News & Articles on Community Power
Developing renewable energy on the scale needed to make the energy transition will require public acceptance. Unlike nuclear power, where society can force a single plant on a community for the benefit of society at large, renewable energy will have to become ubiquitous in our communities and on our landscapes. This can only be possible when the majority accept this transformation. Experience has taught that acceptance is greatest when neighbors and the community at large can participate in the renewable energy revolution. The beauty of renewable energy is that everyone can take part–and own a stake in their future–when given an opportunity to do so. The challenge is creating the policies that make this possible, whether it’s for a community wind project or a solar garden.
Renewables International: The energy transition: a German religious consensus
By
Craig Morris
Some thoughts about the role of the church in Germany’s switch to renewables and lower consumption driven by citizens, energy cooperatives, and communities. While energy policy is a divisive issue in other countries across political lines, the Germans have been largely pulling in one direction for nearly two and a half decades.
ReNews: First Nation in tie-up talks
By
The developers of several Ontario projects with feed-in tariff contracts are working on partnership deals with a First Nation. . . The Six Nations of Grand River is in negotiation with Longyuan Canada Renewables, Veresen, Boralex and Prowind Canada. Aboriginal equity participation can boost the 13.5 cents/kWh FiT rate by up to 1.5 cents for a 50% ownership stake.
Co-operative wants $1-million solar farm in Sudbury
By
Jonathan Migneault
Bob Jeffery, vice-president of the SUN Co-operative board, said the group has made an application with the Ontario Power Authority’s Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) program, which offers small green-power generators a chance to sell power to the provincial grid at a guaranteed rate.
OREP: Oregon Renewable Energy Cooperative Bill Passes
By
Mark Pengilly
SB 1520, which passed the Oregon House and Senate with bipartisan support, has been signed into law by Governor Kitzhaber. The bill allows renewable energy cooperative corporations to be created and capitalized without the requirement of securities registration.
GET: The right to make your own energy
By
Craig Morris
The switch from state-run water services to the private sector made the public aware of the difference between the two options, but the possibility of energy democracy is poorly understood outside Germany even among proponents of renewables. Do citizens have the right to make their own energy? Should such a right be made law explicitly?
SPP: Former landfill site to be turned into 2.4MW community solar farm
By
Peter Bennett
West Solent Solar Co-operative is turning to the local community to help raise the necessary £2.5 million construction costs to install the solar farm when it launches a public share offering later this month.
Der Spiegel: German Village Becomes Model for Renewable Energy
By
Renuka Rayasam
The tiny village of Feldheim, some 60 kilometers southwest of Berlin, was catapulted by chance to the forefront of the renewable energy movement. Now visitors from around the world are flocking to this otherwise unremarkable rural community to see if they can replicate its success.
Nova Scotia’s COMFIT program to change after review
By
As of January, 89 COMFIT projects had been approved, with a total capacity of 200 megawatts. When launched in 2011, the program’s target was 100 megawatts. It is not expected that all approved projects will go into production. COMFIT is designed for locally based renewable electricity projects. They must be community-owned and connected at the distribution grid.
Social landlord in £10m solar FIT deal: Landlord sells feed-in tariff income to institutional investor
By
Nick Duxbury, Pete Apps
‘The beauty of this deal is that every-body’s interests are aligned: the investor makes solid financial returns, with measurable social and environmental impact; tenants enjoy access to free daytime power, which helps them escape fuel poverty; Gentoo enjoys an ongoing return and financing to continue their exciting developments and the community receives funding for local initiatives from the profits.’
Australian: ACT launches ‘community solar’ program
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Canberra residents will be provided with a new opportunity to invest in solar power under a community solar feed-in tariff (FiT) from the ACT Government.
