utilities
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Utility fights dirty in city's battle for clean local energy
In just three weeks, citizens of Boulder, Colo., will vote on whether to begin a big, formal process to unplug from Xcel Energy’s system and plug into local energy self-reliance. The vote to form a municipal electric utility could set a precedent for communities across the United States to keep millions of dollars local instead […]
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Energy genius wins MacArthur grant
Shwetak Patel is revolutionizing home energy use, and people are noticing. Patel was just awarded a MacArthur Fellowship -- affectionately known as a "genius award" -- for his work creating user-friendly ways for people to monitor and control their utilities consumption. In other words, this is what certified energy genius looks like.
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Why we should democratize the electricity system – part 4
A serialized version of ILSR‘s new report, Democratizing the Electricity System, Part 4 of 5. Click for Part 1 or Part 2 or Part 3. Roadblocks to Distributed, Local Renewable Energy Despite technology’s march toward more efficient and distributed energy production, there’s a substantial tension between the decentralized opportunity and the institutional and policy inertia […]
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How to avoid a train wreck: replacing coal with energy efficiency
Utility regulations don't have to mean higher rates for consumers. Investments that enhance communities by creating more efficient, modern infrastructure result in more jobs and a more robust economy, at a fraction of the cost of upgrading old coal plants
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Utilities cash in when you go solar
Net metering offers a lot to utilities and very little to ratepayers and solar array owners.
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How to power homes with 100% clean and increasingly local power
Marin Clean Energy in California leads the way in clean, local energy with its community choice aggregation model.
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Critical List: Financial assistance for cooling costs down; Atlanta's trees are dying
Stuck in a heat wave? Can't afford A/C? Too bad: Groups that dole out government assistance for cooling have had their funding cut and have turned away up to 80 percent of applicants.
Today's the first anniversary of the climate bill's death.
Atlanta loves trees! It charges $1,000 to chop one down. But drought, storms, invasive species, and natural causes get to kill trees for free, and they’re are all contributing to a large-scale die-off. -
Support local wind power on your utility bill?
Although Americans overwhelmingly support renewable energy, it’s usually much harder to find a way to support the development of renewables close to home. This innovative proposal offered last session in the Minnesota state legislature could change that. The bill would require utilities to offer a green pricing program for local, distributed wind power. Green pricing […]
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San Antonio utility 'floored' by low prices, increases order to 400 MW of solar
CPS, the municipal utility in San Antonio, Texas, is making a strong play for favorite utility of the year. The utility has a 14 MW plant up and running, contracts for another 3 plants of 10 MW each, and an an oversubscribed standard offer contract program for another 10 MW. All pleasant experiences to date…so […]