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 and reap the prosperity benefits from the clean energy future – our community, or Alliant shareholders? The Council has passed – and Alliant has rejected – a draft franchise contract that would meet all of Alliant’s terms except for the binding contract length. Council wants
Author Archives: Andy
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 combined with federal and state tax credits (which are decreasing each year) and rising electricity rates makes now a great time to install solar. Our very own Joel Zook, energy planner at Winneshiek Energy District, holistically details the need-to-know concepts for anyone considering the benefits
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, talk to your installer to check whether they submitted it for you. If they did not, visit this Iowa Department of Revenue page to learn more. If your system became operational in 2016, you must apply for the tax credit by May 1. There are
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.
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 near future! (We even got great press — check out the articles from both the Cedar Rapids Gazette and Agrinews.) We covered installation options, tax incentives, payback times, and why efficiency should be part of a renewable installation. A group of experts including tax professionals, solar installers,
What’s up with all this talk of “community solar” or a “Winneshiek Shared Solar field”, anyway? We’re glad you asked.
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 your Iowa Representative or Senator, with contact information found here. Some information here is take from the Iowa Environmental Council’s weekly legislative updates, which can be received by signing up at their site. “NO” on SF406/HF548 SF406/HF548 imposes additional requirements for interconnection customers connecting renewable energy
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 will shape a community forum and conversation featuring work in Northeast Iowa as well as conversation about the future of rural communities. The goals of these forums are to share the results of work in the region, engage community leaders and stakeholders in a
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 likely in the top five for commercial installations (click on the image for a pdf showing both maps). “It’s absolutely amazing, that Winneshiek County comes out ahead of even the metropolitan counties with populations so much larger,” said Kyra Bellrichard, with Business and Community Solutions
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 from the event. View a PowerPoint presentation document on Iowa Solar Incentives. Additional Solar Resources We’ve got lots of great resources about how to go solar in our resources View our Solar Installer Resource page. View our Solar Incentives Resource page. Learn about Decorah Bank