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.
Community-Owned Renewables in Germany’s Friedrich-Wilhelm-Lübke-Koog
By
Paul Gipe
Pioneers of the Bürger (Citizen’s) Wind Movement A model for a Renewable Future and an Engaged Population The Friedrich-Wilhelm-Lübke-Koog is …
Guardian: German energy consumers transform into local energy providers
By
Long before Germany decided to decommission its nuclear plants, its people were changing their relationship with energy. . .
Community Wind Power: Local Energy for Local People by BWE–A Review
By
Paul Gipe
In a densely populated country like Germany, wind turbines as a consequence are installed near people, as are all other forms of infrastructure. That’s one of the most striking observations North Americans make when visiting Germany – there are wind turbines, solar panels, and biogas plants everywhere. Thus, it’s critically important for the expansion of renewable energy in Germany that the public not only accept wind turbines in the landscape but endorse it. . .
Community Power Update for North America 2012
By
Paul Gipe
Community wind energy as found in continental Europe represents an extremely small niche market in North America, despite more than a decade of effort by proponents in Canada and the USA. Community wind represents less than 2% of the nearly 47,000 MW of wind in the USA, and an even smaller percentage of the slightly more than 5,000 MW of wind in Canada. . .
Danish Wind Turbine Owners Association 2012 Update
By
Paul Gipe
On a recent pilgrimage-and that’s the only word for it-to Denmark in September we stopped by the Danmarks Vindmølleforening (the Danish Wind Turbine Owners Association) to visit my colleagues Asbjørn Bjerre and Steen Andersen. . .
Preben Maegaard on the Bermuda Economy 2012
By
Paul Gipe
This past September we stopped by the Folkecenter for Renewable Energy in a swing through Jutland. There we met with Preben Maegaard, longtime director of the Folkecenter and one of the pioneers of Danish wind power. . .
Quebec Community Wind Projects 2012
By
Paul Gipe
In a colloquium at the 2012 Husum wind conference, there was a brief report on the progress of community wind in Quebec. By a rather loose definition of “community wind” to include municipal utilities and municipal participation with private developers, Quebec has assigned 294 MW in eleven projects, including one First Nation. The average tariff for the nearly 300 MW of projects is $0.125 CAD per kWh. . .
For the energy revolution to be a success: Invest into renewable energy!
By
Philippe Vachette
Presentation by Energie Partagée to a conference on community power in France & Germany in Lyon, France. . .
Photovoltaics in the municipality VG Arzfeld
By
Andreas Kruppert
Presentation on the village of Arzfeld in Germany that generates 300% more electricity than they consumer by solar PV that they own together. . .
Solar PV, Local Communities and Citizens–Cornerstones of the Energy Revolution
By
Daniel Belon
Presentation on the development of community-owned renewable energy in France. . .
