Energy

In Depth

The 2022 Community Power Scorecard

Maria McCoy

February 24, 2022

Communities can do a lot to advance energy democracy, but some of their options depend on state policy. This annual scorecard from ILSR’s Energy Democracy Initiative grades states on whether their policies help or hinder local clean energy action. READ MORE

Xcel’s Hosting Capacity Map Is Better, but Needs Improvement Before It’s Useful for Interconnecting Distributed Solar

Maria McCoy

April 8, 2022

In these comments filed to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, ILSR notes some improvements in Xcel Energy's hosting capacity map and points to issues that require further attention. READ MORE

Despite Promising Policies, Advocates Are Still Fighting for Community Power — Episode 153 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

March 30, 2022

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell and guests Crystal Huang and Al Weinrub discuss the gap between policy and implementation and how ILSR’s Community Power Scorecard could better represent and mobilize local organizers. READ MORE

Recently Posted

ILSR Joins Ask for Federal Trade Commission to Investigate Utility Abuses

John Farrell

May 20, 2022

The Institute for Local Self-Reliance joined over 200 organizations this week in asking the Federal Trade Commission to investigate abuses by electric utilities to protect American consumers. READ MORE

ILSR Asks Arizona Commissioners to Consider Community Solar

Maria McCoy

May 19, 2022

In this letter to the Arizona Corporation Commission, ILSR highlights community solar as a pathway to building distributed solar capacity and extending the benefits of solar to more Arizona residents, businesses, and public entities. READ MORE

A People’s Playbook on Advancing Energy Justice, Despite Utility Misdirection — Episode 156 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

May 11, 2022

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell and guest Yesenia Rivera discuss the People’s Utility Justice Playbook and how to combat utility tactics that undermine energy democracy. READ MORE

Why Minnesota's Community Solar Program is the Best

John Farrell

May 2, 2022

Minnesota's community solar program reached 831 megawatts in April 2022, enough to power more than 100,000 homes each year or about as much capacity as a typical nuclear power plant! READ MORE

Monopolistic Utility Companies Suppress the Use of Customer Data — Episode 155 of Local Energy Rules

Maria McCoy

April 27, 2022

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, a rebroadcast from the Building Local Power Podcast, host John Farrell and guest Michael Murray discuss how utilities resist data portability, even though customers have a right to their data. READ MORE

In Depth

The 2022 Community Power Scorecard

Xcel’s Hosting Capacity Map Is Better, but Needs Improvement Before It’s Useful for Interconnecting Distributed Solar

Despite Promising Policies, Advocates Are Still Fighting for Community Power — Episode 153 of Local Energy Rules

Recently Posted

ILSR Joins Ask for Federal Trade Commission to Investigate Utility Abuses

ILSR Asks Arizona Commissioners to Consider Community Solar

A People’s Playbook on Advancing Energy Justice, Despite Utility Misdirection — Episode 156 of Local Energy Rules

Why Minnesota's Community Solar Program is the Best

Monopolistic Utility Companies Suppress the Use of Customer Data — Episode 155 of Local Energy Rules

How Big Utilities Are Impeding Clean Energy

This report explores how corporate concentration in the energy sector is harming Americans — and what we can do to fight back.

Local Energy Rules Podcast

Sharing powerful stories of successful local renewable energy

Community Power Map

Mapping local renewable energy and how states help or hinder local power.

Community Power Toolkit

Your starting point for building local power for renewable energy.