Why Minnesota’s Community Solar Program is the Best
Minnesota’s community solar program hit 688 megawatts in May 2020, enough to power more than 100,000 homes each year or about half as much capacity as a typical nuclear power plant!… Read More
Implementing COVID-19 Safety Protocols for Food Scrap Drop-Off: Spotlight on the Community Compost Depot at Frey Gardens in Providence
On this episode, ILSR’s Brenda Platt dialogues with Michael Bradlee, President of Earth Appliance Organics in Providence, Rhode Island, to discuss how one community composter is continuing to collect and compost food scraps with new safety protocols in place.… Read More
Voices of 100%: Pandemic Pauses Clean Energy Planning in Georgia
For this episode of our Voices of 100% series of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell speaks with Charles Utley. They discuss Augusta’s commitment to 100% renewable energy and how a global pandemic affects city energy planning.… Read More
Cooperatives Essential to Bringing High-Quality Fiber Internet Access to Rural America
An updated report from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) illustrates the remarkable progress cooperatives have made in deploying fiber optic Internet access across the country. … Read More
Locally-Owned Hardware Stores Show Flexibility and Resilience in the Face of COVID-19 (Episode 100)
Host Jess Del Fiacco and ILSR Co-Director John Farrell speak with Gina Schaefer, ILSR board member and owner of A Few Cool Hardware Stores in the D.C. area. Gina talks a little about how she got into the hardware business and explains how they have adapted operations to safely serve customers during the pandemic.… Read More
Why it’s Short-Sighted to do Centralized Planning in a Decentralizing Electricity Grid
With financial rewards tied to building big, utilities overlook distributed energy resources like rooftop solar. This essay, written to advise utility regulators in Michigan, has implications for utility resource planning nationwide.… Read More
Webinar Resources – Composting at Home: An Introduction to the Basics
There’s never been a better time for home composting. Watch our webinar recording to learn how to successfully compost at home. The speakers covered the basics of hot composting outside and worm composting (or vermicomposting) inside. … Read More
ILSR’s Community Composting Work Featured in Short Film
Brenda Platt, Director of ILSR’s Composting for Community initiative, was interviewed in a recent short film produced by NRDC.… Read More
D.C. Neighbors Unite to Fight for Solar Rights for All — Episode 103 of Local Energy Rules Podcast
In this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell speaks with Yesenia Rivera of United Neighbors. The two take a deep dive into the mission and success of SUN in expanding solar access for all in D.C.… Read More