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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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filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Jun 11, 2009

Enabling Municipal Financing for Renewables and Efficiency

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/enabling-municipal-financing-renewables-and-efficiency/

As of August 2010, 24 states have passed or have existing laws that allow municipal energy financing programs and a handful of cities have established operational municipal energy financing programs.  The concept, widely known as Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing, is sweeping the country as more and more states are enabling the policy and… Continue reading

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filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | 2 Comments | Updated on Jun 8, 2009

Community Choice Aggregation: An Update

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/community-choice-aggregation-update/

Community Choice Aggregation lets cities and counties select their own electricity provider, prioritize renewable energy and encourage conservation, without having to own the utility or the power lines. It has expanded in California, and this paper provides an update on this innovative policy. For years, the U.S. has been served by four forms of electric utility: investor-owned, cooperative, municipal, and federal (e.g. Tennessee Valley Authority).  This list is changing.

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on May 29, 2009

SD Sets Interconnection Rules for Distributed Renewable Energy Projects

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/sd-sets-interconnection-rules-distributed-renewable-energy-projects/

The state Public Utilities Commission has made it easier for small power generators 10 MW and under to get their renewable energy flowing onto the electric grid.

Called the South Dakota Small Generation Interconnection Rules, the recent decision simplifies who can connect to the electric grid and how. It allows electric customers to be producers, too, by connecting clean energy systems such as solar panels and wind turbines to the grid.  Next is a legislative review hearing. Barring changes, the interconnection rules will become law June 9.

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on May 19, 2009

Energy Smart Miami – A possible model for smart grid and DG

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/energy-smart-miami-possible-model-smart-grid-and-dg/

Mayor Manny Diaz recently unveiled an ambitious, $200 million "Energy Smart Miami" smart grid project developed in partnership with General Electric, Cisco Systems, Florida Power & Light and Silver Spring Networks to ultimately deploy smart meters on every home and most businesses in Miami-Dade County.  In addition to smart meters, the project aims to install solar power systems on several schools and universities, add 300 plug-in hybrid vehicles to the city’s fleet, and bring a series of new technologies like home energy use dashboards, smart appliances and smart-meter thermostats to pilot programs in 1,000 city homes. Continue reading

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Apr 22, 2009

Distributed Renewables Can Defer Infrastructure Investments

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/distributed-renewables-can-defer-infrastructure-investments/

This recent article by the Manager of EPRI published on EnergyCentral.com discusses how conventional photovoltaic (PV) applications can act as distributed resources when the sun is shining — rather than solely as a reduction in load. They also can help diversify supply portfolios and meet other goals. The most basic scenario is for utilities to aggregate grid-connected PV installations owned by others and to treat them as demand-side resources.

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filed under General | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Apr 17, 2009

Four Decades of ILSR Research on Democratic Energy Now Available

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/four-decades-ilsr-research-democratic-energy-now-available/

President-elect Barack Obama is making “a new energy economy” his “No. 1 priority.”  He has an historic opportunity not only to change the fuel composition of our energy system but to change the very scale and structure of our energy system.  For more than 34 years,  scale issues related to energy production have been a primary research focus of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.  We believe that research can help inform today’s activists and policymakers.  To that end, we’ve converted our largely typewritten early reports and books into a 21st century format for on-line reading and downloading.

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Article, ILSR Press Room filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Apr 17, 2009

CapX Transmission Line Decision Ignored Current Economic Realities

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/capx-transmission-line-decision-ignored-current-economic-realities/

The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) and the North American Water Office (NAWO) find today’s decision by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to approve nearly $2 billion in ratepayer money for 650 miles of new high voltage transmission lines (known as CapX) to be willfully shortsighted.  The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission’s decision represents a slap in the face to Minnesota ratepayers and deals another setback for building a homegrown, decentralized energy future.
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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | 1 Comment | Updated on Apr 14, 2009

Report: Feed-in Tariffs in America

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/report-feedin-tariffs-america/

There’s a renewable energy policy with a record of incredible success, so why aren’t we using it in America?  Our April 2009 paper briefly explores the history of feed-in tariffs (FITs) in Europe – the rise and fall of this policy in Denmark and the rise and rise of FITs in Germany – and then outlines why it would be a much simpler, more cost-effective, and better economic driver for reaching America’s renewable energy goals.

American renewable energy policy consists of a byzantine mix of tax incentives, rebates, state mandates, and utility programs.  The complexity of the system results in more difficult and costly renewable electricity generation, and hampers the ability of states and communities to maximize the benefits of their renewable energy resources.

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Apr 14, 2009

No Green Without Green: the uphill fight for renewable energy in a recession

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/no-green-without-green-uphill-ght-renewable-energy-recession/

Upcoming Event in Minneapolis!

A talk by David Morris at 7PM on Sunday, April 26.  Join ILSR and the DFL Education Foundation in a discussion of the challenges to environmental and renewable energy policy in an economic crisis.

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