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
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
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