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

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


Community Power Wins and Losses in 2023

Community Power Wins and Losses in 2023

Maria McCoy

April 3, 2024

The decisions of state legislatures have big consequences for how communities drive clean energy access and hold utilities accountable. This post breaks down how the policies that states passed last year impacted ILSR’s 2024 Community Power Scorecard.  READ MORE


A San Diego Solar Takeover — Episode 206 of Local Energy Rules

A San Diego Solar Takeover — Episode 206 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

March 27, 2024

Dorrie Bruggemann and Bill Powers discuss how a publicly-owned San Diego electric utility would be more supportive of distributed solar, offer lower rates thanks to that solar, and what it will take to bring the municipalization decision to voters.  READ MORE


New Power Generation Quarterly: 2023 Q4

New Power Generation Quarterly: 2023 Q4

Maria McCoy

March 25, 2024

14 gigawatts of new power generation capacity came online in the fourth quarter of 2023. Over eight gigawatts of this fourth quarter surge was large-scale solar, with distributed solar contributing another two gigawatts.  READ MORE