Why Minnesota’s Community Solar Program is the Best
Minnesota’s community solar program reached 831 megawatts in April 2022, enough to power more than 100,000 homes each year or about as much capacity as a typical nuclear power plant!… Read More
Xcel’s Hosting Capacity Map Is Better, but Needs Improvement Before It’s Useful for Interconnecting Distributed Solar
In these comments filed to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, ILSR notes some improvements in Xcel Energy’s hosting capacity map and points to issues that require further attention.… Read More
National Community Solar Programs Tracker
20 states have policies allowing some form of community renewable energy. This quarterly update (2021 Q4) shows the capacity built in states with most active programs: Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New York. It focuses on programs in investor-owned utility service territory.… Read More
Leaders in Morris, Minn., Create a Model for Rural Resilience — Episode 150 of Local Energy Rules
For this episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, guests Troy Goodnough and Blaine Hill join John Farrell to discuss the Morris Model. They discuss local and international partnerships and what it means to be a model community.… Read More
What Is the Value of Solar? — Episode 148 of Local Energy Rules
For this episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell and guest Gabriel Chan discuss how to calculate solar energy’s true value, where to improve Minnesota’s Value of Solar, and why we must ground decisions in data.… Read More
National Community Solar Programs Tracker 2021 Q3
20 states have policies allowing some form of community renewable energy. This quarterly update (2021 Q3) shows the capacity built in states with most active programs: Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New York. It focuses on programs in investor-owned utility service territory.… Read More
Drone Data Helps a Minnesota City Conserve Energy — Episode 141 of Local Energy Rules
For this episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell and guest Shannon Mortenson discuss Warren’s first-of-its-kind thermal imaging project, lessons learned from the pilot, and how cities can help residents conserve energy.… Read More
Utility Conflict of Interest is at the Heart of Minnesota’s Solar Interconnection Frustration
In these reply comments to the Minnesota PUC, ILSR points out that as long as the utility’s interest is to profit off of new generation assets, it cannot successfully manage grid access for third parties.… Read More
National Community Solar Programs Tracker: 2021 Q2
20 states have policies allowing some form of community renewable energy. This quarterly update (2021 Q2) shows the capacity built in states with most active programs: Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New York. It focuses on programs in investor-owned utility service territory.… Read More