solar energy Archives - Institute for Local Self-Reliance

19 Apr 2018

Of New Power Generation, How Much is on the Roof? — 2017 Update

by Marie Donahue and John Farrell | Date: 19 Apr 2018 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

The U.S. experienced relatively sluggish gains in total new power plant capacity in 2017, when compared to 2016, but it also saw another, more positive outcome: a notable surge in distributed solar. Using the latest available national data on power generation, this most recent look at data on annual and quarterly electricity generation nationwide from the Energy Democracy Initiative at ILSR illustrates how small-scale, distributed solar energy stacks up against its big, fossil fuel and utility-scale renewable energy competitors.… Read More

11 Apr 2018

South Miami: A Bright Spot for Solar in Sunshine State — Episode 53 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

by Marie Donahue | Date: 11 Apr 2018 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States, Podcast | 0

What can a small city do to advance clean energy locally, if its state commissioners and legislators are not willing to take their jobs regulating monopoly electric utilities seriously? John Farrell interviews Philip Stoddard, the pioneering, fourth-term mayor of South Miami, Florida, who has been sticking up to the state’s incumbent utility, in order to make the state live up to its billing as the Sunshine State.… Read More

23 Mar 2018

States Agree: Third-Party Ownership Enables Distributed Solar, But What’s Next?

by Marie Donahue | Date: 23 Mar 2018 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

Compared with previous rankings of solar capacity, do states that allow third-party leases and power purchase agreements still dominate? The answer is yes, especially for distributed solar capacity. Every state in the top 10 in rooftop and small-scale solar still allows for third-party ownership.… Read More

14 Mar 2018

Getting San Diego Ready for 100% Renewable Energy — Episode 52 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

by John Farrell | Date: 14 Mar 2018 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

More than 50 U.S. Cities have made commitments to reach 100% renewable electricity, but how do communities build the political will to adopt such goals, and how do they plan to meet them? John Farrell interviews Nicole Capretz of the Climate Action Campaign to learn how San Diego’s community choice program will move them toward 100% renewable electricity.
… Read More

13 Mar 2018

Why Minnesota’s Community Solar Program is the Best

by John Farrell | Date: 13 Mar 2018 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

Minnesota’s community solar program hit a record 300 megawatts of operational capacity in March 2018 and is wildly successful because it offers tangible, financial benefits to subscribers, allows third party project development and ownership, and has no cap on program capacity.… Read More

9 Mar 2018

Solar Surprise: Small-Scale Solar a Better Deal than Big

by John Farrell | Date: 9 Mar 2018 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

Conventional wisdom suggests bigger is better for solar energy, but convention is wrong. ILSR builds on its 2016 report to show how small solar is cost-effective, especially if a community wants to capture the biggest value.… Read More

2 Feb 2018

Community Solar and Value of Solar Under Review in Minnesota

by John Farrell | Date: 2 Feb 2018 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

With a nation-leading community solar program, changes to the compensation scheme for participants shouldn’t be taken lightly. ILSR offered these comments to the MN Public Utilities Commission in February 2018 about preserving high values for the state’s “value of solar” calculation.… Read More

15 Dec 2017

Dear Santa… ILSR’s Annual Energy Policy Wish List!

by Nick Stumo-Langer | Date: 15 Dec 2017 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0

The energy staff offers its Christmas Policy Wish List, including ideas in three categories: Removing Bad Federal Policies, Expanding Inclusive Energy Financing, and Encouraging Local Action.… Read More

3 Nov 2017

Five Ways Co-ops Are Countering Corporate Power in Cities

by Nick Stumo-Langer | Date: 3 Nov 2017 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States, MuniNetworks, Retail | 0

This op-ed was originally published in Next City on October 31st, 2017. As local economies suffer from market concentration in economic sectors ranging from retail to banking, cooperatives across industries are helping to strengthen communities and keep resources local. This … Read More