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

The Power and Perils of Cooperatives (Episode 12)

In this episode, Christopher Mitchell, the director of ILSR’s Community Broadband Networks initiative, interviews Hannah Trostle and Karlee Weinmann, Research Associates for the Community Broadband Networks and Energy Democracy initiatives, respectively. The three discuss the cooperative model of ownership and how this model can enable investment in gigabit Internet connections for their member-owners, but also how they are subject to a low participation rates in their elections.… Read More

Sherco Power Plant: The Wrong Project, for the Wrong Reasons, At a Big Cost

Date: 22 Feb 2017 | posted in: Energy, Media Coverage | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Have you seen this advertisement from Xcel Energy? We’ve done a little bit of work to clarify their message for them. The proposed Sherco natural gas plant bill will soon be at Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton’s desk, after you watch our video, give him a call and tell him you oppose this billion-dollar boondoggle.… Read More

How Microgrids are Reducing Energy Costs and Increasing Reliability

Date: 10 Feb 2017 | posted in: Media Coverage | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

A reporter for Aquicore, Alex Richardson, was interested in a new and emerging renewable energy technology: microgrids. For perspective he reached out to the Institute for Local Self-Reliance to get a sense of how these innovative technologies are being deployed, ILSR policy researcher Karlee Weinmann answered Richardson’s questions as it related to the benefits of small-scale renewable systems. … Read More

Commentary: Removing Co-op Oversight Jeopardizes Rural Solar

Date: 8 Feb 2017 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States, Media Coverage | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Published in Midwest Energy News, this commentary from ILSR energy researchers John Farrell & Karlee Weinmann details a Minnesota legislative action that would reduce oversight of rural electric cooperatives. “A plan floated by Minnesota lawmakers to exempt rural electric cooperatives from virtually all regulatory oversight would allow these utilities to restrict development of local solar power, even where their member-owners support renewable energy.”… Read More