Category: Articles
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1,000 solar scientists got together this week – here’s what they’re talking about
Every four years, one thousand solar scientists from across the world gather to peer into the future of…
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Islands: fruity drinks, sandy beaches, and the future of the electric grid (Part 1)
The shift to clean, local energy is a real challenge for many utilities. Their traditional planning models choke on…
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Follow the money to understand the century-old business model of electricity
Most Americans give little thought to their electricity. Even though we spend between 3% and 7% of our…
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How do you know if a microgrid makes sense for you?
Microgrids are the epitome of Local Energy. As the name suggests, microgrids are miniature versions of the big…
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AC vs DC: How better economics ultimately beat out a bizarre publicity campaign (Part 2 of 3)
This is the second in a three-part series on the origins of the modern power industry. Part 1…
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California just required solar on all new houses – will the world follow?
California just made a huge commitment to Local Energy. On May 9, California’s Energy Commission (CEC) unanimously passed…
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Choreographing electrons and the hidden sophistication of the US electric grid
Flip the switch. Your light turns on. Simple, right? Actually, the light switch is straightforward but the system…
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Three months into Trump’s solar tariffs – are the promised new jobs in sight?
On February 7, 2018, the U.S. tariffs on imported silicon solar technology went into effect. As we approach…
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How Edison, Tesla, and other visionaries invented the modern grid (Part 1 of 3)
Take a moment to imagine a world without electricity. You will quickly realize how dependent our 21st-century lives…
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Using new business models to unleash competition and innovation in the power industry
Competition is all about price, features, and customer experience. Right? That’s what business schools have been teaching for…
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Three ways to reduce the risks of cyberattacks on the electric grid
As the cyberattack on the Ukraine grid showed the world, electric utilities are the new target for cyber…
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Russia has infiltrated the US electric grid – is this our doomsday nightmare?
“There is no backup system to the grid.” – Gretchen Bakke from her book, The Grid: The Fraying…
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Montgomery County Maryland didn’t have the budget for their microgrid so they invented a new business model
It was the summer of 2012 and the Mid-Atlantic was being pummeled by one of the worst storms…
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The most important question each of us needs to ask about energy
The dirty secret of power plants Every time we turn on a light, crank up the air conditioning…
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Myth busting the crazy politics of clean energy – Is Solyndra proof that the US shouldn’t fund clean energy?
OK, so you’re at a party and looking for something to talk about. Nothing is more entertaining than…
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Africa is democratizing energy – a TED talk by Amar Inamdar shares lessons that can impact energy everywhere
Local energy is the fastest path to cleaner, cheaper, more reliable power. Nowhere is this truer than Africa.…
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How did CEO Chandu Visweswariah take Utopus Insights from clean energy startup to $100M acquisition in 12 months?
On February 2, 2018, US$12 billion wind turbine giant, Vestas, acquired New York startup, Utopus Insights, for $100M…
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If we used this much fossil fuel in Edison’s time, we’d have already run out
We WILL run out of fossil fuels. In fact, we will run out of natural gas, coal, and…
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The market has spoken – clean energy just became the cheapest source of electricity
Spreadsheets, analysis, and predictions are all great. But nothing compares to the free market if you want to…
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Highlights from Drawdown, the most comprehensive plan for reversing climate change
If you want to understand the causes of global climate change and what can be done to reverse…