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IOWA LEGISLATORS: Fix or Walk Away From a Very Bad Energy Bill
April 17 update: With the recent Governor’s amendment, the Winneshiek Energy District and Clean Energy Districts of Iowa are now OPPOSING this bill. Join us …
2023 Solar Tax Incentives
Solar PV tax incentives are a powerful financial incentive for homeowners, farmers, and business owners considering going solar. Unfortunately, renewable energy tax credits are not …
A Cleaner Grid Is More Reliable: Winter Version
By Andy Johnson and Warren McKenna Click here to read the pdf version with footnoted sources Here we go again. Grid operators and utilities are …
Clean Energy Districts Featured In Ireland!
The Clean Energy Districts of Iowa was invited to join USDA Rural Development leaders in presenting at theOrganization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Rural Development …
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022: An Iowa Perspective
The Inflation Reduction Act, aka the Schumer-Manchin climate deal, is historic “? for a clean energy transition, rural prosperity, climate stewardship, economic and environmental justice, …
Utilities Board Declines To Hear Decorah Complaint
The Iowa Utilities Board has declined to hear Decorah’s complaint requesting utility data from Alliant, despite their own staff and the Office of Consumer Advocate …
Solar Resources for Local Governments
Solar PV can be a solid financial decision for your taxpayers, a critical kick-start to a local solar market, and an important leadership statement. This …
More Grid Troubles Driven By Coal and Gas Plant Outages
We wrote last month about the looming potential for brownouts in the Midwest (the story was picked up by Bleeding Heartland). Our analysis showed that …
A Big Waitlist WIN
Energy Democracy notched an important success in Iowa this year, as the legislature agreed to fund the Iowa solar tax credit waitlist. (solar homeowners: the …
Energy Bills Rising: Alliant
We’ve been asked recently why Alliant electric bills seem to keep rising, despite the fact that the last rate case was in 2019 (with the …
Utilities Board Ordered Honesty from Alliant to Communities
In a pair of orders in 2020 (January pp97-106 and October) related to the 2019 Alliant rate increase, the Iowa Utilities Board directed Alliant to …
Electric Vehicles Are Greener, All Things Considered
While it’s true that electric vehicles generally cost about half as much to drive in fuel compared to gasoline/diesel “¦ We often get asked “are …
It Is Unequivocal That Human Influence Has Warmed The Atmosphere, Ocean and Land.
So reads the first Headline Statement from the most recent, definitive, and ominous IPCC report, Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis.More: “Human-induced climate change …
WED and UERPC Lead Regional Electric Vehicle Collaborative
Electric vehicles (EVs) are the future, and the future is coming quickly to Northeast Iowa. Winneshiek Energy District and Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission have …
Iowa Needs Renewables, and Renewables Need Transmission
This message was central to comments submitted by the Clean Energy Districts of Iowa in a new investigative docket on transmission opened by the Iowa …
Secret Solar
Piper Wood, Green Iowa AmeriCorps Member In 2013, the Winneshiek Energy District featured some solar partners in Decorah that had “hidden solar’ in the community, …
What Happens in Texas… Doesn’t Stay in Texas: Iowa Customers Set to See Higher Natural Gas Bills
By Joel Zook The Polar Vortex of 2021 wasan anomaly compared to normal years.The polar vortex is far above the polar jet stream in the …
Energy Lunch Recap: SOO Green Line
Written by Max WalkerThe Winneshiek Energy District held an energy lunch for a presentation on the SOO Green High Voltage Direct Current Link, or SOO …
Life With Renewables
By Jim FritzI was a sophomore in high school for the first Earth Day. We had a whole day devoted to it with speakers, activities, …
Legislature Nixes Solar Tax Credit; Clean Energy Districts of Iowa Calls on Governor to Keep Iowa’s Promise to Waitlisted Solar Owners
The Iowa Legislature failed to extend Iowa’s solar tax credits during the 2021 session. The immediate impact is an expiration of the Iowa credit at …
Watts Cooking?
