Over 60 individuals from over two dozen organizations and four states gathered at the Hotel Winneshiek in early December for the (first annual?) Iowa-Midwest Energy District Conference. The goal was to share experience with locally-owned clean energy and to strategize about how to grow the Energy District movement.

With Energy Districts functioning in Winneshiek and Clayton Counties, in formation in Howard County, and under consideration by many attendees, topics included:

• The Energy District Model of locally-led and locally-owned clean energy: Green Meets Green, local energy dollars and jobs plus climate stewardship go hand in hand
• How to start an Energy District and how the Northeast Iowa partnership is building shared services and networks
• State policy options to enable and support a network of “universal local” Energy Districts with existing programs and funds

Are you interested in starting an Energy District in your neck of the woods, or do you know a local clean energy champion who may be? Check out our Starting an Energy District resource page or email us directly with your questions, thoughts or suggestions.