Local Energy Rules

Local Energy Rules

Society EN ↓ 280 episodes

This bi-weekly podcast from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance shares powerful stories of local renewable energy, from mayors discussing their city’s commitment to 100% renewable energy to tales of innovative community owned solar to questions about the the best rooftop solar policy. Join host John Farrell, the director of the Institute’s Energy Democracy Initiative, as he asks if the 100-year-old monopoly market structure for electricity delivery makes sense in an on-demand, distributed 21st century energy system. Tell us what you think.

Author

Local Energy Rules

Category

Society

Podcast website

ilsr.org

Latest episode

Jul 1, 2026

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Episodes

BlackRock Bought Minnesota Power. What’s Next? — (Bonus) Episode 249 of Local Energy Rules 22.10.2025

BlackRock just bought Minnesota Power. But these consumer advocates haven’t stopped fighting for utility accountability.| Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/after-BlackRock-ler249/ | Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/ | Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on our...

How to Fix the Country’s Biggest Power Market — Episode 248 of Local Energy Rules 22.10.2025

The PJM electricity market is embroiled in a crisis where ratepayers are being gouged to line the pockets of generation owners.| Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/how-to-fix-PJM-ler248/| Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/ | Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a...

Should We Celebrate When Monopoly Utilities Embrace Distributed Energy? — (Bonus) Episode 247 of Local Energy Rules 17.10.2025

A landmark utility proposal to own energy storage on customer property also cements its monopoly power. Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/monopoly-utilities-distributed-energy-ler247/| Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/ | Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a re...

Finally a Bright Spot for California Rooftop Solar — Episode 246 of Local Energy Rules 08.10.2025

There’s still a chance to breathe new life into California’s rooftop solar ambitions.| Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/bright-spot-for-CA-solar-ler246/| Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/| Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on our podcast fee...

A New Coalition for a Distributed Energy Future — Episode 245 of Local Energy Rules 24.09.2025

Learn about how Common Charge is fast-tracking a future where your distributed energy assets make the electric grid work better for everyone. | Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/common-charge-ler245 | Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/ | Don't forget to subscribe, share with your fri...

These Solar Tax Credits Are Still Standing — Episode 244 of Local Energy Rules 10.09.2025

Learn how non-profit and public entities can still benefit from solar tax credits, and the three steps to getting them. | Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/solar-tax-credits-ler244/ | Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/ | Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on ou...

The Town That Could Spark a Public Power Revolution — Episode 243 of Local Energy Rules 27.08.2025

Slayton's public power takeover aims to improve reliability and safety. | Show page available: https://ilsr.org/articles/slayton-public-power-ler243/| Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/ | Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on our podcast feeds, and join the conversation on...

A Public Power Struggle in Tucson — Episode 242 of Local Energy Rules 13.08.2025

Affordability and clean energy are driving a public power campaign to take over Tucson’s investor-owned utility. | Show page available: https://ilsr.org/articles/tucson-public-power-ler242/| Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/ | Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on our pod...

Smart Homes, Stronger Grids, Thanks to Distributed Power Plants — Episode 241 of Local Energy Rules 30.07.2025

Learn about how distributed power plants lower electric bills and stabilize the grid.| Show page available: https://ilsr.org/articles/distributed-power-plants-ler241/| Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/| Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on our podcast feeds, and join the...

Why BlackRock Wants to Buy Your Electric Utility — Episode 240 of Local Energy Rules 16.07.2025

Minnesota Power's sale would saddle captive utility customers with higher rates, but bring millions to shareholders. | Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/blackrock-utility-purchase-ler240/ | Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/ | Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation...

The Truth Behind California’s High Electric Bills — Episode 239 of Local Energy Rules 02.07.2025

Utility overspending, not rooftop solar, is driving California’s rising rates – Richard McCann debunks the “cost shift” myth.| Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/truth-behind-CA-electric-bills-ler239/ Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/ | Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a reco...

