Winneshiek County Courthouse

Data Center Moratorium is a WIN for Clean Energy in Winneshiek County

October 6, 2026

On Monday, September 28, Winneshiek County passed a year-long data center moratorium. The decision came at the recommendation of Winneshiek County Planning and Zoning Commission and was passed unanimously by the county Board of Supervisors. …

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Decorah Community School District Energy Policy: A good news story

October 2, 2026

Local Partnerships & Expertise Support District Savings & Energy Stewardship A rural Iowa school district might seem to be an unlikely location for interesting work on energy conservation and clean energy production. Yet, I’m going …

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Iowa Scientists Agree: Choose renewable energy

September 16, 2026

Over 200 scientists from across the state (including three from Winneshiek county!) agree that prioritizing renewable electricity generation is good for Iowan’s health, climate, and economy in the face of skyrocketing electricity demand from data …

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Your Fall Home Energy Checklist

September 10, 2026

As autumn brings crisp air and cooler evenings, now is an ideal time to prep your home for the upcoming heating season. A few simple steps taken early in the season can improve comfort, reduce …

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A Fresher Approach to Drying Clothes

August 18, 2026

When we talk about residential energy efficiency, heating, cooling and insulation usually come to mind. Yet sitting in every home’s utility room is one of the single most power hungry appliances in your house- the …

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How to Request Use of the Mobile Solar Generator

August 13, 2026

Winneshiek County Emergency Management welcomes community organizations and municipalities to request use of the county’s newest asset for temporary use at special events. The Sun Titan L60 mobile solar generator is powered by 8 solar …

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WED Speaks in Support of Energy Committee, Solar at School Board meeting

August 5, 2026

At the June 13, 2026 Decorah Community School District school board meeting Executive Director Kristin Eggen shares support for creating an ad hoc energy policy committee to support district progress toward greater energy efficiency, and …

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Side by side thermostats, one with Fan on, one with Fan Auto

On versus Auto: The Thermostat Setting that Changes Summer Comfort

July 13, 2026

Take a look at your AC thermostat and you’ll notice a toggle switch labeled “Fan” with two choices: On or Auto. Which do you choose to keep cool? It’s a commonly debated setting with potentially …

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New! Resilient Resources Booklet

July 8, 2026

The Winneshiek Energy District worked and Winneshiek County Emergency Management are proud to share a handy “Resilient Resources” reference booklet with the public. This booklet contains local resources for greater community resilience & disaster preparedness including… …

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Commercial AuditPlus+ Program Expands to Serve Five-Counties

July 6, 2026

The Winneshiek Energy District is proud to announce that the Commercial AuditPlus+ program is now available to commercial utility customers in two additional counties – Clayton and Fayette – serving the five county region. Commercial AuditPlus+ …

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Portable Solar Generator for Emergency Deployment and Community Education

July 1, 2026

Project Overview The project “Portable Solar Generator for Emergency Deployment and Community Education” was a collaborative project between the Winneshiek Energy District (WED) partnered with Winneshiek County Emergency Management that was made possible with support …

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Utility Bill Explainer: Alliant Energy

June 19, 2026

Each month you receive a bill from your local utility for the electricity you use. Most of the time, you skip the details and focus only on the total amount due. But by focusing on …

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What we learned: 30 Energy Audits in Decorah

June 1, 2026

Winneshiek Energy District’s recently completed City of Decorah Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program successfully provided home energy assessments to thirty middle and lower income households across Decorah. The program focused on identifying practical …

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Winn Board of Supervisors approves M2 Zoning for Data Centers

June 1, 2026

The rapid expansion of data centers expansion is impacting rural communities faster than many localities can regulate them. As data center development expands across Iowa, WED is tracking the industry’s impact on Winneshiek County & …

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Green Meets Green: Three transportation scenarios

June 1, 2026

Environmentally friendly options that save households money are a win-win! Intern Jacob Bruns calculates the economic and environmental impact of several transportation scenarios for Decorah residents. Whether you’re trying to find wiggle room in your budget, …

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