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.
Boell: Please, in My Backyard: How renewable energy cooperatives advanced citizen involvement in the Germany energy transition
By
Andreas Wieg
To sum up, the broad support for Germany’s Energiewende is a result of the wide spread ownership of renewable energy production. Many citizens like to get involved in energy projects, especially in their neighborhoods.
Cultiva tu propia energía’ (Grow up your own energy
By
Friends Of The Earth
Grow up your own energy is a very visual publication from Amigos de la Tierra España (Friends of the Earth Spain) released in 2013. The document is structured in three main chapters. Firstly, it tells about the Spanish Energy System and underscores its inefficiency. Also it introduces concepts such as ‘distributed generation’. The second part is a collection of successful case studies around Spain, mainly on ‘Community Power’, but also on individuals and businesses. Finally, the third chapter encourages the reader to take action by offering a broad range of alternatives, for instance becoming a ‘solar disobedient’.
Energy by the people in Germany
By
Craig Morris
Germans can switch power providers. In fact, they are not only free as power consumers, but also free to become “prosumers” – simultaneously producers and consumers. They can even sell the power they make at a profit. Germany’s Renewable Energy Act stipulates that the little guy’s power has priority over corporations. German feed-in tariffs have helped produce all of this community ownership, thereby simultaneously reducing NIMBYism (not in my backyard).
New European Community Power Web Site Launched
By
Dubbed “Community Power–for people’s ownership of renewable energy”, the slick new web site offers a platform for expanding community ownership of renewables in the European Union.
Wind Energy and Friends of the Earth in Kassel, Germany–Some Observations
By
Paul Gipe
Over the years I’ve noted more than once the observation that most major environmental groups in Germany give a full-throated …
Paul Gipe in Italia su Eolico cooperativo
By
Antonio Cecere
Mai avrei immaginato di poter conoscere direttamente Paul Gipe. L’occasione è stata la giornata di studio su “Eolico cooperativo” organizzata a Castellana Grotte (BA) il 29 settembre del 2013 da Francesco Paraggio e Patrizia Mastroleo. . . Questo evento aveva l’obbiettivo di analizzare le principali opportunità che il settore olico offre alle comunità locali . . .
The Journal: UK farmers turning to wind turbines to supplement income
By
Jo Blakemore
A dramatic fall in income, coupled with rising energy costs, is seeing increasing number of farmers turning to wind turbines as an additional source of revenue ahead of looming energy regulator deadlines just over two months away.
Give community wind power the same EMR terms as Hinkley C!
By
Dave Toke
The Government has talked about extending the size of the schemes which qualify under the small feed-in tariff from 5MW to 10 MW. However this makes little difference as the rates payable under the small feed-in tariff are very low for anything larger than a few hundred KW. A 2 MW project, for example, would receive less than £60 per MWh.
Toronto Star: Toronto Zoo biogas plant hopes to raise millions through community bonds
By
Zoe Mcknight
In a bid to raise enough money to build a $5.4-million energy plant that runs on zoo poo, a Toronto-based co-op is turning to the public for funding.
Activists Begin Organizing Wind Cooperative in Southern Italy
By
Paul Gipe
On Sunday morning 29 September nearly 50 people attended a full-day workshop on how locally-owned wind energy could benefit them and their communities.
