In Depth

The 2024 Community Power Scorecard

The 2024 Community Power Scorecard

Maria McCoy

March 20, 2024

Communities can do a lot to advance energy democracy, but some tools must be granted by state policy. This annual scorecard from ILSR’s Energy Democracy Initiative surveys a suite of 18 policies that help or hinder local clean energy action.  READ MORE


Recently Posted

How Investor-Owned Utilities Turn (Your) Money into Political Power

How Investor-Owned Utilities Turn (Your) Money into Political Power

John Farrell

April 25, 2024

This graphic lays out the investor-owned utility model and how utilities maximize profits at the expense of their customers, use money to gain political power, and then use power to defend their monopoly and make even more money.  READ MORE


Standing Rock’s Wind Project Puts People First — Episode 208 of Local Energy Rules

Standing Rock’s Wind Project Puts People First — Episode 208 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

April 24, 2024

Christina Hollenback and Joseph McNeil discuss how SAGE Development Authority has created a model for community-led wind development and why community ownership is so important to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.  READ MORE


Three Ways to Green the Grid Without New Transmission

Three Ways to Green the Grid Without New Transmission

John Farrell

April 18, 2024

Transmission lines are slow and expensive to build. This commentary by John Farrell proposes three faster, cheaper, and more efficient tools that could help the climate advocacy and clean energy communities meet their collective goals.  READ MORE


Community Solar Tracker

Community Solar Tracker

Maria McCoy

April 16, 2024

ILSR tracks community solar capacity in states with formal programs that allow non-utility ownership. This quarterly update (2023 Q4) shows the capacity built in nine states, with a focus on projects in investor-owned utility service territory.  READ MORE


Ann Arbor’s Public Pathway to Reliable Power — Episode 207 of Local Energy Rules

Ann Arbor’s Public Pathway to Reliable Power — Episode 207 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

April 12, 2024

Gregory Woodring discusses the ways that investor-owned utility DTE Energy has failed Ann Arbor customers and how the city could take over and provide better service.  READ MORE