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 …

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 …

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 …

Energy Self-Reliant States Weekly: Relative Energy Efficiency of Residential Building Energy Codes

Jay OwenGreen Prosperity, Community Development Solutions

Is your state lagging on its energy code for buildings?  This new graphic illustrates the relative energy efficiency of standard building energy codes and shows which states are lagging (and what that lag costs consumers on their energy bills). And in honor of the American Labor Day holiday this past weekend, an …

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 …

Green Tech Media: Pot Growers Costing Canada $500 Million in Power Theft

Jay OwenGreentech

  LATEST NEWS: Pot Growers Costing Canada $500 Million in Power Theft  Katherine Tweed – July 2, 2013 Smart meters and advanced analytics could come to the rescue. The Energy Gang: Why Do We Consistently Downplay Renewables? Stephen Lacey – July 2, 2013 Jigar Shah, Katherine Hamilton and Stephen Lacey …

Energy Self-Reliant States Weekly: Proposed Solar Standard is Cheap Compared to Minnesota Utilities’ Rate Increases

Jay OwenGreen Prosperity

I wonder why Xcel Energy ignores solar when it asks ratepayers to finance 3 new natural gas plants for new peaking capacity in Minnesota, I interview Brian Minish about the remarkable 600-owner South Dakota Wind Partners community wind project, and Minnesota utilities fail to mention that the 1.33% rate hike proposed in the solar …

Last Week from ILSR’s Energy Self-Reliant States

Jay OwenGreen Prosperity

Coming to you from the distributed energy guru   I wonder why Xcel Energy ignores solar when it asks ratepayers to finance 3 new natural gas plants for new peaking capacity in Minnesota, I interview Brian Minish about the remarkable 600-owner South Dakota Wind Partners community wind project, and Minnesota utilities fail to mention that the …