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.
Why Minnesota’s Community Solar Program is the Best
By
John Farrell
Why? Because there 10 times more community solar projects in the queue—400 megawatts—in Minnesota than have been built in the history of community solar in the United States (40 megawatts).
Australia’s biggest CBD solar power project open to public investment
By
Michael Slezak
The company responsible for Australia’s biggest CBD solar installation has invited public investment, making it the first community renewables project in Australia with a public share offering.
The potential of energy citizens in the European Union
By
Bettina Kampman, Jaco Blommerd, and Maarten Afman
We estimate that about 83% of the EU’s households could potentially become an energy citizen and contribute to renewable energy production, demand response and/or energy storage, which amounts to about 187 million households.
1st World Community Power Conference in Fukushima Fukushima Community Power Declaration
By
In order to achieve that, the implementation of sustainable renewable energy must respect local and regional needs and priorities, as well as existing societal, cultural and environmental conditions, and, in other words, follow the principles of “community power.”
Saving the community first, the planet second
By
Craig Morris
It turns out that personal profits are one of the least important motives—strengthening the community (including financially) is much bigger. This finding should not surprise us too much; citizens see community energy coops not only as a way of making a sound investment, but also of just being a good neighbor.
Wind energy companies in Indiana are attempting to mitigate the deaths of bats during migration season by slowing or stopping their turbines at night.
By
Stefan Gsänger
The renewable energy community has been challenged by a trend towards ‘competitive’ auctions for renewable power generation. The term in itself is misleading as it implies that auctions automatically lead to more competition, and that other instruments like feed-in tariffs lack competition. Both are untrue.
New Report Finds People-Powered Energy Revolution is Very Possible
By
Nadia Prupis
A people-powered energy revolution—an era in which people can produce their own electricity—is possible, and could happen soon, according to a new report released Monday by the environmental group Friends of the Earth Europe (FOEE).
Spain gets its first community owned wind farm
By
On Sunday, 19 June 2016, the first stone of the first renewable power plant from and for citizens was laid down in Barcelona. So far 266 people are participating in the project that involves the installation of a wind turbine of shared ownership among citizens who voluntarily provide the money needed to realize the project.
Labour Party Launches Powerful Video on a New Energy Policy for Britain
By
Paul Gipe
Britain’s Labour Party manifesto calls for 1,000 community energy cooperatives in this powerful video by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. He also says Labour will reform the grid so that it acts as a safety net for local generation.
Why Labour is putting energy reform at the heart of its green agenda
By
Jeremy Corbyn, Labour Party
No issue better connects the environment to people’s lives than energy. In order to deliver clean, affordable electricity we need to change our undemocratic system of supply
