Reports and Resources

CLEAN v SRECs: Finding the More Cost-Effective Solar Policy

jfarrell — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 11:23:11 -0500

In choosing policies to finance solar power, U.S. states have chosen
between two major options: solar renewable energy credits (SRECs) and
CLEAN Contracts. But few legislatures have been armed with data on the
cost-effectiveness of these strategies. This report reveals that the transparency, certainty, and low risk of CLEAN Contract Programs makes them more cost-effective than SRECs for financing solar power projects. In other words, CLEAN means more solar at less cost.

Learning from Burlington Telecom: Some Lessons for Community Networks

admin — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 13:55:58 -0500

In little more than a year, Burlington Telecom went from being a hopeful star of the community fiber network movement to an albatross around its neck. The controversies surrounding it have encouraged cable and telephone companies to use it as Exhibit A in their case against communities going into the telecommunications business. However, most of those criticizing Burlington Telecom have very little understanding of what went wrong and how it happened. Examining what actually happened helps to explain how these problems may be avoided, as the vast majority of existing community networks have already done.

Pricing CLEAN Contracts for Solar PV in the U.S.

jfarrell — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 10:38:39 -0500

What would happen if the U.S. adopted the world's flagship solar energy policy – a feed-in tariff? This policy is responsible for three-quarters of the world's solar power capacity and offers the simplest mechanism for expanding production of solar power and other renewable energy.

Democratizing the Electricity System - A Vision for the 21st Century Grid

jfarrell — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 09:31:37 -0500

In a new report, ILSR offers a vision for a 21st century electricity system as a network of independently-owned and widely dispersed renewable energy producers.

“Thirty years ago renewable energy was a novelty,” says John Farrell, author of the new report. “Twenty years ago it was little more than a cottage industry. Today the $100 billion renewable energy industry threatens to overturn the bigger-is-better foundation of the existing, 20th century electricity system.”

Publicly Owned Broadband Networks: Averting the Looming Broadband Monopoly

christopher — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 10:09:15 -0500

Quietly, virtually unreported on, a new player has emerged in the United States telecommunications sector: publicly owned networks. Today over 54 cities, big and small, own citywide fiber networks while another 79 own citywide cable networks. Over 3 million people have access to telecommunications networks whose objective is to maximize value to the community in which they are located rather than to distant stockholders and corporate executives.

For several years ILSR has been tracking telecommunications developments at the local and state level. We have worked with businesses and communities protecting their right to self-determination via the fundamental infrastructure for the information-based economy. This report offers some of our findings.

Maximizing Jobs From Clean Energy: Ontario’s ‘Buy Local’ Policy

jfarrell — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 15:47:07 -0600

Ontario’s bold renewable energy program contains excellent examples of policy that marries economic and environmental goals. Unique among programs that set a guaranteed price for electricity from renewable energy projects, Ontario’s program also boasts a domestic content requirement that has already resulted in the promise of 43,000 jobs and dozens of new manufacturing plants to support the 5,000 MW of new clean energy.

Faster, Cheaper Broadband in North Carolina Comes From Community Fiber Networks

christopher — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 07:27:49 -0600

North Carolina aims to be a hotbed for innovation and technology, but the General Assembly has recently considered bills that would preempt local authority to build broadband infrastructure. Such preemption would cripple the most advanced broadband networks in the state. This new analysis shows that community owned networks are faster and cheaper than incumbent cable and telephone networks in North Carolina.

Past broadband discussions in the General Assembly focused on a bill to prevent communities from building their own networks -- but communities are the only ones building citywide next-generation fiber-to-the-home networks in North Carolina. The best connections in the state are in the towns of Salisbury and Wilson because both built community fiber networks that offer much faster connections to residents and businesses at more affordable prices.

Twin Cities Broadband No Match for Community Networks

christopher — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 07:55:29 -0600

If you live in the Twin Cities, your internet connection is slower and more expensive than small town Monticello due to a reliance on big national phone and cable companies. Over the past several years, communities in the Twin Cities have considered building a community owned broadband network to increase competition, lower prices, and ensure everyone has access to the connections required for success in the digital economy. The failure to do so is costing consumers millions and communities untold amounts in lost business opportunity.

PACE Presentation: Overview, Update, and Future

jfarrell — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 10:33:44 -0500

PACE provides one of the most promising municipal energy financing tools and it's been adopted by 22 states. But resistance from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac has put the brakes on new programs. This presentation explores the rationale, the process, and the promise of PACE.

Community Solar Power: Obstacles and Opportunities

jfarrell — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:09:24 -0500

Community solar power can offer unique benefits in the expansion of solar power, from greater participation and ownership of solar to a greater dispersion of the economic benefits of harnessing the sun’s energy. But community solar faces significant barriers in a market wherethe “old rules” favor corporate, large-scale development. New rules – better community solar policy and regulations – are needed to remove these barriers.