This report examines community choice energy, a policy giving cities and counties the right to purchase energy on behalf of electricity customers. Enabled in 9 states, community choice agencies are revolutionizing the utility model by offering cheaper, cleaner energy that aligns with local goals.… Read More
I am loathe to engage in lists, but year-end is a good time for reflection on big changes in the energy world. Plus, this beats the alternative of showing photos of cats in Christmas outfits, trying to co-opt a meme of baby Yoda, or just posting links to ILSR’s top 10 energy things. Here are three things we saw as big stories in 2019 and implications for 2020.… Read More
As Redding, California, aims to bring better connectivity to businesses and residents, they’re looking to locals for advice on how to move forward.… Read More
In August 2019, the Director of ILSR’s Energy Democracy initiative visited Taunton, Mass., where the community is hoping their city-owned electric utility will accelerate its progress toward renewable energy. In his presentation, John Farrell shared several powerful stories of what’s possible, including the two key tenets of energy democracy: decentralized energy production and decentralized and democratic management and ownership of the system.… Read More
This investigation of electric utility forecasts finds that on average, utilities over-predict electricity demand by 17% over three years. These over-predictions help utilities get permission to build more power plants, which may not be necessary for the actual, deflated electricity demand.… Read More
In this episode of Local Energy Rules, we revisit an earlier episode from our archives in which ILSR’s Director of Energy Democracy, John Farrell speaks with Mariel Nanasi of New Mexico’s New Energy Economy about how the citizens of Santa Fe could benefit from the economic and environmental benefits of switching to a city-owned utility. … Read More
In this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, John Farrell interviews Lena Entin about an inspiring and successful community-driven campaign in Holyoke, Mass., to shut down an aging coal plant operated by one of the world’s largest multinational electric utility companies. The two discuss the campaign’s efforts to replace the dirty plant with clean energy to improve health outcomes for the community and provide a just transition for the power plant’s workers.… Read More
How do you build a pro-climate electric utility like Xcel Energy? Here’s a helpful timeline… Read More
I join with clean energy advocates across the country in celebrating Xcel Energy’s announcement yesterday that it will reduce carbon emissions in its electricity generation by 80% from 2005 to 2030, and to zero by 2050. However, I have three questions about whether the company’s actions will match the words.… Read More
