Local Energy Rules

Get More Solar by Making Utilities Share Data — Episode 135 of Local Energy Rules

Given Detailed Analysis, Grids Can Host the Most Solar

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell and guest Yochi Zakai discuss utility hosting capacity analysis and how publicly shared grid information can help solar developers, electric customers, and others make informed decisions.… Read More

Get More Solar by Making Utilities Share Data

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell and guest Yochi Zakai discuss utility hosting capacity analysis and how publicly shared grid information can help solar developers, electric customers, and others make informed decisions.… Read More

Voices of 100%: Eau Claire Solar Gardens Save the Day

For this Voices of 100% episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell and guests Kate Beaton and Ned Noel examine Eau Claire’s clean energy goal, the citizen participation that has supported its work, and the strategies the City is using to advance renewable energy.… Read More

Voices of 100%: Eau Claire Solar Gardens Save the Day — Episode 134 of Local Energy Rules

For Public Utilities, Customers Spark Pioneering Policy with a Vote

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell and guest Eric Williams discuss the growing momentum for clean energy and how people drive change within public utilities.… Read More

For Public Utilities, Customers Spark Pioneering Policy with a Vote — Episode 133 of Local Energy Rules

Entrepreneurs, Innovators, and Roadblocks in the Rooftop Revolution

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell and guest Danny Kennedy discuss rooftop solar revolutions, Kennedy’s work at New Energy Nexus, and the importance of innovation in the energy sector. … Read More

Entrepreneurs, Innovators, and Roadblocks in the Rooftop Revolution — Episode 132 of Local Energy Rules

Voices of 100%: In Case of Emergency, Break Down Barriers to Net Zero

For this Voices of 100% episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell talks with guests Mark Gamba and Natalie Rogers of Milwaukie, Oregon. In 2020, the city declared a climate emergency and accelerated its climate action goals.… Read More

Voices of 100%: In Case of Emergency, Break Down Barriers to Net Zero — Episode 131 of Local Energy Rules

Greetings From Hawaii, Where Utility Profit Depends on Performance

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell and guest Isaac Moriwake discuss how Hawaii’s new performance-based utility regulation will adjust utility incentives, ultimately saving customer dollars and propelling the transition to clean energy.… Read More

Greetings From Hawaii, Where Utility Profit Depends on Performance — Episode 130 of Local Energy Rules

How Big Utilities’ Climate Pledges Fall Short — Episode 129 of Local Energy Rules

How Big Utilities’ Climate Pledges Fall Short

For this episode of Local Energy Rules, host John Farrell and guest John Romankiewicz discuss The Dirty Truth About Utility Climate Pledges: utilities are doing far too little to retire coal, replace it with clean energy, and fulfill their promises.… Read More

Voices of 100%: Youth Propel a Climate Action Plan in St. Louis Park

For this Voices of 100% episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell and guests Larry Kraft and Emily Ziring discuss the St. Louis Park, Minn. climate action plan and commitment to carbon neutrality by 2040.… Read More

Voices of 100%: Youth Propel a Climate Action Plan in St. Louis Park — Episode 128 of Local Energy Rules

Community Solar Collective Gives Member-Owners Power — Episode 127 of Local Energy Rules

Community Solar Collective Gives Member-Owners Power

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell and guest Timothy DenHerder-Thomas discuss the People’s Solar Energy Fund, an initiative to pool together community-owned solar developers and scale up community solar nationwide.… Read More

Connecting Customers to Create a Virtual Power Plant — Episode 126 of Local Energy Rules

Connecting Customers to Create a Virtual Power Plant

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell and CEO of OhmConnect Cisco DeVries discuss demand response and the 550 megawatt Resi-Station “virtual power plant.”… Read More

Voices of 100%: Hanover Residents Raise Hands for Renewable Energy

For this Voices of 100% episode of Local Energy Rules, host John Farrell talks with Hanover, N.H. Sustainability Director April Salas about coalition building, taking action in a small town, and slowing down to achieve goals the right way.… Read More

Voices of 100%: Hanover Residents Raise Hands for Renewable Energy — Episode 125 of Local Energy Rules

Should Big Utilities Pay for Their Bad Choices?

