Back to top Jump to featured resources

Viewing the renewable energy tag archive Page 7 of 15

boulderelectricco
Article, ILSR Press Room filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Mar 26, 2012

How Boulder Freed its Electric Company

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/boulder-freed-electric-company/

Yes Magazine, March 26, 2012 Running their own utility means sun and wind energy instead of coal. by Valerie Schloredt The Boulder-Denver “Power Past Fossil Fuels” bike ride in September served also as a rally for the local utility initiative. Photo by Zane Selvans. The city of Boulder, Colo., has won the right to take… Continue reading

mpr-news-logo
Article, ILSR Press Room filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Mar 26, 2012

ILSR’s John Farrell Discusses How Solar Can Compete With Utilities

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/ilsrs-john-farrell-discusses-how-solar-can-compete-with-utilities-on-mpr-org/

Minnesota Public Radio, March 26, 2012 In this article, ILSR Senior Researcher John Farrell discusses how the coming of cheap solar may change everything. Most Americans think clean energy is futuristic — a good idea some day, but not practical now. But a new report from the Institute for Local Self Reliance suggests that within… Continue reading

768171776_75fd3490a5
Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Mar 23, 2012

Solar Policy Can Advance (or Delay) Grid Parity by a Decade

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/solar-policy-can-advance-or-delay-grid-parity-by-a-decade/

In their excellent interactive graphic, Bloomberg Energy Finance calls solar grid parity (when electricity from solar costs less than grid power) the “golden goal.”  It’s an excellent illustration of how the right energy policy can help a nation go gold on solar or wallow in metallurgical obscurity.  In the case of the U.S., it may… Continue reading

Rooftop Solar Installation
Article, Resource filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | 13 Comments | Updated on Mar 21, 2012

Rooftop Revolution: Changing Everything with Cost-Effective Local Solar

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rooftop-revolution-changing-everything-with-cost-effective-local-solar/

With the cost of solar power plunging and retail electric prices rising, 100 million Americans in the nation’s largest cities will be able to “go solar” for a lower price than grid electricity in the next ten years. Seizing this opportunity requires rethinking electricity policy and planning even while solar produces less than 1% of… Continue reading

Rooftop Revolution cover graphic
Article, ILSR Press Room filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Mar 21, 2012

New Report: Rooftop Revolution Changes Everything with Cost-Effective Local Solar

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/new-repor-rooftop-revolution-changes-everything-with-cost-effective-local-solar/

Within ten years, 100 million Americans in the nation’s largest cities will be able to get cheaper electricity from rooftop solar than their utility provides. That’s just the opening salvo from a new report from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. “Rooftop Revolution: Changing Everything with Cost-Effective Solar,” not only illustrates the enormous, emerging potential for local solar power, but also describes how the rules of the electricity system must change now for the electricity system to be ready for the decade’s energy democracy opportunity. Continue reading

ieer-report-cover_0
Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Mar 13, 2012

Minnesota Electricity Could Be 100% Renewable, 100% Local

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/minnesota-electricity-100-renewable-100-local/

A new report released today by the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research shows that Minnesota can meet 100% of its electricity needs with in-state wind and solar power, and (with ample energy efficiency investments) at a comparable cost to its existing electricity supply. The notion that solar and wind energy cannot be the mainstay… Continue reading

irs form 8582_0
Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | 3 Comments | Updated on Mar 12, 2012

Why “Passive Activities” May Be Clean Energy’s Biggest Hurdle

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/passive-activities-clean-energys-biggest-hurdle/

If you care about the future of the American renewable energy industry, you need to learn what the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) calls “passive activities.”  Because these important rules mean that as long as the U.S. relies on the tax code to provide renewable energy incentives, renewable energy can only grow as fast as Wall… Continue reading

Turbines On The Ridge
Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | 1 Comment | Updated on Mar 8, 2012

Refundable Federal Tax Credit Could Remove Barrier to Community Wind

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/refundable-federal-tax-credit-remove-barrier-community-wind/

Update 3/9/12:Turns out I would be a lousy tax attorney and that the form of tax credit does not affect the passive loss rules. What if a small change in federal renewable energy policy could make community wind development easier? Last month, President Obama’s Treasury Department released proposed reforms to a number of business taxes… Continue reading

862055324_987cf8bf0a
Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Feb 27, 2012

Get a Local Clean Energy Future by Trading-in the 20th Century Electric Grid

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/local-clean-energy-future-trading-in-20th-century-electric-grid/

In a New York Times SundayReview piece last week – Drawing the Line at Power Lines – Elisabeth Rosenthal suggested that our desire for clean energy will require significant tradeoffs: There are pipelines, trains, trucks and high-voltage transmission lines. None of them are pretty, and all have environmental drawbacks. But if you want to drive… Continue reading

Cost of Distributed Solar versus Centralized Solar Power
Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Feb 24, 2012

Distributed Generation Hits Sweet Spot in Cost v. Transmission

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/distributed-generation-hits-sweet-spot-in-cost-v-transmission/

Update 3/27/12: added clarification to text and chart that prices include federal tax incentives If the cost of electricity were the only factor in energy discussions, we’d probably have a lot more coal and a lot less renewable energy.  But the truth is that renewable energy can compete on cost and distributed renewable energy has… Continue reading