Advertise on podcast: Local Energy Rules

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★★★★★

4.9

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51 reviews

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This bi-weekly podcast from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance shares powerful stories of local renewable energy, from mayors discussing their city’s commitment to 100% renewable energy to tales of innovative community owned solar to questions about the the best rooftop solar policy. Join host John Farrell, the director of the Institute’s Energy Democracy Initiative, as he asks if the 100-year-old monopoly market structure for electricity delivery makes sense in an on-demand, distributed 21st century energy system. Tell us what you think.

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Podcast episodes

Check latest episodes from Local Energy Rules podcast

How New Jersey Became A Shared Solar Leader — Episode 283

2026/11/04

New Jersey’s community solar program guarantees bill savings and lets cities sign up whole neighborhoods. Here’s how. | Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/new-jersey-community-solar-ler283/ | Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/ | Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on our podcast feeds, and join the conversation online using the #LocalEnergyRules hashtag!

This Midsize City Wants to Dump Duke Energy — Episode 282

2026/10/21

St. Pete public power advocates want voters, not politicians, to decide whether to dump Duke Energy. | Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/st-pete-dump-duke-energy-ler282/ | Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/ | Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on our podcast feeds, and join the conversation online using the #LocalEnergyRules hashtag!

Big Tech Stole His Book and Wants Your Town, Too — Episode 281

2026/10/07

Why data centers are sparking a nationwide backlash as big tech tries to turn communities into reverse centaurs. | Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/data-center-backlash-reverse-centaurs-ler281 Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/ | Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on our podcast feeds, and join the conversation online using the #LocalEnergyRules hashtag!

The Green Bank that Made Solar on Schools Simple — Episode 280

2026/09/23

Connecticut's Green Bank made solar on schools simple. Its public financing approach is a model other states can copy. Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/connecticut-green-bank-school-solar-ler280/| Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/| Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on our podcast feeds, and join the conversation online using the #LocalEnergyRules hashtag!

Community Solar Helps Alaskans With Fuel Costs — Episode 279

2026/09/09

Inside Alaska's community energy program: subscriber-owned solar for a one-of-a-kind grid.| Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/alaska-community-energy-program-ler279/| Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/| Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on our podcast feeds, and join the conversation online using the #LocalEnergyRules hashtag!

Data Centers, Energy Affordability, and the Case for Homegrown Power — Episode 278

2026/08/26

How household power can solve the energy affordability crisis.| Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/data-centers-energy-affordability-ler278/| Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/ | Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on our podcast feeds, and join the conversation online using the #LocalEnergyRules hashtag!

This Co-op Helps Manufactured Homes Save with Solar — Episode 277

2026/08/12

A Minnesota community solar cooperative earns trust and delivers savings in manufactured home parks. | Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/community-solar-manufactured-homes-minnesota-ler277/ | Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/ | Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on our podcast feeds, and join the conversation online using the #LocalEnergyRules hashtag!

How a Referee for the Grid Can Lower Utility Bills — Episode 276

2026/07/29

Utilities profit by spending more. An independent distribution system operator could change that. Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/independent-distribution-system-operator-ler276/. Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/. Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on our podcast feeds, and join the conversation online using the #LocalEnergyRules hashtag!

This Small City Found the Funds for Clean Heat — Episode 275

2026/07/15

How did this small city finance a municipal geothermal network?| Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/new-haven-geothermal-network-ler275/ Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/ | Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on our podcast feeds, and join the conversation online using the #LocalEnergyRules hashtag!

How This Mountain Town Funds Its Own Climate Future — Episode 274

2026/07/01

Boulder's voter-approved climate tax has funded local climate action since 2006. Its lessons are ones any city can use.| Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/boulder-climate-tax-lessons-ler274/| Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/ | Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on our podcast feeds, and join the conversation online using the #LocalEnergyRules hashtag!

States Can Stop Utilities From Strangling Local Solar — Episode 273

2026/06/17

Solar is ready. Thanks to utilities, the rules to connect it to the grid aren't.| Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/state-interconnection-rules-ler273/| Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/ | Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on our podcast feeds, and join the conversation online using the #LocalEnergyRules hashtag!

Reducing Red Tape to Slash Rooftop Solar Costs — Episode 272

2026/06/03

States can slash rooftop solar costs with instant permits and remote visits.| Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/reducing-rooftop-solar-red-tape-ler272| Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/ | Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on our podcast feeds, and join the conversation online using the #LocalEnergyRules hashtag!

Solar Plus Suds Builds Self-Reliance — Episode 271

2026/05/20

A solar-powered laundromat is changing daily life on the Pine Ridge reservation.| Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/pine-ridge-solar-ler271/| Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/ | Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on our podcast feeds, and join the conversation online using the #LocalEnergyRules hashtag!

How Much Are You Paying For Utility Profits? — Episode 270

2026/05/06

In some states, 30 cents of every dollar a customer pays to their electric utility goes to the utility’s shareholders’ profits. How widespread is this problem and how did it happen? | Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/utility-profit-calculator-ler270/ | Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/ | Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on our podcast feeds, and join the conversation online using the #LocalEnergyRules hashtag!

Xcel Owns the Batteries, You Pay the Bill — Episode 269 of Local Energy Rules

2026/04/22

What can we expect from a new utility-owned distributed storage program that made headlines when it was announced over 18 months ago? Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/distributed-storage-ler269/ Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/ Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on our podcast feeds, and join the conversation online using the #LocalEnergyRules hashtag!

Podcast reviews

Read Local Energy Rules podcast reviews

4.9 out of 5

51 reviews

★★★★★

HCH98ers 2026/10/20

big fan :)

What do wind turbines and I have in common? We’re big fans of this podcast! I’ve been listening to this podcast here and there for a few years now to ...

★★★★★

mdowney9 2024/10/06

Must listen for anyone interested in how to combat the climate crisis

I’ve been a long time listener of many energy and policy podcasts, and this one ranks among the best I’ve heard! I love how they get into the structur...

★★★★★

Skjoa19 2024/03/15

Nobody else covers coops and monopolies like this

If you want to see the structures that determine what we can and can’t do with renewables, this is the best source I have found. Great interviews, gre...

★★★★★

RSLatimer 2022/02/14

Deep Dive on Energy Info - Well Delivered

I listen to many energy related podcasts and found this one via another series. Good content, deep dive into some history on the episode I listended ...

★★★★★

Noconnell 2021/11/16

A guide towards possibilities

Ilsr and this podcast highlight those making positive changes in solar. It is truly an inspiration towards what is possible through local empowerment ...

★★★★★

Sustenance13 2019/06/20

A must among energy podcasts

An important perspective on the energy transition: intersections with politics, equity, local government.

★★★★★

phshar 2018/09/07

Indispensable Guide to Energy Democracy

I really appreciate hearing not only about renewable energy transitions but about citizen empowerment and local democracy in the same dialogue. John i...

★★★★★

nancylaplaca 2017/11/11

Excellent podcast on local energy

ILSR and John Farrell give us the straight scoop. If you want to understand the opportunities —and obstacles — re: clean energy, listen up!

★★★★★

ZeeVegas 2017/06/18

Informative

Interesting and informative take on all things local.

★★★★★

Marialha 2017/03/23

Focused and informative

Love this podcast! Host keeps discussions focused and interesting. Really appreciate that the content.