Local Energy and Utilities

Local Energy and Utilities

Transferring control of energy back to local citizens and away from large corporations is a significant way to move towards clean energy transition.

What might be less obvious is how this can also improve the local economy. As with any monopoly (see section on Monopolies), a company has extra leverage on pricing over citizens and cities.

Many cities and regions are re-evaluating their dependency on corporations to provide energy.

The   Institute for Local Self Reliance  is doing excellent work on this. Check out the podcast episode below with John Farrell as he explains the possibilities of renegotiating contracts or establishing energy cooperatives.

https://tribunemag.co.uk/2022/02/cost-of-living-crisis-protest-peoples-assembly-rishi-sunak-conservatives

Resources

  • John Farrell, Director of ILSR’s Energy Democracy Initiative  Podcast Episode 
  • Next System Podcast episode on Local Power
  • Orange County Power website on Community Choice Program

Partners