Back to top Jump to featured resources

Viewing all content from John Farrell Page 9 of 72

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

Contact John   |   View all articles by John Farrell

2012-04-18 15.10.59
Featured Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | 12 Comments | Updated on Sep 7, 2012

Minnesota’s First Community Solar Project is Minnesota-Made

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/minnesotas-community-solar-project-minnesota-made/

Update 12/20/12: This project includes battery storage. Just last month, the Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association, serving communities just north and west of the Twin Cities metropolitan area, announced Minnesota’s first community solar project.  The 40 kW solar array will be located at the cooperative’s headquarters, with members allowed to purchase individual panels in the project… Continue reading

Complicated rubber band ball
Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | 2 Comments | Updated on Aug 27, 2012

Forthcoming Project in Washington State Illustrates Complexity of Community Solar

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/forthcoming-project-washington-state-illustrates-complexity-community-solar/

Colorado just launched their long-awaited community solar gardens law (program subscribed in 30 minutes) and California is progressing on a virtual net metering law that could remove one of many roadblocks to community solar.  But the Vashon Community Solar Project in Washington State shows that doing solar community-style hasn’t become easy. The Vashon project will… Continue reading

4517691169_b02a20dd5f
Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | 2 Comments | Updated on Aug 23, 2012

California County’s PACE Program Could Get Feisty with FHFA

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/california-countys-pace-program-feisty-fhfa/

Does a Riverside County, CA, residential energy financing program put thousands of homeowners on a collision course with the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA)? In a proposed rule-making, the FHFA has suggested that Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) policies represent a threat to the safety and soundness of mortgages held by government-backed Fannie Mae and Freddie… Continue reading

hawaiin sunblock presentation.005
Article, Resource filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | 4 Comments | Updated on Aug 22, 2012

Hawaiian Sunblock: A Presentation on the Barriers to Low Cost Solar

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/hawaiian-sunblock-presentation-barriers-cost-solar/

This presentation by ILSR Senior Researcher John Farrell explains how – despite solar power that is cheaper than grid electricity – Hawaii homes and businesses still encounter barriers to going solar. You can also download the full report in PDF, for Kindle, or for your Apple iDevice and sign up for updates on ILSR’s energy… Continue reading

State Virtual or Group Net Metering Policies 2012
Article, Rule filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | 1 Comment | Updated on Aug 17, 2012

Virtual Net Metering

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

Net metering is a common distributed renewable energy policy in the United States, allowing individuals to “turn back” their meter (and reduce their electric bill) by generating on-site electricity.  But utility accounting systems typically prevent people from sharing the output from a single, common solar or wind project. Virtual (or group or neighborhood) net metering… Continue reading

agenergy_sunflower 1
Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | 3 Comments | Updated on Aug 16, 2012

Colorado’s Community Solar Program Allots 9 MW in 30 Minutes

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/colorados-community-solar-program-allots-9-mw-30-minutes/

When you subtract out shady roofs, renters, and other factors, only about 25% of Americans have a place to install solar power.  With the high upfront cost of a complete system, the potential solar universe shrinks further. That changes with “community solar.” After a long wait on the state’s Public Utilities Commission to finalize the… Continue reading

archaic utility rules barriers infographic ILSR
Featured Article, Resource filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | 13 Comments | Updated on Aug 8, 2012

How Archaic Utility Rules Stall Local Solar [Infographic]

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/archiac-utility-rules-stall-local-solar-infographic/

Many people expect that solar power will dramatically expand once it bursts through the cost barrier and becomes less expensive than grid electricity.  But archaic utility rules can effectively cap local solar development at just 15% of peak demand.  Fortunately, pioneering states like Hawaii and California are exploring ways to lift the cap and bring… Continue reading

3602486850_37ed5420d2
Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Aug 3, 2012

Comparing Residential Solar Ownership to a Solar Lease

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/comparing-residential-solar-ownership-solar-lease/

It’s a case study of solar in Ithaca, NY, but it provides a good framework for comparing leasing to ownership in any place in the U.S. Solar Economics in Ithaca, NY Comparing solar ownership to a solar lease can be tricky.  The following analysis examines the value of owning a 5 kW solar PV system… Continue reading

getsolarlogo
ILSR Press Room filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Aug 3, 2012

Hawaii Makes Long Strides in Solar Energy

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/hawaii-long-strides-solar-energy/

Get Solar, August 3, 2012 The Aloha State has many natural resources, including its volcanoes and its miles of shoreline, but one thing the state lacks is an abundant source of fossil fuels. Hawaii had to import 94 percent of its energy sources in 2010, according to the Energy Information Association.  However, Hawaii does have… Continue reading

grist
ILSR Press Room filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Jul 31, 2012

The Most Important Clean-energy Vote This Year is in Michigan

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/important-clean-energy-vote-year-michigan/

Grist, July 31, 2012 Probably the most important energy-related vote this November is happening in the swing state of Michigan, where voters will decide whether to substantially boost the state’s renewable energy standard (RES). It’s a big deal for all sorts of reasons, many of which extend beyond the state itself. So let’s walk through… Continue reading