Energy Self-Reliant States: Bypassing the Power Grid

I spent most of last week on the West Coast with the family (and even went for a ride in the redwoods on an early 20th century steam train), but I came across a terrific video from EnergyShouldBe on why baseload power sources like coal and nuclear are incompatible with a largely renewable energy grid.

Sincerely,

John

Bypassing the Power Grid

For nearly a century, wealthy countries have relied on just one model of power distribution: sending electricity over huge transmission grids from big generating plants to customers in their homes, offices and factories.

That may be starting to change.

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New Report! City Power Play: 8 Practical Local Energy Policies to Boost the Economy

The economy has stalled and so has the war on climate change. But dozens of cities are creating jobs and cleaner energy using their own power. Learn more: Read the report: View the infographic: coming soon View presentation: coming soon Help support more research like this! Keeping Energy Dollars Local Chattanooga, TN, is adding…

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Essential Elements in the Value of Solar

Comments to the Minnesota Division of Energy Resources
Re: Value of Solar Stakeholder Process

The value of solar component of the state’s new solar energy standard must be considered in the context of the state’s energy goals, expressed in two statutes:

1. The 2007 Next Generation Energy Act’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050 and that state should pursue “the development and use of renewable energy resources wherever possible.”

2. The 2013 Energy Omnibus law, which includes “a Minnesota energy future study on how Minnesota can achieve a sustainable energy system that does not rely on the burning of fossil fuels.”

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Why Coal and Nuclear (Baseload) Are Not Compatible with a Renewable FutureA terrific video explains why utility investments in “baseload” coal and nuclear power plants are acting against increasing renewable energy. Credit to EnergyShouldBe, a website created by one of the technical analysts helping Boulder, CO, pursue a more local, renewable energy system. My one caveat is that flexibility of a utility system varies by utility. …

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Debating the Value of Solar – Pt. 2 of Minnesota’s Process

It was an unseasonably sunny day for part two of Minnesota’s value of solar stakeholder process: participation day. The leadoff was the Department of Commerce’s proposed approach to a value of solar methodology. Shown below, it set some broad principles the Department intends to use in the value of solar formula it develops…

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