Article
filed under
Energy
| Written by
John Farrell
|
| Updated on
Sep 20, 2010
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/open-neighborhoods-community-solar-makes-solar-pv-la-homerun/
Residential solar PV in Los Angeles is getting a huge boost from a new community solar buying group. With typical residential installation costs for crystalline solar PV, residents would see a 20-year payback on a solar PV installation or a minimal 2% IRR on a 25-year investment (without factoring an inverter replacement). But what about… Continue reading
Article
filed under
Energy
| Written by
John Farrell
|
| Updated on
Sep 16, 2010
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/europe-leads-decentralized-renewables-lags-effective-building-retrofits/
Decentralized renewable energy doesn’t top the climate and energy agenda in Europe or the United States, but for very different reasons. In Europe, there has already been substantial development of decentralized renewable energy, and policy makers have moved on to discussions of 100% renewable energy. In the United States, by contrast, well-heeled interest groups tend to dominate renewable energy discourse, and American energy policy reflects their paradigm of centralized generation dependent on high-voltage transmission lines.
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Article, ILSR Press Room
filed under
Energy
| Written by
John Farrell
|
| Updated on
Sep 9, 2010
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/community-solar-new-model-local-ownership/
A new report by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR), Community Solar Power: Obstacles and Opportunities , examines nine community solar projects, the policies that made them possible, and the (substantial)barriers that remain. Successful community solar power projects in Colorado, Maryland, and North Carolina are knocking down the price of residential-scale solar photovoltaics (PV) by… Continue reading
filed under
Energy
| Written by
John Farrell
|
| Updated on
Sep 8, 2010
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/community-solar-power-obstacles-and-opportunities/
Community solar power can offer unique benefits in the expansion of solar power, from greater participation and ownership of solar to a greater dispersion of the economic benefits of harnessing the sun’s energy. But community solar faces significant barriers in a market wherethe “old rules” favor corporate, large-scale development. New rules – better community solar policy and regulations – are needed to remove these barriers. Continue reading
Rule
filed under
Energy
| Written by
admin
|
| Updated on
Sep 1, 2010
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/clean-programs-feed-in-tariffs/3058-2/
In 2009, the Canadian province of Ontario dramatically revised its standard offer renewable energy program into a full-fledged feed-in tariff(FIT). The program provides a guaranteed grid connection, cost-based prices for renewable energy producers, and a long-term power purchase contract. Paul Gipe awarded the program an ‘A-’ in his recent analysis of North American FIT policies and we find the bonuses for domestic content and local ownership to be innovative twists on a successful policy tool. Continue reading
Article, Rule
filed under
Energy
| Written by
admin
|
| Updated on
Sep 1, 2010
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/community-choice-aggregation/3057-2/
Over 30 cities, towns and unincorporated areas have formed a community choice aggregation program in Marin County, CA. The program will provide ratepayers with significantly higher levels of renewable energy at rates comparable to their previous PG&E electric provider. Continue reading
Article
filed under
Energy
| Written by
John Farrell
|
| Updated on
Aug 3, 2010
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/federal-stimulus-cash-grant-gives-boost-locally-owned-wind-power/
The credit crisis may have crimped commercial wind turbine installations, but the economic stimulus cash grants in lieu of tax credits have given new life to community wind projects. Continue reading
Article
filed under
Energy
| Written by
John Farrell
|
| Updated on
Jul 2, 2010
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/fannie-mae-and-freddie-mac-wont-allow-pace-liens/
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have told federal regulators and plan to release additional guidance indicating that the senior lien status of PACE liens is not acceptable. This declaration comes despite recent articles highlighting the minimal impact of PACE liens on the lenders’ balance sheets, White House and DOE support for the program, and the 23 states who have enabled Property Assessed Clean Energy Financing. Continue reading
Rule
filed under
Energy
| Written by
admin
|
| Updated on
Jun 25, 2010
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/3034-2/
Wisconsin investor-owned utilities have adopted production incentives for renewable energy in response to public pressure for a feed-in tariff, but their efforts fall far short. As a result, the utility programs collectively scored an ‘F’ in feed-in tariff expert Paul Gipe’s recent analysis of North American feed-in tariff policies. Continue reading
Rule
filed under
Energy
| Written by
admin
|
| Updated on
Jun 25, 2010
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/3033-2/
The Maine Community Based Renewable Energy Production Incentive launched in 2010 and contains many components of a feed-in tariff and is one of the few policies to (laudably) focus on community-owned projects. But the one-size-fits-all price for every renewable energy technology means it lacks the power to encourage a diversity of renewable energy technologies and may fail to encourage project development. As a result, the program scored an ‘F’ in feed-in tariff expert Paul Gipe’s recent analysis of North American feed-in tariff policies. Continue reading
