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

Planning for Phasing Out Incentives

Date: 26 Dec 2013 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Over the next decade, solar electricity will let consumers get cheaper energy from their rooftop than from their utility. Among the upheaval in the electricity system, the coming of solar “grid parity” means re-thinking incentives for solar energy. The success of solar is remarkable, no less because the amount of federal subsidy in absolute terms has … Read More

How Solar Saves on Grid Costs – Episode 13 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

Date: 19 Dec 2013 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States, Podcast | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

“We can avoid that $100 million investment in transmission lines, distribution lines, in capital infrastructure…” How can a utility like Long Island Power Authority avoid all that new capital expenditure?  Find out in this interview with Vice President of Environmental Affairs Michael Deering, recorded via Skype on November 25, 2013. Customer-Powered Utility The first question we … Read More

Watch: On WCCO, ILSR Director of Democratic Energy Discusses Xcel Energy Rate Hike

Date: 16 Dec 2013 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States, Media Coverage | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

“They need some more support from the Legislature in having a critical eye,” said John Farrell, of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. “I think the laws that they operate under don’t give them a lot of flexibility to question…the base assumptions that Xcel is bringing to the table.” Check out the 2-minute video clip  

What the REC?! Final Comments on Minnesota’s Proposed Value of Solar

Date: 12 Dec 2013 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

The final stakeholder meeting took place in mid-November (right before the holiday, hence the delayed post) and Minnesota’s draft value of solar methodology reflects a thorough and careful accounting of the value of solar to the utility, ratepayers, and society. With the exception of the two issues mentioned explicitly below, I believe the robust formula will … Read More

The #1 Solar Utility is in…Iowa? – Episode 12 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

Date: 5 Dec 2013 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States, Podcast | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

It may be one of the oldest cooperative utilities in the country, but in the next six months, Farmers Electric Cooperative (FEC) of southeastern Iowa will be leading the nation in this 21st century energy source. Upon completion of a new solar array, the 640-member cooperative will have over 1,500 Watts of solar per customer on their system, nearly double the #2 utility. It’s also the most reliable utility in Iowa. How can this small, member-owned utility in Kalona be “America’s Most Progressive Utility”?… Read More

A Once-in-a-Generation Chance to Achieve a City’s Energy Goals – Episode 11 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

Date: 21 Nov 2013 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States, Podcast | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

“We have this once-in-a-generation negotiation coming up next year and it’s a chance for Minneapolis to explore what its energy choices might be and how it could achieve its energy goals.” Earlier this week, the Minneapolis city council got an early look at an important “pathways study,” outlining the legal and policy strategies the city could … Read More

Improvements Needed to Xcel’s Proposed MN Community Solar Program

Date: 11 Nov 2013 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Xcel Energy has published their proposed community solar program on Sept. 30, 2013 and ILSR submitted comments on the unlawfully capped and fee-crazy program last week. Comments below Public Comments on Community Solar (Docket E-002/M-13-867) Program Design Requirements Does Xcel’s proposed plan for operating a community solar garden (CSG) meet all the program design requirements, as … Read More

Campus Power: Tapping Local Energy Toward a Sustainable Future

Date: 11 Nov 2013 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

I gave a presentation at the 5th Annual Conference of the Upper Midwest Association for Campus Sustainability on Nov. 8, 2013, talking about the challenges to sustainability and the opportunity presented by a transformation to distributed renewable energy in the utility sector. My remarks follow.  Scroll to the bottom to flip through the slide presentation. ************ … Read More

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