Media Type: Notes
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Puerto Rico shines a bright light on the shortcomings of the world’s electricity infrastructure
On August 7, 2018, an untrimmed tree fell on an electrical transmission line in Puerto Rico, leaving 130,000…
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Microgrid powered neighborhoods are a real thing – how can we get more of them?
Imagine a neighborhood powered entirely by local energy. Shared solar panels, energy efficient homes, and community batteries to…
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An interview with Susan Kennedy, CEO of Advanced Microgrid Solutions (AMS)
I first saw Susan Kennedy speak at Solar Power International in 2017. Susan is the CEO of Advanced…
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The military is pioneering Local Energy to save money and save lives
In the late morning of April 9, 2004, 17 tanker trucks, and 5 armored escort vehicles left a…
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The U.S. government is really bad at predicting the growth in solar
It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future. — Yogi Berra At last week’s Intersolar conference in…
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How much solar would it take to power the U.S.?
Critics claim that there simply isn’t enough land in the U.S. to power the country with solar. We…
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Hawaii is a postcard from our electric future (Part 2)
Island power grids are a microcosm of the vastly larger grids that criss-cross the planet. In Part 1…
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How Edison’s protege made the power industry into a regulated monopoly (Part 3 of 3)
This is the third and final part in my series exploring the events that shaped the electric industry…
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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…