Energy Self-Reliant States: Why Aren’t Rural Electric Cooperatives Champions of Local Clean Power?

Jay OwenCommunity Development Solutions, Resource Efficiency

I spoke yesterday at the Illinois Renewable Energy Fair in Oregon, IL, and the presentation will be posted shortly on ILSR.org. Being out in rural Illinois made me wonder, Why Aren’t Rural Electric Cooperatives Champions of Local Clean Power?  A few thoughts shared on the blog… Keep your energy local! …

Energy Self-Reliant States: On the air talking solar ownership!

Jay OwenCommunity Development Solutions, Resource Efficiency, Greentech

On the air talking solar ownership! Community solar gardens are now set to grow in Minnesota, but the PUC decision shows a few weeds that were planted in the original rules for solar adopted in 2013. And I’m on the air talking solar ownership with Arnie Arnesen on WNHN. If …

Same Price, More Renewables. San Diego’s Fight for Community Choice – Episode 23 of Local Energy Rules

Jay OwenCommunity Development Solutions, Greentech

An Island Utility Hinders Incredibly Cost-Effective Solar Power Last week I shared a new podcast about the struggle for local energy in San Diego.  Residents of that city are trying to follow in the footsteps of Marin Clean Energy and Sonoma Clean Power to gain local control over their energy …

Energy Storage: the Next Charge for Distributed Energy.

Jay OwenResource Efficiency

By John Farrell, Institute for Local Self-Reliance, March 2014   Energy storage promises to change the electricity system during the next decade, as fundamentally as distributed renewable energy has in the last decade. A new report from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Energy Storage: The Next Charge for Distributed Energy, forecasts …

Energy Self-Reliant States: New Report! Minnesota’s Value of Solar

Jay OwenResource Efficiency

A busy week for democratic energy!  Last week we: Released a comprehensive explainer on Minnesota’s value of solar policy. Fired back at the biggest solar leasing companies in their war on value of solar with An Enormous Question for ‘Solar Choice’. Published a presentation I gave at Electrons on the Run, a …

Energy Self-Reliant States: Could Minnesota’s “Value of Solar” Make Everyone a Winner?

Jay OwenGreen Prosperity

Last week, Minnesota’s utility regulators approved the first state “value of solar” methodology – could it make everyone a winner? Also, I’m off to testify on a bill in Minnesota to study greater energy freedom for cities; specifically, to require a study of community choice aggregation, or as I refer to it, “municipalization …

Energy Self-Reliant States: Five Reasons Solar’s Win Over Gas in Minnesota is Just the Beginning

Jay OwenGreen Prosperity, Community Development Solutions

Last week, I summarized the impact of the judicial ruling requiring Xcel Energy to buy peaking power from solar instead of natural gas: Five Reasons Solar’s Win Over Gas in Minnesota is Just the Beginning.  Also, I was quoted by Minnesota Public Radio about the release of the Minneapolis Energy Pathways …

Energy Self-Reliant States: The High Cost of the Solar Middleman

Jay OwenGreen Prosperity

How much does a solar middleman cost?  A lot, according to data from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources.  My latest blog post explains why the state of Massachusetts expects to pay double the production incentive for 3rd party owned (solar leasing) projects compared to host owned projects. Sincerely, John The High …

The Advance of Democratic Energy

Jay OwenGreen Prosperity

The #1 solar utility – in Iowa?  Check out the latest from our Local Energy Rules podcast, where we interview the general manager of a small cooperative utility that’s setting records for solar per customer, and customer participation in local clean energy.  Also, I was on KFAI radio in Minneapolis this morning …

ILSR’s Energy Self-Reliant States: Minneapolis City Council Unanimously Votes for a Better Energy Future

Jay OwenCommunity Development Solutions

Grassroots pressure makes a difference, as Minneapolis’ city council unanimously adopts a framework for advancing local energy goals thanks to work of the Minneapolis Energy Options campaign (ILSR a leading partner).  For more on the local energy effort, check outmy published commentary on the city of Minneapolis’ flirtation with a municipal electric utility at the …