Derek Cressman and Fatima Malik, who both ran for seats on the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) board, describe the evolution of SMUD, how the public utility is failing its customers, and share their proposed solutions.… Read More
Host John Farrell is joined by Jesse Gray and David Mendels. They discuss the six provisions in the Municipal Climate Empowerment Plan, state legislation that would enable Massachusetts communities to tackle their clean energy challenges with local solutions and greater local funding.… Read More
John Farrell explains five alternatives to a public power takeover that can still advance a community’s clean energy and environmental justice aims. This is part six of a special series: The Promise and Peril of Publicly-Owned Power.… Read More
Customers of four publicly-owned utilities explain some limitations of the public power model and how they are organizing to increase accountability. This is part five of a special series: The Promise and Peril of Publicly-Owned Power.… Read More
Lawyer Amy Turner joins John Farrell to explain how cities can use Inflation Reduction Act dollars to advance local goals — and should help their residents do the same.… Read More
John Farrell describes three municipalization attempts: Boulder, Minneapolis, and Decorah. Each city failed to form its own utility, but found silver linings in trying. This is part four of a special series: The Promise and Peril of Publicly-Owned Power.… Read More
How can a community reeling from multiple economic shocks use composting as a tool to build a more resilient food system? ILSR’s Linda Bilsens Brolis talks to Renee V. Wallace of Detroit about composting as a tool for building equity and solving big challenges.
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John Coyle describes how to form a publicly-owned utility and lists the four ingredients for baking up a public takeover. This is part three in a special series: The Promise and Peril of Publicly-Owned Power.… Read More
Ursula Schryver describes the benefits of consumer-owned utility service and Randy Knight reports on the progress that municipalization brought to Winter Park, Fla. This is part two in a special series: The Promise and Peril of Publicly-Owned Power.… Read More
