Article, Resource
filed under
Energy
| Written by
John Farrell
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| Updated on
Oct 1, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/boulder-mayor-tells-minneapolis-sought-clean-energy-options/
Now’s your chance to hear how Boulder finally came to municipalization of its electric system after many futile years of trying to work with Xcel Energy to get more clean, local power. I traveled to Boulder in April 2011 to talk with their city council and grassroots groups about their struggles (video), and the citizens… Continue reading
Featured
Article
filed under
Energy
| Written by
John Farrell
|
| Updated on
Sep 20, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/john-farrell-presents-local-energy-options-minneapolis/
What happens when a city’s franchise contracts with its incumbent electric and gas utilities expires? A once-in-20-year opportunity to consider how its energy can be cleaner, more affordable, more reliable, and more local. ILSR Senior Researcher John Farrell presents to Environment Minnesota’s Green Ideas and Ham policy breakfast, discussing the implications of an expiring franchise… Continue reading
Article
filed under
Energy
| Written by
John Farrell
|
| Updated on
Sep 20, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/residential-pv-prices-germany-united-states/
Earlier this week, Lawrence Berkeley Labs released a marvelous comparison of residential PV costs in Germany and the United States, finally putting some detail to an enormous gulf in costs (nearly $3.00 per Watt). The following chart (from page 35 of the presentation) shows the cost difference broken down into 9 categories, with ILSR’s addition… Continue reading
Article
filed under
Energy
| Written by
John Farrell
|
| Updated on
Sep 11, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/taller-wind-turbines-boost-state-energy-self-reliance/
A story in the Minneapolis Star Tribune today highlights the increasingly common use of 100 meter wind turbines for new wind power projects, up from the previous 80 meter standard. The technological change grabs more wind energy, with consistently higher wind speeds at higher altitudes, meaning states can get even more power from a similar… Continue reading
Featured
Article
filed under
Energy
| Written by
John Farrell
|
| Updated on
Sep 7, 2012
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
Article
filed under
Energy
| Written by
John Farrell
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| Updated on
Aug 27, 2012
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
Article
filed under
Energy
| Written by
John Farrell
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| Updated on
Aug 23, 2012
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
Article, Rule
filed under
Energy
| Written by
John Farrell
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| Updated on
Aug 22, 2012
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/
Few policies make renewable energy production easier than CLEAN (Clean Local Energy Accessible Now) Programs, also known as feed-in tariffs. The basic premise is to require utilities to buy renewable energy from individuals or businesses on long-term, fixed price contracts at prices sufficient to encourage them to invest. The most robust policies span multiple technologies… Continue reading
Article, Resource
filed under
Energy
| Written by
John Farrell
|
| Updated on
Aug 22, 2012
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
Article, Rule
filed under
Energy
| Written by
John Farrell
|
| Updated on
Aug 17, 2012
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
