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About John Farrell

John Farrell directs the Energy Self-Reliant States and Communities program at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and he focuses on energy policy developments that best expand the benefits of local ownership and dispersed generation of renewable energy. More

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Joy Hughes
Article, Resource filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on May 17, 2013

A Community Solar Gold Standard: Episode 9 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/community-solar-gold-standard-episode-9-local-energy-rules-podcast/

Joy Hughes was living in the San Luis Valley of Colorado, a place with a “tremendous amount of solar potential,” so good that the valley’s residents were being overwhelmed by proposals for large scale solar power plants. One had a “field of things like radar dishes” and another included a “600 foot tower.” The influx… Continue reading

Joy Hughes
Article, Resource filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on May 16, 2013

A Community Solar Gold Standard: Episode 9 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/florida-city-world-leader-solar-episode-9-local-energy-rules-podcast/

Joy Hughes was living in the San Luis Valley of Colorado, a place with a “tremendous amount of solar potential,” so good that the valley’s residents were being overwhelmed by proposals for large scale solar power plants. One had a “field of things like radar dishes” and another included a “600 foot tower.” The influx… Continue reading

germany people powered 2012.003
Article, Resource filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on May 15, 2013

Half of Germany’s 63,000 Megawatts of Renewable Energy is Locally Owned

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/germanys-63000-megawatts-renewable-energy-locally-owned/

Courtesy of Craig Morris and the Germany Renewable Energy industry, evidence that Germany’s renewable energy program remains people powered.  Total megawatts represent wind and solar only. Continue reading

MN solar standard 8 vivid charts
Article, Resource filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on May 13, 2013

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

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/8-vivid-charts-8-reasons-solar-energy-standard-minnesota/

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 Continue reading

community renewable energy presentation - sustainable economies law center.001
Featured Article, Resource filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on May 3, 2013

5 Barriers to and Solutions for Community Renewable Energy

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/5-barriers-solutions-community-renewable-energy/

Community renewable energy has significant political and economic benefits, but is often hindered by five major barriers. Watch this vividly illustrated presentation to learn how communities can overcome the barriers and advance more local renewable energy. ILSR Senior Researcher John Farrell gave this presentation as part of a Sustainable Economies Law Center webinar on April… Continue reading

100AnnGRULogo
Article, Resource filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on May 2, 2013

Florida City a World Leader in Solar: Episode 8 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/florida-city-world-leader-solar-capita-episode-8-local-energy-rules/

“It’s the only time I’ve done a rate increase when nobody was opposed,” says Ed Regan of the Gainesville utility’s feed-in tariff for solar power.  The program, launched in 2009, has resulted in nearly 15 megawatts of new, local solar energy generation on or near buildings in the northeast Florida town, enough to make it… Continue reading

Lowering Soft Costs Means Big Solar Savings
Article, Resource filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Apr 29, 2013

Soft Costs Make a Bigger Difference as Solar Gets Cheap

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/soft-costs-bigger-difference-solar-cheap/

Last week’s graphic on the impact of local permitting on the cost of solar power was a big hit, so here’s a follow up on “soft costs,” the expenses in a solar installation (including permitting) that are not the solar module.  The chart compares the soft costs in the U.S. to Germany (thanks to LBNL’s… Continue reading

chart solar cost and permitting 2013
Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Apr 26, 2013

Local Permitting Makes a Bigger Difference as Solar Gets Cheap

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/local-permitting-bigger-difference-solar-cheap/

Going solar keeps getting cheaper, but most of the cost savings have come from less expensive solar panels.  “Soft costs,” like permitting and inspections, are a rising share of the cost of a solar installation.  Several years ago, these permits could increase the cost of a residential solar project (then around $8.00 per Watt) by… Continue reading

Minnesota's Proposed Solar Energy Standard in Comparison
Article, Resource filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Apr 25, 2013

Minnesota’s Proposed Solar Standard in Comparison

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/minnesotas-proposed-solar-standard-comparison/

Some Minnesota legislators are getting a little weak-kneed listening to utility lobbyists make hugely ironic claims about the cost of the proposed solar standard and thinking about how much solar this is. Time for some context. The originally proposed 10% solar energy standard might have been ambitious by national standards, but the current 4% by… Continue reading

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Article, Resource filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Apr 18, 2013

600 Investors in South Dakota’s Premier Community Wind Project: Episode 7 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/600-investors-south-dakotas-premier-community-wind-project-episode-7-local-energy-rules-podcast/

In this episode of Local Energy Rules, John Farrell speaks to Brian Minish, CEO of South Dakota Wind Partners about a community wind project that attracted over 600 local investors.  The project was the brainchild of four state organizations rooted in rural South Dakota–the East River Electric Cooperative, South Dakota Farm Bureau, South Dakota Farmers… Continue reading