Australia’s Rooftop Solar Revolution: A Postcard from the Future — Episode 238 of Local Energy Rules 18.06.2025

Australia leads the world in rooftop solar adoption, offering crucial lessons for regulators and grid operators in the United States. | Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/australias-rooftop-solar-revolution-ler238/ Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/ | Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends...

Boosting Consumer Control with Better Utility Governance — Episode 237 of Local Energy Rules 04.06.2025

What if we changed monopoly utility governance to give consumers more control over utility decisions?

Community Solar Cracks Gas Crisis in Alaska — Episode 236 of Local Energy Rules 21.05.2025

Discover how Alaska’s electric co-ops and the Cook Inlet gas crisis laid the groundwork for the state’s community solar policy.

Community Solar Complements New Hampshire’s Resident-Owned Communities — Episode 235 of Local Energy Rules 07.05.2025

Members of New Hampshire’s resident-owned communities are saving money through community solar.| Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/community-solar-in-nh-rocs-ler235/| Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/ | Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on our podcast feeds,...

A ‘North Star’ For California Utility Reform — Episode 234 of Local Energy Rules 23.04.2025

California’s Senate Bill 332 aims to address the immediate harms of the investor-owned utilities while also investing in a resilient future.| Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/CA-utility-reform-ler234/ Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/ | Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a re...

How Utilities Evade Grid Regulation — Episode 233 of Local Energy Rules 09.04.2025

Instead of prioritizing more useful regional transmission infrastructure, utilities are pushing through smaller, local transmission projects to minimize oversight and maximize profit.

Connecticut Utility Regulator Under Fire for Doing Her Job — Episode 232 of Local Energy Rules 26.03.2025

In this rebroadcast from Volts, Chairman Marissa Gillett of Connecticut’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority talks about the challenges of reforming utility regulation given investor-owned utilities’ incredible influence.

Community Solar 2.0 is Coming to Boston — Episode 231 of Local Energy Rules 12.03.2025

In Boston, a creative cooperatively-run solar developer is combining the best of Massachusetts’ equity-focused climate opportunities to distribute the benefits of the climate transition.

On Molokai, A Community Cooperative for Energy Sovereignty — Episode 230 of Local Energy Rules 26.02.2025

On Molokai, a Hawaiian island with the highest utility rates in the country, the resident-led Hoʻāhu Energy Cooperative is using its local knowledge to drive clean energy projects that speak to community needs and priorities.

Voting (Again) on Municipal Power in Decorah, Iowa — Episode 229 of Local Energy Rules 12.02.2025

Do residents of Decorah, Iowa, have the seven year public power itch? Actually, they’re probably just steamed about two double-digit increases in their electric bills since 2018, when they last considered creating a city-owned electric utility. While that initiative fell short by just three votes, today, the advocates promoting a “yes” vote on the March 4 public power initiative think that anger o...

Wisconsin’s SolarShare: A Co-op Model for Local Clean Power — Episode 228 of Local Energy Rules 29.01.2025

SolarShare Wisconsin Cooperative’s model allows anyone in the state to invest in local solar projects.

A Public Utility for New York’s Hudson Valley – Episode 227 of Local Energy Rules 15.01.2025

Rep. Sarahana Shrestha has a bill, The Hudson Valley Power Authority Act, that would take the privately-owned Central Hudson Gas & Electric public in order to lower rates, accelerate clean energy deployment, and increase benefits for the communities it serves.

Five Tactics for Fighting Utility Rate Gouging – Episode 226 of Local Energy Rules 01.01.2025

Mark Ellis spent years as a chief economist and chief of corporate strategy for investor-owned utilities. He now testifies in support of intervenors. Here are 5 tactics he says we should be using to fight utility rate gouging.

Biogas: The Good, the Bad, and the Sludgy – Episode 225 of Local Energy Rules 18.12.2024

Anaerobic digestion can harness power from organic waste. But it can also have some negative ecological and health effects.

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