Feds Should Collect Better Data for Fairer Markets and Energy Justice

Date: 21 Dec 2022 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Today the Institute for Local Self-Reliance was joined by joined by 24 utility justice, consumer advocate, and environmental organizations in submitting comments urging the Energy Information Administration to incorporate interconnection and utility shutoffs data.… Read More

The Three Biggest Solar Charts of 2014

Date: 6 Jan 2015 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 3 Facebooktwitterredditmail

The rise of solar power allows a further democratizing of the electricity system, and these charts illustrate how 2014 was a banner year for solar, but particularly distributed solar power. Apologies for the re-post of these charts, but I wanted to do a year-in-review approach to these solar charts. First, the following chart shows that 2014 opened … Read More

Distributed Solar a Substantial Portion of 2014 Power Plant Capacity

Date: 18 Dec 2014 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Renewable energy continues to grow substantially in the U.S. and in 2014 it remains a large portion of new power plant capacity – 30% or more through the first three quarters. Often overlooked, distributed solar on residential and commercial property is making up a substantial share of new electrical generating capacity.  The following chart illustrates the … Read More

Is Per Capita Electricity Use Permanently Flat in the U.S.?

Date: 25 Nov 2014 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 2 Facebooktwitterredditmail

While local renewable energy and energy efficiency are both proving to be near-existential threats to electric utilities in the early 21st century, the trends aren’t the same. The rapid rise of renewable energy gets the headlines, and it’s big news. Total renewable energy capacity has grown 10-fold since 2003 and in certain parts of the country, … Read More

2 Charts Show Solar’s Jump to Top Spot for New U.S. Power Generation

Date: 16 Oct 2014 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Want proof that distributed solar is rapidly growing?  Look no further than these two charts, showing how solar provided over a quarter of new power plant capacity in 2013 (6% from residential solar alone!) and 43% in the first half of this year! This article originally posted at ilsr.org. For timely updates, follow John Farrell on Twitter … Read More

Why is an Island Electric Utility Hindering Incredibly Cost-Effective Solar?

Date: 23 May 2014 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

The Northern Mariana Islands are one of several island U.S. territories, lying three-quarters of the way from Hawai’i to the Philippines. Like most islands, their electricity supply has been almost entirely supplied by diesel-fueled generators, at enormous cost. So why have islanders in the Marianas – such as the residents of Saipan – been struggling to … Read More

Rooftop Revolution – Appendix

Date: 21 Jan 2014 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

This wraps up the serialized edition of our residential Rooftop Revolution report.  Read the whole report in short segments below, or download the report and other resources. Part 1 – The Coming Solar Electricity Transformation Part 2 – Solar Costs and Grid Prices On a Collision Course Part 3 – The Solar Opportunity Part 4 – … Read More

Democratic Energy’s Top 5 of 2013

Date: 2 Jan 2014 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Rooftop Revolution A combination resource of our two reports on residential and commercial solar grid parity, including a slideshow, infographic, and an amazing interactive map (#5 on this list by itself).       Germany Has More Solar Power Because Everyone Wins It got press because someone at Fox News thought Germany was sunnier than America … Read More

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