Solar and the New (democratic) Energy Economy

Date: 19 Sep 2014 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

I spent three days this week with some of the biggest minds behind the “new economy” movement because their core theme – economic democracy – fits like a glove over ILSR’s work on democratic energy. The big takeaway? Solar power is the spark to energize a new energy economy from the bottom up. This new solar-sparked … Read More

Debating the Value of Solar – Pt. 2 of Minnesota’s Process

Date: 8 Oct 2013 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

It was an unseasonably sunny day for part two of Minnesota’s value of solar stakeholder process: participation day. The leadoff was the Department of Commerce’s proposed approach to a value of solar methodology.  Shown below, it set some broad principles the Department intends to use in the value of solar formula it develops:     Accuracy … Read More

New Report: 8 Ways Local Energy Policies Can Boost the Economy

Date: 7 Oct 2013 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States, Press Release | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Minneapolis, MN (October 7, 2013) – The economy has stalled and so has the war on climate change. But a new report from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance describes how dozens of cities are boosting their local economies while dramatically reducing greenhouse gases. City Power Play:  8 Practical Local Energy Policies to Boost the Economy reports … Read More

12 Slides for 8 Practical Local Energy Policies to Boost the Economy

Date: 7 Oct 2013 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

A vividly visual summary of our newest report, City Power Play: 8 Practical Local Energy Policies to Boost the Economy, this presentation covers eight powerful policies and practices that cities have employed to reduce energy use, save money, and create local jobs, all without waiting for someone else to act. It provides short case studies of … Read More

Setting the Value of Solar – Part 1 of Minnesota’s Process

Date: 27 Sep 2013 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 1 Facebooktwitterredditmail

What is solar worth to a utility? It’s an issue of national debate, but one unexpected state – Minnesota – is engaging a formal process for determining the methodology for setting the value of solar. As the first multi-utility process, it’s likely to set a precedent nationwide for what the “value of solar” will mean and … Read More

Essential Elements in the Value of Solar

Date: 27 Sep 2013 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Comments to the Minnesota Division of Energy Resources Re: Value of Solar Stakeholder Process From: Institute for Local Self-Reliance    John Farrell, Director of Democratic Energy Date: September 20, 2013 Background The value of solar component of the state’s new solar energy standard must be considered in the context of the state’s energy goals, expressed in … Read More

Minnesota’s New (Standard Offer) Solar Energy Standard

Date: 28 May 2013 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

A friend at Fresh Energy generously called me the “architect” of Minnesota’s new solar energy standard (signed last week), and although that may be a bit generous, I’d like to provide a detailed description of the nation’s newest solar energy standard. The topline: 1.5% solar standard for the state’s investor-owned utilities (with some exemptions) for a … Read More

8 Vivid Charts – 8 Reasons for a Solar Energy Standard in Minnesota

Date: 13 May 2013 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

A conference committee is resolving differences between House and (much weaker) Senate versions of a solar energy standard in Minnesota today.  Here’s 8 graphic reasons why the state should go for solar as aggressively as it can. 8 Vivid Charts – 8 Reasons for a Solar Energy Standard in Minnesota from John Farrell

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