Award will Improve Efficiency in two Decorah Apartment Buildings

May 18, 2020

DECORAH – With help from the Winneshiek Energy District and Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission, the City of Decorah applied for $233,638 from the Iowa Development Authority’s Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program. The …


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It’s Still a Good Time to Go Solar

May 8, 2020

By Joel Zook, Energy Planner These truly are unprecedented times. With the partial shutdown of our economy that is now slowly crawling back, it’s hard to know what the “new normal” will look like. We …


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Decorah Franchise Under Duress?

April 27, 2020

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 …


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Green Iowa Team helps with Food Distribution, Pilots No-contact Lighting Program

April 27, 2020

Bri Burke, Green Iowa MemberIn the midst of this pandemic and all of the changes it has brought, one thing is still the same; the Green Iowa Americorps team is hard at work serving our …


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New Program for Farms and Small Businesses

March 27, 2020

Joel Zook, Energy Planner New Funding Available for Farms and Small Businesses Luther College’s Center for Sustainable Communities has received USDA funding to provide energy audits through the Winneshiek Energy District (WED) to small businesses …


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Utility Shutoffs, Public Health, and Energy Burden

March 27, 2020

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, the Iowa Utilities Board ordered: All electric and natural gas …


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GreenIowa Service Continues

March 26, 2020

Bri Burke, GreenIowa Americorps Member COVID-19 has brought our regular home energy assessment work to a temporary halt. In response, we have been hard at work brainstorming new ways to continue serving the community while …


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Net Metering is Iowa Law!

March 26, 2020

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 Utilities Board and Legislature, Iowa’s solar advocacy community “? including …


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What you need to know about solar in 2020

February 24, 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 combined with federal and state tax credits (which are decreasing …


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2020: Shining Bright

February 18, 2020

Joel Zook, Energy Planner, Winneshiek Energy DistrictLast year, I finally put solar on my roof. 2019 was the year many people, including myself, took advantage of state and federal tax credits before they phase out …


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Net Metering Update

January 29, 2020

Iowa electric customers and communities pursuing locally-owned solar energy could be big winners this legislative session, if a tentative deal between solar advocates and MidAmerican Energy is implemented as intended.The deal would codify two versions …


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Alliant Rate Case Round-up

January 29, 2020

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, Luther College, Winneshiek Medical Center, and Aase Haugen Senior Services …


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Five Feet High and Risin’

January 28, 2020

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 make it to the road in a homemade boat That’s …


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Iowa Utility Board rules on Alliant rate case

December 31, 2019

The Utilities Board issued its Final Decision and Order and News Release late last week. Below is the initial statement from the Decorah Area Group, of which WED was a key organizer and partner. We …


In a sea of technical innovation, WED brings cultural innovation to VERGE19

December 30, 2019

Kristin Eggen, Communications Specialist, Winneshiek Energy DistrictDecember 31, 2019 Shippable Solar kits for faraway lands? Snacks from the byproduct of beer-making? Carbon accounting apps? Yes, these all exist and were showcased at the GreenBIZ VERGE19 …