Wind Power in Howard County brings Road Improvements

by Amy Bouska, Board Chair, Howard County Energy District As a result of a renewable electricity standard signed into law in 1983 by then-Governor Terry Branstad, wind turbines have been appearing in Iowa farm fields for decades.  Opinions about the new “crop” vary widely:  Are they a good thing because they help reduce carbon emissions and provide a new export “crop,” or are they a bad thing because they are

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The IRA: A New Year, New Incentives (Including IRA Program Fact Sheets)

Paul Cutting, Energy Planner The first of many new IRA-related tax credits and incentives came into effect January 1, 2023, and include new and updated tax credits for solar, battery storage, heat pumps, electric vehicles and more. We’re also excited about two electrification and efficiency rebate programs, and anticipate they will come into effect sometime late this year or early 2024. Solar, Battery Backup, Wind and Geothermal Tax Credits Following

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Using the Blower Door and Thermal Imaging Camera to Locate Air Leaks

by Paul Cutting, Energy Planner A few weeks back a Decorah homeowner asked me to help locate air leaks in their flat roofed, mid-century home. We picked a cold day, where the temperature difference between the interior and exterior were great, and used the blower door to suck air out of the house and an infrared camera to find breaks in the building envelope. This particular house was built with

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