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2023 Winneshiek Energy District Home Tour, June 10th

April 28, 2023

Tour area homes and learn about solar installations, heat pumps, energy efficiency, and sustainable building practices! Winneshiek Energy District is excited to partner with six Decorah area homeowners for self-guided tours, Saturday, June 10th from …


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Successful Electrify! Fair Answers Questions about Everything Electric

April 27, 2023

Heidi Eger, Communications Last Saturday, we had a wonderful time hosting the Electrify! Fair in the big community building a the Winneshiek County Fairgrounds. We split the building with Winneshiek County Conservation who hosted a …


WED Plants Shade Trees

March 29, 2023

Luke Frederick, GIA Audit Coordinator On April 15, the Winneshiek Energy District was joined by a collection of eager volunteers to plant tree saplings. Every year, the Winneshiek Energy District, in collaboration with Kevin and …


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WED Wins Grant, Brings New EV Charging to County

March 29, 2023

by Paul Cutting, Energy PlannerWinneshiek Energy District is excited to partner with six Winneshiek County organizations and the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa to bring public-facing electric vehicle charging to downtown Calmar, Northeast Iowa Community …


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IPCC Releases Major Climate Change Report

March 23, 2023

by Andy Johnson, Executive DirectorThe Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently released itsAR6 Synthesis Report: Climate Change 2023. It is represents the best science in the world, and it is sobering. Good coverage including enlightening …


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More from the Session: Solar Siting and Energy Codes

March 16, 2023

Andy Johnson, Clean Energy Districts of IowaIn addition to the solar tax credit waitlist funding, the defeat of restrictive utility scale solar energy siting and changes to building energy codes were both positive outcomes from …


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Energy Lunch Recap: Nonprofits and the IRA

March 3, 2023

by Paul Cutting, Energy PlannerOn March 21st, WED hosted an Energy Lunch to discuss how the new direct pay option allows non taxable entities to take advantage of the 30% federal renewable energy refundable tax …


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Everything EV-Related You Hadn’t Already Thought Of

February 2, 2023

by Paul Cutting, Energy PlannerElectric Vehicles (EVs) have improved by leaps and bounds over the past five years. The 2017 Nissan Leaf”?then one of only a few EVs on the market”?had a range of just …


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Solar Farming Bans Proposed, Solar Prosperity At Risk Throughout Rural Iowa

January 30, 2023

Rural Solar Prosperity Under Attack In Iowa; Farm Solar Ban ProposedRecent years have witnessed a significant rise of anti-solar activism around Iowa (and the Midwest), and the sentiment is spreading to the Legislature. Efforts are …


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Wind Power in Howard County brings Road Improvements

January 29, 2023

by Amy Bouska, Board Chair, Howard County Energy District As a result of a renewable electricity standard signed into law in 1983 by then-Governor Terry Branstad, wind turbines have been appearing in Iowa farm fields …


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The IRA: A New Year, New Incentives (Including IRA Program Fact Sheets)

January 2, 2023

Paul Cutting, Energy PlannerThe first of many new IRA-related tax credits and incentives came into effect January 1, 2023, and include new and updated tax credits for solar, battery storage, heat pumps, electric vehicles and …


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Using the Blower Door and Thermal Imaging Camera to Locate Air Leaks

December 21, 2022

by Paul Cutting, Energy PlannerA few weeks back a Decorah homeowner asked me to help locate air leaks in their flat roofed, mid-century home. We picked a cold day, where the temperature difference between the …


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Electrification at 120 Volts

December 21, 2022

Paul Cutting, Energy PlannerMost of us probably understand the general concept and benefits of home electrification. Electrify all aspects of our daily lives”?from space heating, water heating, home cooking, to transportation”?while at the same time …


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Ductless Heat Pumps

December 21, 2022

Ductless heat pumps are exciting for their potential to serve as low-cost, straightforward and simple solutions to home heating electrification. As the name implies, ductless heat pumps use interior units that have incorporated evaporator coils …


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A Cleaner Grid Is More Reliable: Winter Version

November 3, 2022

By Andy Johnson and Warren McKenna Click here to read the pdf version with footnoted sources Here we go again. Grid operators and utilities are issuing dire warnings about looming blackouts this winter, and often …