Local Energy Rules

Local Energy Rules


Latest Episodes

Public Power on the Ballot in Florida — Episode 221 of Local Energy Rules
October 23, 2024

The Florida Legislature removed local control of Gainesvilles century-old municipal utility, but Commissioner Bryan Eastman explains how the city plans to take it back. |Show page available: https://ilsr.org/articles/public-power-ballot-florida-ler221/

Solar Help Desk Offers Agenda-Free Consumer Assistance — Episode 220 of Local Energy Rules
October 09, 2024

Jani Hale and Liz Veazy from Solar United Neighbors explain how the Solar Help Desk aids consumers and how the group organizes people to fight for solar rights. |Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/solar-help-desk-agenda-free-ler220/ |Listen

Crashing the Utility Transmission Planning Party — Episode 219 of Local Energy Rules
September 25, 2024

Shelley Welton discusses why utilities cannot be trusted to coordinate their electricity transmission plans and how an independent planning authority could step in where federal regulators have floundered. | Show page available: https://ilsr.org/articles

How Cities Can Simplify Rooftop Solar — Episode 218 of Local Energy Rules
September 11, 2024

Toyah Callahan and Zach Greene discuss how the SolSmart technical assistance platform supports local governments as they streamline their solar permitting, inspection, and zoning processes, making it easier for residents to go solar. |Show page availabl

Leah Stokes and Tim Hade on Climate Resilience in California — Episode 217 of Local Energy Rules
August 28, 2024

Tim Hade and Leah Stokes discuss how, through the coordination of a virtual power plant, distributed energy generation and storage will provide resilient and affordable electric power to a vulnerable area of Santa Barbara County. | Show page available: h

How Monopoly Utilities Abuse Their Power — Episode 216 of Local Energy Rules
August 14, 2024

John Farrell summarizes ILSRs recent report, Upcharge: Hidden Costs of Electric Utility Monopoly Power, and makes the case for restoring competition to the electricity system. |Show page available: https://ilsr.org/how-monopoly-utilities-abuse-power-le

The Cost of Utility-Controlled Vehicle Charging — Episode 215 of Local Energy Rules
August 01, 2024

Doug Kantor discusses why the electric vehicle charging market must be competitive, rather than controlled by utilities, and why convenience stores are particularly suited to provide vehicle fueling wherever customers are. |Show page available: https://

Financing Platform Opens the Door to Solar Ownership — Episode 214 of Local Energy Rules
July 17, 2024

Bracken Hendricks discusses how Working Power, a community development and financing platform, helps community-based organizations retain ownership of clean energy projects and the financial benefits of clean energy investment. |Show page available: htt

Paying Solar Incentives Direct to Nonprofits — Episode 213 of Local Energy Rules
July 03, 2024

Jeremy Kalin discusses the evolution of federal tax incentives for renewable energy and how the direct pay provision of the Inflation Reduction Act will deliver more financial benefits to cities, counties, and nonprofits. |Show page available: https://i