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.
The Need for and the Value of the World Wind Energy Association
By
Paul Gipe
The World Wind Energy Association was formed because existing organizations were narrowly focused on the often arcane and specialized needs of the commercial wind industry. There was no organization with the long term view that people, especially the people who use and live with wind energy were vitally important to the industry’s ultimate success. There was a need, and WWEA filled it. That need still exists today–even more so than two decades ago.
California Regulators Approve Sacramento Utility’s Contentious Community Solar Plan
By
Emma Foehringer Merchant
California regulators on Thursday unanimously approved a controversial shared solar program proposed by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District. The municipal utility will use the program, called Neighborhood SolarShares, to help meet new state building standards that require solar installations on all new residential roofs.
Open Letter to German Energy Minister: Community Power is Most Important for the Acceptance of Wind Power
By
Bee, Bbe, Dgrv and Wwea
For three decades, citizens, e.g. in local energy cooperatives, have been promoting the energy transition, by initiating and installing individual wind turbines and later also larger wind farms. Feed-in legislation, privileges in the federal building code and the renewable energy act EEG provided the legal framework for citizens to make the energy transition practically possible, by taking entrepreneurial risk at an early stage and generating innovation. Even today you can convince of countless wind projects that without major conflicts massive investments were made in renewable energy and thus in the future of the respective community and ultimately into the future of our country, often even primarily supported by voluntary work.
New community solar farm powered up in Devon
By
Priyanka Shrestha
Construction of the 7.3MW Creacombe community solar farm started in September last year and was energised in two stages.
Unplugging PG&E Is Easier Said Than Done
By
Marisa Endicott
People have long criticized PG&E’s uncomfortably close ties with former Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration and the revolving door between the California Public Utilities Commission and the utilities it regulates.
California Mayors Back Plan to Make PG&E a Cooperative
By
Ivan Penn
Frustrated with wildfires and intentional blackouts caused by Pacific Gas & Electric, more than two dozen California mayors and county leaders are calling for a customer-owned power company to replace the giant utility.
Letter from a Coalition of Northern California Cites to the California PUC Calling for Converting PG&E to a Cooperative
By
Based on a foundation currently in the Public Utilities Code, we will propose transforming PG&E into a mutual benefit corporation –in essence, a cooperative owned by its customers.
German Government clearly misses all three self-imposed renewable energy goals associated with auctions
By
Stefan Gsänger, Wwea Secretary General
“The German Government has missed all three goals, which it has linked with the introduction of auctions: Neither has it reached its installation targets nor have the auctions achieved cost-effective results, and also the diversity of actors has suffered greatly since the beginning of 2017, which calls into question the acceptance of wind energy and the energy transition as a whole. Germany was once a global role model for the introduction of renewable energies, not only technologically but also through the strong involvement of its citizens. This role model has been lost since the introduction of auctions. “
Community Wind under the Auctions Model: A Critical Appraisal
By
“The German Government has missed all three goals, which it has linked with the introduction of auctions: Neither has it reached its installation targets nor have the auctions achieved cost-effective results, and also the diversity of actors has suffered greatly since the beginning of 2017, which calls into question the acceptance of wind energy and the energy transition as a whole. Germany was once a global role model for the introduction of renewable energies, not only technologically but also through the strong involvement of its citizens. This role model has been lost since the introduction of auctions. “
German auctions ‘failing’ community wind
By
“It has not reached its installation targets, nor have the auctions achieved cost-effective results, and the diversity of players has suffered since the beginning of 2017, calling into question the acceptance of wind energy and the energy transition as a whole.
