Matt Rantanen, Director of Technology at the Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association, and Hannah Trostle, an ILSR research associate talk with Christopher Mitchell about the challenges to better Internet connectivity on tribal lands across America.… Read More
A selection of recent news stories with an ILSR insight into “The Public Good.” Stories in this Newsfeed: California Takes on Big Pharma | South Dakotans Take on the Political Establishment | New Mexico Takes on Debtors’ Prisons California Takes on Big Pharma This November, Californians will vote on a ballot initiative that, according to Pharma Exec … Read More
A widening chasm between what customers want and what Santa Fe’s electric utility delivers is bolstering a campaign to rejigger power production and distribution, possibly putting the city itself in charge. The municipalization campaign, years in the making, comes as the Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) leans on a long-term strategy that shortchanges renewables, … Read More
Can one state lead the way for others in sound, smart energy policy? New York is setting the stage. This week, Mother Jones, and others talked to John about getting what we want from the utility of the future. (Hint: utilities may soon be waiting-in-the-wings!) Read more stories from this week, below. New York Just Showed … Read More
Santa Fe, NM, is battling with its electric utility, PNM, over the utility’s continued heavy reliance on large-scale fossil fuel power plants in a state with some of the best sun and wind resources in the country. Director of Democratic Energy John Farrell joined Santa Fe City Councilor Patti Bushee to discuss options for Santa Fe’s … Read More
The City of Santa Fe is taking first steps to improve the community’s Internet choice, quality, and availability. Recently, the City announced that it has chosen a partner for a middle mile investment and will move forward with the $1 million fiber deployment project. CenturyLink and Comcast serve Santa Fe, home to approximately 70,000 people. Residents … Read More
“It’s the most inspirational work that I’m doing…this is an inspirational and aspirational effort…at the heart of it is love of place and energy democracy.” Citizens of Santa Fe, NM, are exploring the economic and environmental benefits of more local and locally-controlled energy production. Is their city ready to take the lead? Find out in this … Read More
We recently learned about Aztec, New Mexico’s, free downtown Wi-Fi so we decided to contact Wallace Begay, the IT Director, to find out more. This desert community of about 6,600 people not only offers the free service, but uses its fiber to serve government, schools, and even four-legged residents. Begay tells us that in 1998 the … Read More
This week John Farrell and Wade Underwood talk with Paul Spencer, President and founder of the Clean Energy Collective (CEC) in Carbondale, CO. The CEC is pioneering the process of delivering clean power-generation through medium-scale (mostly solar) facilities that are collectively owned by participating utility customers. In many ways, their community energy model is the “holy grail” because it has proven replicable in several places around the United States.… Read More