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, republished from ILSR’s Building Local Power podcast, host John Farrell and guest Leslie Glustrom discuss utility accountability and how to equitably transition to clean energy.… Read More

Should Big Utilities Pay for Their Bad Choices? — Episode 124 of Local Energy Rules

Greenpenny Puts Community Banking to Work for Clean Energy — Episode 123 of Local Energy Rules

Greenpenny Puts Community Banking to Work for Clean Energy

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell speaks with Greenpenny’s Jason MacDuff. They discuss what’s needed for a prompt clean energy transition, the value of community banks, and the success of the innovative Greenpenny model.… Read More

Expanding Access to Energy Efficient Appliances — Episode 122 of Local Energy Rules

Expanding Access to Energy Efficient Appliances

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell and guest Marti Frank discuss the Shift Model: an approach that uses utility rebates to shift home appliance sales to more efficient models.… Read More

Minneapolis Health Department Splits the Bill with Green Investors — Episode 121 of Local Energy Rules

Minneapolis Health Department Splits the Bill with Green Investors

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell and guest Patrick Hanlon discuss Green Cost Share: a program that promotes public health by matching investments in solar and energy efficiency projects.… Read More

A Portland Fund, Collected from Corporations, Finances Community Benefits

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell speaks with Jaimes Valdez about the Portland Clean Energy Fund: a climate action fund for racial and social justice.… Read More

A Portland Fund, Collected from Corporations, Finances Community Benefits — Episode 120 of Local Energy Rules

In Seattle, Corporations Must Pay Their Fair Share to Support Climate Justice — Episode 119 of Local Energy Rules

In Seattle, Corporations Must Pay Their Fair Share to Support Climate Justice

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell speaks with Jill Mangaliman and Abigail Juaner about Jumpstart Seattle: a corporate payroll tax that will fund housing and Green New Deal initiatives.… Read More

A Solar Settlement for the Good of the Grid — Episode 118 of Local Energy Rules

A Solar Settlement for the Good of the Grid

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell and Vote Solar’s Thad Culley discuss a net metering settlement underway in the Carolinas: a compromise benefitting the utility, customer-generators, and the electric grid.… Read More

Voices of 100%: Louisville’s Clean Energy Pledge Takes On Multiple Crises

For this Voices of 100% episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell talks with Brandon Coan and Gretchen Milliken about Louisville, Ky.'s 100% renewable pledge and how it intersects with the fight for racial justice.… Read More

Voices of 100%: Louisville’s Clean Energy Pledge Takes On Multiple Crises — Episode 117 of Local Energy Rules

The Post-Election Potential for a 30 Million Solar Home Stimulus — Episode 116 of Local Energy Rules

The Post-Election Potential for a 30 Million Solar Rooftop Stimulus

For this post-Election Day episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, John Farrell and Katie Kienbaum discuss the intersection between federal policy and 30 Million Solar Rooftops: a vision for equitable economic recovery built on climate protection and energy democracy.… Read More

Berkeley Puts Equitable Climate Action on the Ballot — Episode 115 of Local Energy Rules

Berkeley Puts Equitable Climate Action on the Ballot

In this episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, host John Farrell and guest Ben Paulos discuss how voting yes to a climate equity action fund (Measure HH) will advance Berkeley’s zero carbon goal — all while advancing energy equity.… Read More

Voices of 100%: Gainesville’s Utilities Craft Path to Zero Carbon

For this episode of the Voices of 100% series, host John Farrell speaks with city commissioner Adrian Hayes-Santos and climate advocate Bob Tancig of Gainesville, Fla. about the city’s renewable energy prospects.… Read More

Voices of 100%: Gainesville’s Utilities Craft Path to Zero Carbon — Episode 114 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

Optimistic Pueblo is Outspent in First Attempt at Utility Takeover — Episode 113 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

Optimistic Pueblo is Outspent in First Attempt at Utility Takeover

In this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell speaks with Jamie Valdez about Pueblo, Colo.’s efforts to transition to municipal power and the opposition of Pueblo’s monopoly utility.… Read More

Voices of 100%: Arkansas City Advances its Energy Action Plan

For this episode of the Voices of 100% series, host John Farrell speaks with Mayor Lioneld Jordan and Environmental Director Peter Nierengarten of Fayetteville, Arkansas about their 100% commitment.… Read More

Voices of 100%: Arkansas City Advances its Energy Action Plan — Episode 112 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

The Secret to Low Cost, Low Carbon Home Heating? Your Water Pipes

In this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, host John Farrell speaks with Jay Egg, a geothermal expert, about successful water main geothermal projects in Canada and the triumphs and challenges of projects in the U.S.… Read More