this new comparison of state rankings, we take a closer look at which states have taken the lead, which are improving, and which have a lot more to do when it comes to creating a policy landscape that enables distributed energy.… Read More

14 May 2018

The State(s) of Distributed Solar — 2017 Update

by Marie Donahue | Date: 14 May 2018 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

Across the country, more states than ever are making solar energy—and distributed solar at that—a key part of their energy mix. But where have these gains been greatest, and what are the economic implications for residents from one state to the next? To answer these questions, an updated analysis of solar markets, using annual data from 2017, takes a closer look at the state-by-state share of distributed solar, highlighting which states have taken the lead to prioritize small-scale, local energy systems.… Read More