Energy Democracy: Customer Control over Renewable Energy

In this episode, Chris Mitchell, the director of our Community Broadband Networks initiative, interviews John Farrell, director of our Energy Democracy initiative about the concept of energy democracy and about his latest report, Is Bigger Best in Renewable Energy? John specifically outlines some of the key concepts that make up the principles of energy democracy and how locally-owned renewable energy continues to shape our electric grid in new and exciting ways. "We have traditionally had these large companies produce energy for us and our role is that we are simply customers," says Farrell, "What's really been happening in recent years is that we're seeing a transition in the rules of the system...and that citizens want a bigger say over the [electric] system and their energy future."