Power Plant Securitization: Coming to a State Capitol Near You

Date: 2 May 2019 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

As clean energy advocates urge retirement of fossil fuel power plants, securitization has become a billion-dollar word with huge implications for who will pay for and who will own the clean energy future. So, what is securitization, and how does it play a role in a clean energy transition?… Read More

Thanks To Your Local Economy, Renewables Aren’t Going Anywhere (Episode 15)

Welcome to episode fifteen of the Building Local Power podcast. In this episode, Christopher Mitchell, the director of ILSR’s Community Broadband Networks initiative, interviews John Farrell and Karlee Weinmann, researchers for ILSR’s Energy Democracy initiative on the prospects of renewable energy given President Trump’s executive orders undermining the Clean Power Plan. The group discusses how the strong market … Read More

A Deep Dive to Answer Ken Bone’s Energy Question

Date: 27 Oct 2016 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

At the second presidential candidate debate, one red-sweater-wearing American earned notoriety for his question about little-discussed energy policy. The question deserved a thorough response, given that it brushes on some myths of the clean energy transition but also the challenge of guaranteeing justice for displaced workers. Midwesterner Ken Bone asked this question: What steps will your … Read More

It’s not Doomsday, but Neither is Ending the Solar Tax Credit Good Policy

Date: 19 Nov 2015 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

I took the “no” side in a point/counterpoint in the Wall Street Journal this week on the topic: Will Solar Energy Plummet if the Investment Tax Credit Fades Away? It’s been a great conversation-starter, but also an opportunity to clarify ILSR’s position on the tax credit extension. In short, while allowing the 30% tax credit to … Read More

Reactions to My Take on Master Limited Partnerships for Renewable Energy

Date: 14 Jun 2013 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 3 Facebooktwitterredditmail

When I wrote two weeks ago that Master Limited Partnerships are a Lousy Policy for Solar, Wind, and Taxpayers, I was aware that it wasn’t a widely held view.  The piece has done more than provide another viewpoint on the complicated corporate structure, it has ignited a significant debate across the renewable energy community about the … Read More

Energy Independence or Clean Energy Self-Reliance?

Date: 4 Jul 2012 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 3 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Update August 7, 2012: I’d like to this this qualifies as Friedman’s response to this column. In Thomas Friedman’s latest column, he praises Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts because he “took one for the country.”  Friedman sees that “America today is poised for a great renewal” if only it can get some “big, centrist, statesmanlike … Read More