User:TomStanton

Tom Stanton is an independent clean energy policy consultant. He is founder and principal researcher for Michigan-based Community Energy Solutions, LLC.

Mr. Stanton was previously Principal Researcher for Energy and Environment, at the National Regulatory Research Institute (NRRI), where he worked from 2010-2022. NRRI provided regulatory policy research and educational services for the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), which represents the State and U.S. territory agencies that regulate public utility companies.

Tom has specialized in policy research for distributed energy resources, energy efficiency, renewable energy, grid modernization, and global climate change. A life-long resident of Michigan, prior to joining NRRI Tom worked for Michigan state government for over 32 years, including 10 years at the State Energy Office followed by over 22 years as a member of the Michigan Public Service Commission Staff.

Mr. Stanton has been an instructor in both in-person and internet-based training events and related workshops or conferences in over a dozen states and multiple countries. Tom has been an adjunct professor at both Western Michigan University and Michigan State University, where he has been an instructor for both graduate and undergraduate college courses. He is presently a member of the Board of Directors for the Capital Area Friends of the Environment (517cafe.org), a mid-Michigan energy and environmental justice action and advocacy group.

Mr. Stanton earned a B.A. in Communications and M.A. in Journalism, both from Michigan State University, and an M.S. in Public Administration from Western Michigan University.

• Agrivoltaics
• Community Benefits Planning and Community Benefits Agreements
• Community Resilience Hubs
• Community Solar
• ConservationEconomy.net
• Domicology
• Ecovillages & Intentional Communities Energy and Climate Action Research Project
• Energy Equity (energy democracy, energy citizenship, community-based energy, energy communities)
• Equity Crowd Investing
  • in Energy Project Financing
  • in Good Food Systems. See https://www.canr.msu.edu/foodsystems/ https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/michigan-good-food-charter
• Floatovoltaics
• Geospatial Energy Mapper program ("GEM"), previously known as the Energy Zones Mapping Tool.
  • See also:
    • Luthe, T., Wahl, D., Swat, J., et al. (2023). Sustainability to Regeneration: Certificate of Advanced Studies ETH in Regenerative Systems. ETH Zurich, SDL. https://systemicdesignlabs.ethz.ch/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/DRRS_magazine_page_online1_final.pdf. https://systemicdesigniabs.ethz.ch/cassustainabilitytoregeneration/. https://cobaltearningjourney.com/.
    • Xu, L., P. Payakkamas, M. Dijk, et al. (2023). "GIS Models for Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning: Current Use, Future Needs and Potentials." Future Transportation, 3(1), 384-402. DOI: 10.3390/futuretransp3010023
• Grid Architecture for Energy Ladder Products and Services
• Open Source Development of solar energy and “energy ladder” projects and services. See To Catch the Sun.
  • Plug-in Solar. <adding new page now. Also known as "Balcony Solar" in Europe. This is about solar and solar plus battery systems that need no electrical permits, no utility company interconnection.>
    • U.S. Company: https://www.brightsaver.org/
    • Utah Legislature passed a bill, unanimously, that will legalize plug-in solar as of May 2025. The bill was forwarded to the Governor for signatre on March 12, 2025. https://le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/static/HB0340.html
    • Also "light regulation" law/rule from at least one other state. Oregon?
  • Open Source Solar with Battery Chargers for 1 to 1,000 Watts
  • Open Source Solar with Battery Chargers for Medical Care Devices
• Virtual Power Plants

• Ecovillages and Intentional Communities.
  • Planning committee member for 2024 Global Ecovillage Network Europe "gathering and expo," August 20-25 in Sweden. See https://ecovillagegathering.org/ and https://gen-europe.org/call-for-workshops-for-the-2024-european-ecovillage-gathering/
  • Leader of July 2025 Michigan Ecovillage and Intentional Community Tour. https://www.communityenergysolutions.info/blog https://www.communityenergysolutions.info/events (click to move calendar to July 2025).
• Effects of Daylight Savings Time on electricity supply and demand, particularly solar energy. Initial focus on Michigan options, but open to studying case studies from all geographies.
• Greenhouse Gas Offsets standards, certifications, and accounting, and beneficial uses for greenhouse gases
• Low-Income Consumers: Comprehensive programming for providing the most meaningful assistance to low-income individuals, households, and the different service agencies who try to help them, with food-energy-water systems best practices.
  • https://www.cesa.org/projects/solar-with-justice/
• Michigan Good Food Network and food waste roadmap. https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/michigan-good-food-charter https://www.canr.msu.edu/michiganfood/summit/
• Microgrid and remote mini-grid policies for utilities and their regulatory authorities
• Public utility regulatory innovations platforms. Regulatory Innovations Platforms for Public Utilities, 2023 Report for NARUC Regulatory Training Initiative, https://pubs.naruc.org/pub/1A227DC9-F406-1BAC-E7E6-89C1BD0DDDE9?mc_cid=329a1801ee&mc_eid=6dafbe97e0
• Participant in National Community Solar Partnership (US DOE and National Renewable Energy Laboratory, on-line community with over 2,100 registered participants as of June 2025)
• Member of National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) study committee, 2022-2023, for U.S. Congress: https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/the-role-of-net-metering-in-the-evolving-electricity-system
• Virtual Power Plants: Studying options for Virtual Power Plants to create maximum value and lower costs for localized food-energy-water systems. Please see: Virtual power plants.

• United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of primary interest and emphasis:
  • GOAL 7: Affordable and clean energy
  • GOAL 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
  • GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
  • GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • GOAL 13: Climate Action
• Donut Economics
• The Natural Step -- link to Canadian Chapter because they have good information introducing the concepts and good sources for additional information
• Open Space Technology, system for meetings where participants self-organize quickly and work together to accomplish priority tasks
• Pattern Languages:
  • Architecture 2030 design palette -- Architecture 2030 and 2030 Districts
  • PatternLanguage.com
  • Pattern Language for a Conservation Economy a.k.a. Reliable Prosperity
  • Other Pattern Languages, a directory curated by Group Works Group Pattern Language Project

• Academia.edu — https://nrri.academia.edu/TomStanton
• LinkedIn — www.linkedin.com/in/tsstanton/
• Researchgate.net — https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tom-Stanton-2

• Appropriate Technology Collaborative -- volunteer, contributor, supporter
• Capital Area Friends of the Environment (CAFÉ), Board Member (2024 to present). https://517cafe.org.
• Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association -- Member. 2023 to present, member of Education Committee 2024 to present.
• Michigan Climate Action Network (MICAN), Steering Committee Member (2025 to present). https://mican.mn.co/about
• Michigan Energy Options -- former Board Member (1991-2005); current supporter.
• National Coalition for Community Capital (NC3; https://nc3now.org). Member of 2025-26 cohort participating in the Community Capital Accelerator. https://www.nc3now.org/activate/.
• United Agrivoltaics Heartland Alliance, Advisory Council Member (2025). https://www.uaheartland.org/

• Western University [London, Ontario, Canada] Professor Joshua M. Pearce