Logo for Winneshiek Energy District featuring a stylized town silhouette, a wind turbine, solar panels, and a radiant yellow sky.

Electric Rates Matter To Every Community

August 6, 2019

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 Energy earlier this year. This article will summarize the …

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Swap Bulbs, Save Money

July 29, 2019

When it comes to energy-efficiency, lighting is low-hanging fruit that offers the biggest payback. That’s why energy districts across northeast Iowa have organized quick-and-easy Bulb Swaps for your to quickly exchange up to four incandescent …

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Logo for Winneshiek Energy District featuring a stylized town silhouette, a wind turbine, solar panels, and a radiant yellow sky.

Localism Versus Wealth Extraction

June 25, 2019

Fighting the Alliant Rate IncreaseAndy Johnson, Director Hundreds of people packed the Hotel Winneshiek opera house on May 2nd to voice their opposition to Alliant’s roughly 25% proposed rate hike. Thousands of comments have been …

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Logo for Winneshiek Energy District featuring a stylized town silhouette, a wind turbine, solar panels, and a radiant yellow sky.

Legislature: Redo The Electric Vehicle Triple-Tax Bill

May 21, 2019

Andy Johnson, DirectorJoel Zook, Energy Planner The Iowa Legislature just passed a bill creating a new triple-tax scenario on electric vehicles (EV) for Iowans, and a bureaucratic nightmare to implement. HF767 fails to address the …

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May Program features Kerri Johannsen, Iowa Environmental Council

May 13, 2019

Kristin Eggen, Communications SpecialistThe Monthly Energy Breakfast series from the Winneshiek Energy District welcomes Kerri Johannsen from the Iowa Environmental Council to Decorah on Tuesday, May 21. Johannsen will join the local energy conversation at …

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Update on Iowa Utility’s Attempt to Kill Net-Metering

April 22, 2019

Joel Zook, Energy PlannerThe Energy District has been closely following any developments out of the state capitol regarding MidAmerican’s attempts to do away with net-metering for solar customers as we know it. The proposed law …

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Register for theCarbon Footprint Workshop

April 22, 2019

Joel Zook, Energy PlannerThe Energy District, in partnership with the Decorah Public Library, is hosting a Carbon Footprint Workshop on April 30th at 6 pm at the Decorah Public Library. We’ll talk about how to …

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Logo for Winneshiek Energy District featuring a stylized town silhouette, a wind turbine, solar panels, and a radiant yellow sky.

Alliant Rate Increase "¦ and What You Can Do About It

April 22, 2019

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 their rates would rise veeeery sloooowly for at least 20 …

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We Need Your Help!

April 22, 2019

For many people in northeast Iowa, April is a time for planting, for budding trees, for shedding the layers of winter. For WED’s Green Iowa AmeriCorps team, April has meant “fundraising”. We desperately need a …

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News from the Winneshiek Solar Fair

April 16, 2019

Briana Burke, Logistics Coordinator, Green Iowa AmeriCorps What can save you money, is good for the environment, creates local jobs, and is the future of energy? Solar panels! While that riddle isn’t too hard to …

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Logo for Winneshiek Energy District featuring a stylized town silhouette, a wind turbine, solar panels, and a radiant yellow sky.

Joel’s Solar Story

February 25, 2019

So. I placed a down payment on solar last month. I’m committing to the largest purchase I’ve ever made (not counting my house). I’ve sat on the fence on this decision for some time because …

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Proposed Bill Will Kill Iowa’s Solar Industry, Trample Iowan’s Energy Freedom

February 22, 2019

Iowa House Republicans have introduced a long-awaited bill to kill net metering as we know it in Iowa. The bill was apparently drafted by MidAmerican Energy and will likely be supported by Alliant Energy, as …

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WANTED: Owner-Occupied Homes for Free Energy Assessments

January 18, 2019

Kristin Eggen, Communications Specialist Partnership is a beautiful thing. The Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund (RHTF) partners with the Winneshiek Energy District to bring qualifying homeowners in Northeast Iowa FREE home energy assessments. Do …

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Energy Efficiency Day on the Hill

January 17, 2019

Andy Johnson, DirectorCalling all clean energy and shop-local advocates: the first every Energy Efficiency day at the state capitol is next Tuesday, January 22. WED is coordinating ride-sharing; email Joel Zookif you’re interested. According to …

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Iowa Clean Energy Policy Update

November 26, 2018

Andy Johnson, Director  OK we’re past the mid-terms, what is the picture for clean energy policy in Iowa? Not great, frankly, but here are two priorities we can all “? whatever your ideology “? get …

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