Solar Co-ops Support Clean Energy Advances in D.C. — Episode 64 of Local Energy Rules Podcast
13 Nov 2018

Solar Co-ops Support Clean Energy Advances in D.C. — Episode 64 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

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

How does a growing, national nonprofit organization help homeowners complete the circle between clean energy ownership and policy advocacy? ILSR’s Energy Democracy Initiative director John Farrell talks with Anya Schoolman of Solar United Neighbors (SUN) in this October 2018 recording about two major clean energy policies before the Washington, D.C., city council. SUN’s solar co-op model has spread to 10 states, and builds the constituency for clean energy policy.… Read More

How Cities Can Fund Their 100% Renewable Ambitions
8 Nov 2018

How Cities Can Fund Their 100% Renewable Ambitions

by | Date: 8 Nov 2018 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

We’re inspired by the passage of the Portland Clean Energy Initiative this week, a ballot measure that will now provide $30 million per year for the city’s clean energy and climate work. Even better, the funds will target local energy deployment that lifts up low-income folks and people of color with energy savings and solar energy, as well as jobs installing these cost-saving measures. But there are other tools more readily at a city’s disposal for funding climate work.… Read More

SCANA-Dominion Energy Utility Merger a Risky Deal for S.C. Ratepayers
14 Feb 2018

SCANA-Dominion Energy Utility Merger a Risky Deal for S.C. Ratepayers

by | Date: 14 Feb 2018 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

As monopoly utilities merge and grow bigger, they wield more power. This commentary advises South Carolina regulators, legislators, and residents to be cautious of a proposed takeover of SCANA by investor-owned utility Dominion Energy.… Read More

Mergers and Monopoly: How Concentration Changes the Electricity Business
31 Oct 2017

Mergers and Monopoly: How Concentration Changes the Electricity Business

by | Date: 31 Oct 2017 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

A wave of consolidation has swept across the U.S. economy over the past decade, reshaping already-powerful corporations into financial and political powerhouses. The trend has taken particular hold among electric utilities, a sector where monopoly reigns virtually unchecked.

Consolidated, investor-owned utilities now have service territories that span several states and include millions of customers. They say gobbling competitors delivers operational efficiencies and cost savings. But who sees the benefits? And what are the unspoken costs?

This report explains how concentration of power in monopoly utilities delivers fewer customer benefits than alleged, and how the unmentioned costs of concentrating power in a few firms undermines protection of the public interest.… Read More

Energy and Policy Institute Exposes Three Ways Electric Utilities Stomp Innovation and Competition
15 Aug 2017

Energy and Policy Institute Exposes Three Ways Electric Utilities Stomp Innovation and Competition

by | Date: 15 Aug 2017 | posted in: Energy | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

If you work to secure Americans’ rights to solar energy or to accelerate the deployment of inexpensive renewable energy, you understand that not everyone is in favor. In particular, incumbent electric utilities tend to oppose competition in their (often monopoly) … Read More

Three Forces Fighting Local Renewable Energy and Three Ways to Fight Back
24 Jul 2017

Three Forces Fighting Local Renewable Energy and Three Ways to Fight Back

by | Date: 24 Jul 2017 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

If you’re reading energy news of late, you might have come across three new ways that forces are aligning against local renewable energy. State governments are increasingly pre-empting local authority on a range of issues, including energy. Utility companies are undercutting state regulation with their legislative lobbyists. And utilities are also bringing their monopoly market power to bear in previously competitive markets.

… Read More

Greeneville, TN: Electric Utility Powers Up School Internet Connectivity
23 Feb 2017

Greeneville, TN: Electric Utility Powers Up School Internet Connectivity

by | Date: 23 Feb 2017 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Greenville City Schools (GCS), which obtains Internet access via the state’s Education Networks of America (ENA), used to obtain cable connections from big providers that worked with ENA. Comcast and CenturyLink are two of the local providers that lease lines to the schools with ENA as the entity that arranged the connections. Not anymore.

GCS, ENA, and the Greeneville Light & Power System (GLPS) have entered into a new partnership to use GLPS fiber-optic infrastructure to bring Internet access to school facilities. As a result, the school will cut telecommunications costs by approximately $50,000 per year and double their capacity.… Read More

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