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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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ILSR Press Room filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Nov 10, 2008

Most States Can Be Energy Independent, New Report Shows

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/for-immediate-release-17/

For Immediate Release PRESS RELEASE CONTACT: John Farrell Tel. 612-276-3456 ext 210 Most States Can Be Energy Independent, New Report Shows Minneapolis, MN— (November 10, 2008) A new report by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) suggests that at least half of the fifty states could achieve energy self-sufficiency with the help of locally-focused federal… Continue reading

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Sep 17, 2008

Berkeley Financing Program Brings Renewable Energy Home

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/berkeley-financing-program-brings-renewable-energy-home/

With has the potential to become one of the nation’s fastest spreading local renewable energy programs, the Berkeley city council last night voted unanimously to use the city’s bonding authority to finance rooftop solar on residential properties. The city will pay the upfront costs and property owners will repay those costs over 20 years through a special assessment on their property tax bills. If a person moves, the solar system will stay at the property and the new owners will assume the remaining years of the assessment.

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Article, ILSR Press Room filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Jun 19, 2008

New Powerline Study Finds that Local Wind Energy Generation Can Avoid the Need for New Lines

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/new-powerline-study-finds-local-wind-energy-generation-can-avoid-need-new-lines/

A study released this week in Minnesota shows there is an abundant opportunity for new community-based energy development (C-BED) throughout Minnesota.

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Jun 4, 2008

Report: Concentrating Solar and Decentralized Power: Government Incentives Hinder Local Ownership

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/report-concentrating-solar-and-decentralized-power-government-incentives-hinder-local-ownership/

Can residential rooftop solar compete with new utility-scale concentrating solar electric plants? Only if federal and state incentives are amended to level the playing field. This May 2008 report explores the economics of solar PV and concentrating solar and shows how local ownership is hindered unless government solar incentives change.

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filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on May 28, 2008

Concentrating Solar and Decentralized Power: Government Incentives Hinder Local Ownership

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/concentrating-solar-and-decentralized-power-government-incentives-hinder-local-ownership/

Large, remote concentrating solar power systems are the new darlings of the solar industry.  Some observers now see centralized, not decentralized solar as the future.  But a new report by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance reveals that the economic advantage of centralized solar and absentee owned solar arrays rests on federal tax incentives that discriminate against locally owned, decentralized solar arrays.

John Farrell, the report’s author and a strong voice in the energy community, calls for Congress to change federal tax incentives to give equal benefits to residential solar arrays, instead of favoring commercial and centralized projects.

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on May 1, 2008

An energy incentive is drifting in the wind

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/an-energy-incentive-is-drifting-in-the-wind/

An energy incentive is drifting in the wind Federal tax law discourages individual investment and local ownership of turbines. By John Farrell, originally published in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, May 1, 2008 A wind turbine can power up to 600 homes, but 600 homeowners can’t get together to own a wind turbine. Why? Because federal… Continue reading

Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on May 1, 2008

Federal Energy Incentives Are Drifting in the Wind

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/federal-energy-incentives-are-drifting-wind/

A wind turbine can power up to 600 homes, but 600 homeowners can’t get together to own a wind turbine. Why? Because federal law makes local ownership virtually impossible. The federal wind-energy incentives — up for renewal this year — discriminate against local ownership and favor absentee ownership. They also severely restrict the number of investors who can finance wind-energy generators.

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Apr 28, 2008

Distributed Energy First, Wait On New Transmission Lines

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/distributed-energy-first-wait-new-transmission-lines/

A debate between advocates of distributed and centralized renewable energy systems is just beginning. It is overdue. Consideration of scale in renewable energy systems has been delayed in part because we first had to bring solar energy in all its forms to market, and in part because the distributed nature of renewable energy resources seemed inexorably to lead to their being harnessed in distributed fashion.

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Apr 10, 2008

Report: Federal Barriers Are Limiting Renewable Energy Ownership Opportunities

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/report-federal-barriers-are-limiting-renewable-energy-ownership-opportunities/

A typical 2 megawatt wind turbine provides enough electricity for around 600 average American homes. So why is it nearly impossible for those same 600 households to pool their resources and own a wind turbine?

A new policy brief by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) shows how removing two barriers to owning and investing in renewable energy projects can pave the way for true energy independence.

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