In this first of a special two part interview, John Farrell, Director of Energy Democracy with the Institute of Local Self-Reliance, describes the challenges and barriers we face in shifting to clean local energy and the programs his leading think tank believes will move us toward a more equitable energy future. Read More
Will your neighbor’s solar panels make your electric bill higher? We take a look at the research, data, and regulatory options behind the growing debate on the real cost impact of rooftop solar. Read More
Dr. Peter Fox Penner shares insights from his new book with host Bill Nussey. Listen in to learn about the big grid vs small grid, the future role of utilities, and a roadmap for policymakers in the power industry “After Carbon.” Read More
Host Bill Nussey talks with Peter Heintzelman, CEO of the electric utility, Cobb EMC, one of the largest and most forward-thinking electric membership cooperatives in the US. Peter and Bill discuss the rise of distributed generation and electric vehicles. Read More
Electric vehicles will unleash a new set of competitive forces that will reshape the century-old electric monopoly business model Read More
Electric vehicles (EVs) will transform transportation, and along the way, they will also transform the electric grid, in both positive and disruptive ways. I share some take-aways from a panel on EVs I recently led at the Center for Distributed Energy. Read More
That outdated business models, conflicting interests, and aging technologies hogtie today’s behemoth electric utilities is no more evident than in the picturesque rural community of Taos, New Mexico. It is there that an inspired and tenacious collection of local energy champions have upended the sluggish pace of change that is the “business as usual” of many utilities. Read More
Imagine a neighborhood powered entirely by local energy. Shared solar panels, energy efficient homes, and community batteries to power houses at night. Even when the grid is down, lights and air conditioning will keep running without a hitch. While this vision remains a rarity, it is starting to happen. The Reynolds Landing Smart Neighborhood in… Read More
This is the third and final part in my series exploring the events that shaped the electric industry as we know it. If you haven’t already done so, I recommend reading part one and part two first. As I mentioned in part one, the power industry was born from the inventions and investments of Thomas… Read More
Flip the switch. Your light turns on. Simple, right? Actually, the light switch is straightforward but the system behind it is anything but simple. When you flip that switch, you are instantaneously connecting your bulb to the most sophisticated machine ever built. Carl Sagan once said, “We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science… Read More
