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Artwork for Local Energy Rules

Local Energy Rules

Local Energy Rules
Community Solar
Clean Energy
Renewable Energy
Rooftop Solar
Energy Democracy
Environmental Justice
Solar Energy
Inflation Reduction Act
California Public Utilities Commission
California Rooftop Solar
Net Metering
Climate Change
Build Public Renewables Act
Climate Emergency
Distributed Energy Resources
Minnesota
Geothermal Energy
Energy Transition
Distributed Power Plants
Public Power

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-... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes288Founded14 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

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Artwork for Local Energy Rules

Latest Episodes

St. Pete public power advocates want voters, not politicians, to decide whether to dump Duke Energy.  |  Show page available: ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/st-pete-dump-duke-energy-ler282/  |  Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podca... more

Why data centers are sparking a nationwide backlash as big tech tries to turn communities into reverse centaurs. |

Show page available: ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/data-center-backlash-reverse-centaurs-ler281

Listen to all of our Loca... more

Connecticut's Green Bank made solar on schools simple. Its public financing approach is a model other states can copy.

Show page available: ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/connecticut-green-bank-school-solar-ler280/|

Listen to all of our ... more

Inside Alaska's community energy program: subscriber-owned solar for a one-of-a-kind grid.|

Show page available: ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/alaska-community-energy-program-ler279/|

Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast epis... more

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Recent Guests

Danny Kane
Multimedia content creator at ILSR; host of Building Local Power, The Data Centers Are Coming
Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR)
Episode: Big Tech Stole His Book and Wants Your Town, Too — Episode 281
Jason Kowalski
Executive Director of the Public Renewables Project
Public Renewables Project
Episode: The Green Bank that Made Solar on Schools Simple — Episode 280
Philip White
Professor, Associate Vice Chancellor for Energy, and Cooperative Utility Board member
University of Alaska; Golden Valley Electric Association
Episode: Community Solar Helps Alaskans With Fuel Costs — Episode 279
Kristin Eberhard
Vice President of Policy at Rewiring America
Rewiring America
Episode: Data Centers, Energy Affordability, and the Case for Homegrown Power — Episode 278
Kyle Samajima
Outreach Director at Cooperative Energy Futures
Cooperative Energy Futures
Episode: This Co-op Helps Manufactured Homes Save with Solar — Episode 277
Sebastian Rivera
Outreach Representative at Cooperative Energy Futures
Cooperative Energy Futures
Episode: This Co-op Helps Manufactured Homes Save with Solar — Episode 277
Bryn Shank
Former Outreach Representative at Cooperative Energy Futures
Cooperative Energy Futures
Episode: This Co-op Helps Manufactured Homes Save with Solar — Episode 277
Pooja Najmaei
Policy Director at Cooperative Energy Futures
Cooperative Energy Futures
Episode: This Co-op Helps Manufactured Homes Save with Solar — Episode 277
John Wellinghoff
Former Chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Chief Regulatory Officer at Voltus
Voltus / FERC
Episode: How a Referee for the Grid Can Lower Utility Bills — Episode 276

Host

John Farrell
Host of Local Energy Rules

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 67 ratings
  • 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 structural challenges facing our systems (especially the recent interview with Shelley Welton). I’m always excited for new episodes to drop into my feed

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mdowney9
    United States2 years ago
  • 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, great ideas.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Skjoa19
    United States3 years ago
  • ILSR does amazing work in a narrow but critical piece of the climate solutions universe: helping citizens break free from monopoly utilities, which will enable a cleaner, healthier, wealthier and more resilient future !

    Podcast Addict
    5
    SCSierraDave
    4 years ago
  • 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 to. Moves along quickly. Held my interest for an hour. I'll listen again. R. S. Latimer

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RSLatimer
    United States5 years ago
  • Awesome Podcast!!!

    John, host of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, highlights all energy and more in this can’t miss podcast! The host and expert guests offer insightful advice and information that is helpful to anyone that listens!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    roweereyes
    Philippines5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests are consistently seen as knowledgeable, well-prepared, and capable of explaining complex issues clearly.
Listeners praise deep policy context and practical takeaways for local energy projects.
The show is valued for bringing underreported energy democracy topics to the fore and for connecting policy to on-the-ground outcomes.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Big Tech Stole His Book and Wants Your Town, Too — Episode 281
Q: My favorite question to open the podcast with asks about whether this is what you wanted to do when you grew up—how did you get into data centers and media production with ILSR?
Danny explains his journey from bookstore work to authoring anti-monopoly books and eventually joining ILSR, highlighting a long-standing interest in empowering communities against large tech monopolies.
Community Solar Helps Alaskans With Fuel Costs — Episode 279
Q: Could you run us through how the program will work, including project size and how subscriptions translate to energy value?
Arrays can be up to five megawatts each, with tariffs filed by each utility and a goal of parity so subscribers receive value comparable to rooftop solar, despite upfront costs and winter charging dynamics. The program starts small (roughly 20-25 megawatts total) and could grow, with private developers encouraged to participate.
This Co-op Helps Manufactured Homes Save with Solar — Episode 277
Q: What would you tell members of the Public Utilities Commission or legislators about these projects and why they matter?
These projects demonstrate how cooperative ownership models can deliver meaningful bill savings, build trust in communities, and expand access to solar for people who might be left out by traditional models. They show that local partnerships, clear communication, and policy tweaks—like consolidated billing and income-based garden targets—can broaden participation and reduce energy burdens.
How a Referee for the Grid Can Lower Utility Bills — Episode 276
Q: What are the main reliability and cost benefits you see from an IDSO?
Higher reliability with less need for costly infrastructure upgrades, plus lower costs from leveraging distributed resources and avoiding a capital bias toward new capital expenditures by incumbent utilities.
How a Referee for the Grid Can Lower Utility Bills — Episode 276
Q: How would you describe the IDSO model to non-nerds?
Think of it as a distribution-side equivalent of ISO transmission governance, where a separate independent operator manages the local grid, enables market access for distributed assets, and avoids the profit incentives tied to expanding rate base.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Local Energy Rules

What is Local Energy Rules about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful show exploring local energy transitions, community solar, and policy design through conversations with city officials, nonprofit leaders, and industry experts. Recent episodes emphasize community ownership, equitable access to clean energy, regulatory reform, and innovative financing tools that unlock local resilience. Notable strengths include in-depth policy context, real-world case studies (cities, co-ops, and faith-based initiatives), and practical takeaways for listeners aiming to advance energy democracy at the local level.

Where can I find podcast stats for Local Energy Rules?

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How many listeners does Local Energy Rules get?

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What are the audience demographics for Local Energy Rules?

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How many subscribers and views does Local Energy Rules have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Local Energy Rules has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Local Energy Rules?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Local Energy Rules:

1. Volts
2. Energy Empire
3. Shift Key with Robinson Meyer
4. Open Circuit
5. Catalyst with Shayle Kann

How many episodes of Local Energy Rules are there?

Local Energy Rules launched 14 years ago and published 288 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Local Energy Rules?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Local Energy Rules?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Local Energy Rules from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Local Energy Rules?

Recent guests on Local Energy Rules include:

1. Danny Kane
2. Jason Kowalski
3. Philip White
4. Kristin Eberhard
5. Kyle Samajima
6. Sebastian Rivera
7. Bryn Shank
8. Pooja Najmaei

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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