100 episodes

ILSR's Democratic Energy program has been identifying key policies and strategies for boosting local economies by keeping energy dollars local for over 35 years. This podcast series features ILSR Senior Researcher John Farrell as he interviews leaders in local renewable energy development, people who have struggled to create community energy projects and change policy to make them easier. Most shows are 15-20 minutes in length, released twice a month.

Local Energy Rules John Farrell

    • News
    • 4.8 • 38 Ratings

ILSR's Democratic Energy program has been identifying key policies and strategies for boosting local economies by keeping energy dollars local for over 35 years. This podcast series features ILSR Senior Researcher John Farrell as he interviews leaders in local renewable energy development, people who have struggled to create community energy projects and change policy to make them easier. Most shows are 15-20 minutes in length, released twice a month.

    Arizona’s High Stakes Utility Election

    Arizona’s High Stakes Utility Election

    Charlie Fisher discusses the upcoming Salt River Project election and how clean energy advocates could flip the public utility's board and reverse anti-solar and anti-democratic policies. |



    Show page available: https://ilsr.org/arizonas-high-stakes-utility-election-ler205/ |



    Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/local-energy-rules-podcast-homepage |



    Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on our podcast feeds, and join the conversation online using the #LocalEnergyRules hashtag!

    • 23 min
    Smarter Rules for Smart Meters

    Smarter Rules for Smart Meters

    Michael Murray explains the many capabilities of smart meters, his critique of a Rhode Island utility proposal to expand advanced metering, and how state and federal regulators can establish best practices for fairness and data access. |



    Show page available: https://ilsr.org/smarter-rules-smart-meters-ler204/ |



    Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/local-energy-rules-podcast-homepage |



    Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on our podcast feeds, and join the conversation online using the #LocalEnergyRules hashtag!

    • 45 min
    The Concrete Benefits of Virtual Power Plants

    The Concrete Benefits of Virtual Power Plants

    Chris Rauscher explains the benefits of coordinating distributed energy resources, how residential solar and storage customers have saved their neighbors from blackouts, and why every utility could be offering a virtual power plant program. |



    Show page available: https://ilsr.org/concrete-benefits-virtual-power-plants-ler203/ |



    Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/local-energy-rules-podcast-homepage |



    Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on our podcast feeds, and join the conversation online using the #LocalEnergyRules hashtag!

    10 Years of Minnesota’s Community Solar Program

    10 Years of Minnesota’s Community Solar Program

    Pouya Najmaie discusses the strengths and weaknesses of Minnesota’s community solar program, its many regulatory and legislative changes over the years, and how utility Xcel Energy has found a new way to try to suppress distributed generation. |



    Show page available: https://ilsr.org/10-years-minnesota-community-solar-ler202/ |



    Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/local-energy-rules-podcast-homepage |



    Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on our podcast feeds, and join the conversation online using the #LocalEnergyRules hashtag!

    • 45 min
    Petitioners Ask Feds to Investigate Utility Abuses of Monopoly Power

    Petitioners Ask Feds to Investigate Utility Abuses of Monopoly Power

    In this episode from the archive, Howard Crystal and Liz Veazey discuss a petition to the Federal Trade Commission and why electric utility practices require federal investigation. ILSR first published this interview in June of 2022. |



    Show page available: https://ilsr.org/archive-ftc-petition-utility-abuses-ler201/ |



    Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/local-energy-rules-podcast-homepage |



    Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on our podcast feeds, and join the conversation online using the #LocalEnergyRules hashtag!

    • 38 min
    200 Episodes, 10 Lessons, and Your Questions

    200 Episodes, 10 Lessons, and Your Questions

    For this milestone 200th episode, John Farrell reflects on 10 years of making the Local Energy Rules podcast, shares what he has learned from over 200 guests, and answers some listener questions. |



    Show page available: https://ilsr.org/200-episodes-10-lessons-ler200/ |



    Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/local-energy-rules-podcast-homepage |



    Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on our podcast feeds, and join the conversation online using the #LocalEnergyRules hashtag!

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
38 Ratings

38 Ratings

Skjoa19 ,

Nobody else covers coops and monopolies like this

If you want to see the structures that determine what we can and can’t do with renewables, this is the best source I have found. Great interviews, great ideas.

RSLatimer ,

Deep Dive on Energy Info - Well Delivered

I listen to many energy related podcasts and found this one via another series. Good content, deep dive into some history on the episode I listended to. Moves along quickly. Held my interest for an hour. I'll listen again. R. S. Latimer

Noconnell ,

A guide towards possibilities

Ilsr and this podcast highlight those making positive changes in solar. It is truly an inspiration towards what is possible through local empowerment and empowerment.

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