Back to top Jump to featured resources

Viewing the Electricity tag archive Page 4 of 30

Term for Energy

crawford-identifies-historic-parallel-between-electricity-and-fiber
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on Oct 31, 2012

Crawford Identifies Historic Parallel Between Electricity and Fiber

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/crawford-identifies-historic-parallel-between-electricity-and-fiber

Susan Crawford recently wrote for the Blog of the Roosevelt Institute, where she spent the last year as a Fellow. She draws on the history of electrification to remind us that the impasse we have in expanding great access to the Internet to everyone is not a novel problem. Crawford emphasizes the similarities between the… Continue reading

Article, Resource filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Oct 18, 2012

More Clean Energy for Minneapolis

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

Click here for a more detailed article. ILSR Senior Researcher John Farrell presents to a big crowd at “Green Ideas and Ham,” a breakfast policy forum in Minneapolis, about the opportunity for the city to dramatically increase its control over its energy future.  In a short time, the city’s monopoly energy contracts with its electric… Continue reading

chattanooga-fiber-network-reduces-cost-of-electricity-to-all-customers
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on Oct 8, 2012

Chattanooga Fiber Network Reduces Cost of Electricity to All Customers

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/chattanooga-fiber-network-reduces-cost-electricity-all-customers

The Chattanooga Gig continues to benefit the community. We have covered some of the jobs that it has created, how it has lowered City expenditures and improved street lighting, and the recently announced speed increase without hiking rates. Now, EPB can also boast about how the network has significantly cut power costs. Dave Flessner from the TimesFreePress.com reports… Continue reading

screengrab susan osborne presentation
Article, Resource filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Oct 1, 2012

Boulder Mayor Tells Minneapolis How They Sought Clean Energy Options

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

Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on Sep 14, 2012

Tullahoma Rolls Out Smart Meters Using Public Network

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/tullahoma-rolls-out-smart-meters-using-public-network

Last winter, we reported on Tullahoma, Tennessee’s plans to use their fiber optic network for an Automatic Metering Information system (AMI). At the time, city leaders has just started a series of informational meetings for customers. Tullahoma Utilities Board (TUB) technicians are now in the process of installing the new meters in the full service… Continue reading

Wind turbine
Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | 2 Comments | Updated on Sep 11, 2012

Taller Wind Turbines Boost State Energy Self-Reliance

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

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

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

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

hawaiian-sunblock-report-ilsr-cover
Featured Article, Resource filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | 9 Comments | Updated on Jul 26, 2012

Hawaiian Sunblock: Solar Facing Unexpected Barriers Despite Low Cost

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

First in the U.S., Hawaii residents and businesses can install solar power – without incentives – for less than the cost of grid electricity.  But as local Earthjustice lawyer Isaac Moriwake notes, “the gates of heaven do not open just because solar is cheap.”  Instead, a number of unexpected barriers have kept the solar market… Continue reading