Why Minnesota’s Community Solar Program is the Best
Minnesota’s community solar program hit 513 megawatts in February 2019, nearly half as much capacity as a nuclear power plant!… Read More
Planning for Local Energy and Climate Action in Minneapolis — Episode 70 of Local Energy Rules Podcast
In this episode of Local Energy Rules, Energy Democracy Initiative director John Farrell speaks with Minneapolis City Councilmember Jeremy Schroeder about the city’s unique partnership with its incumbent utility companies and other tools the city can use to address climate change locally.… Read More
Electric Utilities Must Stop Illegally Concealing Public Cost Data
Utilities in many states have undercut competition by playing “hide the peanut.” Instead of sharing their avoided cost publicly, as required by Congress and state laws, utilities have hidden them behind a “trade secret” designation.… Read More
Small Minnesota Community Faces David v. Goliath Negotiation for Community Solar — Episode 69 of Local Energy Rules Podcast
What does it take to build a community solar project (with battery storage) in a small town in northern Minnesota when the monopoly wholesale energy company tells your small city-owned utility to “lawyer up”? In this podcast episode, we talk with Bill Schnell of Grand Rapids, Minn., about that community’s effort negotiate a project deal with the community’s much larger utility supplier.… Read More
Minnesota Utility Tees Up Programs to Support an Electric Vehicle Future
In a filing late last year, a Minnesota electric utility put forward two new electric vehicle charging pilots as part of a suite of new policy tools to encourage driving electric. ILSR applauds the efforts, and offers a few suggestions.… Read More
Video: 5G Won’t Solve Rural Connectivity Problems
Ever since the term “5G” came on the scene, the big ISPs have dedicated themselves to expanding hype about what the technology will accomplish, especially in rural areas. A recent NBC News Signal segment explores why many places may not reap the benefits of 5G. … Read More
Good Public Policy Key to Building a Renewable-Friendly Utility
How do you build a pro-climate electric utility like Xcel Energy? Here’s a helpful timeline… Read More
Three Questions about Xcel Energy’s Landmark Low-Carbon Announcement
I join with clean energy advocates across the country in celebrating Xcel Energy’s announcement yesterday that it will reduce carbon emissions in its electricity generation by 80% from 2005 to 2030, and to zero by 2050. However, I have three questions about whether the company’s actions will match the words.… Read More
ILSR Submits Critique of Xcel Energy’s Value of Solar Calculation to Minnesota Regulators
In November, ILSR submitted joint comments with Community Power and Cooperative Energy Futures to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commision expressing concerns about Xcel Energy’s 2019 Value of Solar calculation. The comments outline issues with the company’s assumptions and ways to improve them.… Read More