Post Author's Photographer By Kristin Eggen 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 from the Economic Development Authority. Emergency management purchased the SunTitan mobile solar generator and the Winneshiek Energy District created training materials, organized and performed training for county employees, raised awareness of the asset in the community through public events, and created a community shared use application and agreement. This project uses shared use of county assets with community groups to build community awareness of emergency management while providing a low-risk use scenario for training staff so that they can use the asset to its fullest potential when a real disaster strikes. 

Through the Winneshiek Energy District’s expertise in energy education and community outreach, WED was able to successfully create engaging events and outreach materials that met the project’s goals under budget. As a result, Winneshiek county and greater northeast Iowa will benefit from mobile, renewable electrical power generation and storage during emergencies, unexpected events (hyperlocal power outages) and planned community festivities. The project demonstrates practical applications of solar and battery technology for rural northeast Iowa communities.

Community Benefits

There are several benefits of having a mobile solar trailer that is accessible to the broader community:

  • The custom branding installed on the trailer helps staff and the public identify the trailer as a county asset.
  • Three training sessions increased competency of asset use and deepened their understanding of technical aspects of the trailer.
  • The local leader training increased general awareness of the trailer with the local decision makers, and introduced them to beneficial use scenarios of solar and battery storage.
  • The trailer is a public example of how solar and batteries work together to provide a renewable, mobile power source. By having this asset in northeast Iowa we are increasing awareness of renewable energy and testing new use scenarios for solar power in emergency response scenarios. 
  • Opening up this trailer to community use through an online request form is a benefit both to emergency management employees and community groups. The county benefits by having low-risk scenarios to gain familiarity and skill with the asset outside of emergency situations. The public benefits by having a mobile, rechargeable power source that they would not otherwise have access to for outdoor events.
  • The engineer of the trailer recommends use of the lithium ion batteries every 2-4 months. By making the asset available to community groups, the asset will be used more often, which benefits the mechanics of the trailer and keeps it in good working condition.
  • The two educational sandwich boards accompany the trailer to community events, benefiting the public by addressing frequently asked questions such as “how much can the trailer power?” and “how do I request the trailer?” . This increases community awareness of resilient power systems and provides information on how they can request use of it. 
  • The Resilient Resources booklet pairs educational articles about the solar trailer with local emergency contact information and emergency protocol (i.e. fire department phone numbers, how to report storm damage, how to create an emergency kit, etc.). Community members have easy access to this critical safety information.

Future Plans for the Equipment

The solar powered portable generator will continue to be used for emergency response, training exercises and be made available for public use through an official request form submission process. It is a county asset and will continue to be used in Winneshiek County and shared with neighboring counties during disasters. 

For example, the trailer was deployed to Allamakee county during the July 28 AgriStar fire in Postville, Iowa. The batteries powered a flood light as firefighters worked through the night to contain the blaze.  The asset is already bringing significant value to the region.

The online community use request form will continue to be hosted 24/7 on Emergency management’s website. The link is also available on the Winneshiek Energy District’s site.

The Decorah Street Department and Winneshiek Energy District house educational signage until use is requested. 

The Winneshiek Energy District and Winneshiek County Emergency Management distribute the “Resilient Resources” booklet at public events and in the waiting rooms of local insurance agencies.

Person with short hair and glasses smiles in front of a sign that reads “INNESHEK ENERGY PROJECT” with a building silhouette and sunburst in the background.

Kristin Eggen

Kristin Eggen first came to the Winneshiek Energy District as a Green Iowa AmeriCorps member in 2015. Eight years later, she is thrilled to lead the grassroots clean energy movement in Winneshiek County. Kristin deeply appreciates rural communities, Northeast Iowa, community sustainability, and nonprofit management. She uses The Art of Hosting Conversations that Matter methodology and graphic recording services to drive strategic conversations around community sustainability, justice, fundraising, and nonprofit health.

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