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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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Turbines On The Ridge
Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | 1 Comment | Updated on Mar 8, 2012

Refundable Federal Tax Credit Could Remove Barrier to Community Wind

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/refundable-federal-tax-credit-remove-barrier-community-wind/

Update 3/9/12:Turns out I would be a lousy tax attorney and that the form of tax credit does not affect the passive loss rules. What if a small change in federal renewable energy policy could make community wind development easier? Last month, President Obama’s Treasury Department released proposed reforms to a number of business taxes… Continue reading

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Mar 1, 2012

Building Codes: Energy Rules that Work

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/building-codes-energy-rules-work/

Update 4/6/12: The increased cost of a home built to the 2012 code in Illinois will increase the home’s cost by $1500 (~$6 a month) but save $33 per month in energy costs. In energy policy, lawmakers often prefer carrots to sticks because it minimizes the opposition.  But mandatory rules, like building energy codes, can… Continue reading

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Feb 27, 2012

Get a Local Clean Energy Future by Trading-in the 20th Century Electric Grid

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/local-clean-energy-future-trading-in-20th-century-electric-grid/

In a New York Times SundayReview piece last week – Drawing the Line at Power Lines – Elisabeth Rosenthal suggested that our desire for clean energy will require significant tradeoffs: There are pipelines, trains, trucks and high-voltage transmission lines. None of them are pretty, and all have environmental drawbacks. But if you want to drive… Continue reading

Cost of Distributed Solar versus Centralized Solar Power
Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Feb 24, 2012

Distributed Generation Hits Sweet Spot in Cost v. Transmission

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/distributed-generation-hits-sweet-spot-in-cost-v-transmission/

Update 3/27/12: added clarification to text and chart that prices include federal tax incentives If the cost of electricity were the only factor in energy discussions, we’d probably have a lot more coal and a lot less renewable energy.  But the truth is that renewable energy can compete on cost and distributed renewable energy has… Continue reading

Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Feb 23, 2012

German Policy Could Make Solar in America “Wunderbar”

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/german-policy-solar-america-wunderbar/

This post was originally titled Residential Solar for $2.24 per Watt in Germany? The Germans are debating significant revisions to their landmark renewable energy policy, and instead of declaring the death of the German solar market, Americans should focus on why solar still costs so much on this side of the Atlantic. After a significant… Continue reading

Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Feb 23, 2012

Residential Solar for $2.24 per Watt in Germany?

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/residential-solar-2-24-watt-germany/

The Germans have proposed significant revisions to their landmark renewable energy policy, the feed-in tariff, and the proposed prices should make Americans wonder why solar still costs so much on this side of the Atlantic. After a significant step-down in March, German utilities will be buying rooftop solar on long-term contracts from projects 10 kilowatts… Continue reading

Proposed Wind Turbine in Goodhue County, Minnesota
Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Feb 23, 2012

Citizens Make an Example of Minnesota “Community Wind” Project

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/citizens-make-an-example-of-minnesota-community-wind-project/

Community wind promises to expand the economic opportunity of transitioning the electricity system to cleaner energy, and engage local communities.  Unfortunately, there’s “community wind” and community wind, as one Minnesota project starkly illustrates. Goodhue Wind was first envisioned as a “community wind” project by National Wind in 2008 as a 78 megawatt (MW) wind power… Continue reading

Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Feb 14, 2012

EPA’s Green Power Partnership Helps Big Corporations Greenwash

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/epas-green-power-partnership-helps-big-corporations-greenwash/

Update 4/23/13: EPA has updated its rankings to reflect green power as a percentage of total electricity use, accurately portraying Walmart’s paltry 4% renewable energy. While I generally have nothing but praise for the Environmental Protection Agency, their Green Power Partnership program falls short of the agency’s usual standard.  In particular, the program – providing… Continue reading

U.S. Installed Solar PV Capacity 2004-2011
Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | 1 Comment | Updated on Feb 2, 2012

How Distributed Solar Can Reduce Electricity Prices

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/how-distributed-solar-can-reduce-electricity-prices/

What if installing more solar could reduce electricity prices? It’s already happening in Germany, world leader in solar power, and it’s likely to happen in the U.S., too. Continue reading

Sundial
Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Feb 1, 2012

Electricity Priced by the Hour Boosts Distributed Solar Value by a Third or More

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/electricity-priced-hour-boosts-distributed-solar/

Updated 2/1/12 because I underestimated how the tiered pricing worked.  Thanks to bkarney at Renewable Energy World for the comment. Last week I wrote about the time-of-use pricing scheme that PG&E offers in San Francisco, and how solar power is worth 14% more compared to a standard flat-rate electricity plan.  In reality, it’s 36% or… Continue reading