Martin Donovan, Green Iowa Americorps When you’re cooking up ways to increase the efficiency of your home, upgrading your stove to an induction cooktop could …
Action Alert Update: Iowa’s Solar Tax Credit, Natural Gas Protectionism
Andy Johnson, Executive Director Iowa’s solar tax credit has been critical to the growth of locally-owned solar in Winneshiek County and throughout Iowa. Thanks to …
Howard County Virtual Clean Energy Tour April 1st
Register now for Howard County Energy District’s virtual energy tour, taking place Thursday April 1st(no fooling!), 7:00 to 8:15pm.”Join us to hear four great, local …
WED Wins Midwest Energy Efficiency Award
Winneshiek Energy District and Executive Director Andy Johnson have received the2021 Inspiring Efficiency Leadership Awardfrom the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance! “This is a tremendous honor …
February Newsletter Briefs
Action Alert: Save Iowa’s Solar Tax Credit; then Stop Natural Gas ProtectionismAndy Johnson, Executive Director Iowa’s solar tax credit has been critical to the growth …
January Newsletter Briefs
Iowa Farmer And Banker Agree On Solar Tax Credits; Cedar Rapids Gazette Op-edWritten by Andy Johnson, Executive Director and Larry Grimstad, Board Member What do …
In Defense of Net Metering (Continued!)
Andy Johnson, Executive DirectorIn March, the Iowa Legislature passed SF 583, meant to codify net metering and support customer-owned solar in Iowa for years to …
Webinar: Clean Energy and Conservation
Cody Smith, Policy Associate at the Center for Rural Affairs, works on midwest policies that help amplify the positive effects of clean energy.There are many …
Decorah Franchise Under Duress?
The Decorah City Council is currently being pressured by Alliant into signing a long-term electric franchise contract. The issue at stake is, who will own …
Utility Shutoffs, Public Health, and Energy Burden
Your Energy District has been among many Iowa voices urging a ban on all utility disconnections during the current public health crisis. On March 27th, …
Net Metering is Iowa Law!
Now is a great time to install solar for most farm, home, and business owners in Iowa. After many years of policy battles at the …
What you need to know about solar in 2020
Interested in investing in solar for your home, farm, or business? 2020 is the perfect time to go solar! A combination of low solar costs …
Alliant Rate Case Round-up
The Iowa Utilities Board has issued a final ruling on the recent Alliant Energy electric rate increase. The Energy District joined the City of Decorah, …
Five Feet High and Risin’
How high’s the water, mama? Two feet high and risin’ How high’s the water, papa? She said it’s two feet high and risin’ We can …
Alliant Rate Case Update
Alliant is still pushing a 15% increase. Here are the recent developments. On October 3rd, intervenors including the Office of Consumer Advocate, large business, and …
Tax Credits: Our Take
With the potential phase-out of various tax credits, we’re often asked (or we offer) our perspective. Here it is, in brief. Renewable energy tax credits …
Electric Rates Matter To Every Community
A coalition of entities called the “Decorah Area Group” (including your Energy District) is collaborating to oppose the dramatic increase in electric rates proposed by …
Alliant Rate Increase "¦ and What You Can Do About It
Wait, what did you say, Alliant rates are going up? I thought they just promised us (during the debate around a municipal electric utility) that …
Read: A Geography of Change
A Geography of Change describes the Energy District model and opportunity. Click on the link above to download a pdf copy. NOTE that the format …
State Solar Tax Credit Danger: Apply NOW
If you have installed a solar system recently but not yet sent in your state tax credit application, we suggest you do so immediately. First, …
Energy District Conference Success!
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 …
Recap: Farm Solar Workshop
We had a great turnout at the The 2015 Farm Solar Workshop! With this level of interest we’ll likely be doing it again in the …
Energy District Proposes Shared Solar in Winneshiek County
What’s up with all this talk of “community solar” or a “Winneshiek Shared Solar field”, anyway? We’re glad you asked. As we explain in our …
Take Action: 2015 Iowa Legislation on Renewable Energy
The Iowa legislature is currently debating three pieces of legislation of special interest to renewable energy advocates in Iowa. To take action, call or email …
Public Community Conversations Forums
What are the challenges facing rural communities in Northeast Iowa? How can communities proactively address these challenges to create thriving, resilient communities?These questions and more …
Winneshiek County Leads in Solar!
Winneshiek County topped all other Iowa counties in residential solar installations in 2014, according to figures from the Iowa Department of Revenue. The county is …
Recap: Going Solar Workshop
Did you miss our 2015 Going Solar Workshop at Luther College? Well don’t worry. We’ve got video of the lectures, along with other valuable information …
Join us for the Earth Hour candle-lit vigil
Join us for a candle-lit vigil in support of the planet, at Water Street Park in downtown Decorah, starting at 8:30pm on Saturday, March 28, …
Energizing Agriculture
Winneshiek Energy District has been awarded over $400,000 from the United States Department of Agriculture to develop and implement an agricultural energy efficiency and renewables …
Voter Attitudes Towards Energy Issues in Iowa 2014
The following document presents the results of an August 2014, bipartisan survey of Iowa registered voters on energy issues. The survey was commissioned by the …
How to File a Comment to the Iowa Utilities Board
All public comments sent to the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) regarding distributed generation (DG) must be filed using the IUB Electronic Filing System (EFS)Step 1 …
IUB Still Seeking Comments on Distributed Generation, Net Metering, & Innerconnection
Update:The current round of comments and replies in the Net Metering portion of this docket is closed. We will leave the explanatory section below for …
Decorah Tops the Chart of Energy Star Buildings Per Capita
Decorah is becoming known as a progressive community, and the Winneshiek Energy District is doing its part to promote energy sustainability. Two recent newsworthy announcements …
Oneota Coop Begins Solar Installation
If you see lots of movement on the roof of the Oneota Community Food Co-op in the coming weeks, don’t be surprised.The Co-op is currently …
Andy Johnson Interviewed by Midwest Energy News
Midwest Energy News recently published a Q&A interview with Energy District’s Andy Johnson on the importance of energy planning.Read the full article here.
Energy District Director to Take Sabbatical
I’ll write this in first person because farewells “? even temporary ones “? are personal. Most good and meaningful work is also inseparable from our …
Hidden Solar Panels on Decorah Businesses
If the sun shines on a solar panel but no one’s there to see it, does it make a watt?Ok, so that’s not so much …
Solar PV At Record Low
There has never been a better time for installing a solar photovoltaic array on your house. Prices on solar panels have dropped steeply over the …
Energy District joins RE-AMP
The Energy District recently joined a group 144 other non-profitsandfoundations across eight Midwestern states working on climate change and energypolicy, all with a common goal …
Decorah’s Local Energy Star Buildings Shine Brightly
You’ve probably seen those yellow Energy Star labels on appliances, but did you know that entire buildings can also be awarded an Energy Star designation?Through …
Energy District Over Half Way to $100K Goal, Appeals to Public in Local Fund Drive
Winneshiek Energy District is looking for a few good friends. “Make that a few hundred!” said Board member Jeni Grouws. “We’re super excited about what …
Net-Zero Home Open House and Film Premiere
The Winneshiek Energy District will host an open house of its Net-Zero Home retrofit project, preceded by a short film screening and discussion, on Saturday, …
Decorah Band & Trust Company Begins Use of Solar Panels
From an article on DecorahNews.com.Decorah Bank & Trust Company has just put into operation the largest rooftop solar installation to date in Decorah. The 22 …
Green Business Challenge 2011
The Green Business Challenge: Save Energy and Save Money!The Winneshiek Energy District is encouraging businesses to save energy and save money with the Green Business …
Luther College Board of Regents Sent Zero Carbon Footprint Goal
The Luther College Board of Regents has endorsed a goal of having the college be carbon neutral by the year 2030.Regents have authorized Luther President …
WED and City of Decorah Partner on Energy Assistance for Low-Moderate Income Families
The Energy District has partnered with the City of Decorah to offer energy efficiency assistance to low-moderate income households in Decorah. All qualifying households can …
Businesses Recognized for Achieving Green
“It is really quite impressive! So much work is being done for energy efficiency in Decorah and surrounding areas,” observed visiting energy consultant, Warren Gaskill …
Energy District Awarded 2011 Biz Booster Challenge Grant
The Winneshiek Energy District was one of four businesses to receive funding from the 2011 Winneshiek County Development, Inc. Biz Booster Challenge. Below is an …
A Sustainability Plan for Decorah
A sustainability plan was developed with the City of Decorah during the spring, summer, and fall of 2010, with input from dozens of organizations and …
Home Energy Monitoring with Decorah High School Students
Have you ever wondered how much electricity your microwave used (or computer, or range, or “¦ you get the picture)? Or how much your whole …