Post Author's Photographer By Kristin Eggen December 2, 2025

45 people smiling at the camera at CEDI's retreat
2025 Clean Energy Districts of Iowa Retreat

Did you know that the Winneshiek Energy District is part of a growing movement of 15 energy districts across Iowa and Wisconsin?  On Friday, November 14th the Clean Energy Districts of Iowa welcomed 45 energy districts staff and board members to a day-long reatreat at Indian Creek Nature Center.

The retreat aimed to build relationships across the network and to learn about opportunities to make an impact. Reatreat highlights included an overview of the Clean Energy District (CEDI) movement, state policy overview by Steve Falck, “what’s working?” share-out from districts across the region, and a Keynote from Scott Laesser from Rural Climate Partnership on rural clean energy messaging. The association recognized CEDI network coach Joleen Jansen (Clayton County) for her contributions to the Clean Energy District movement, as she prepares to retire from her position. Joleen played a critical role in growing the energy district movement and supporting newly forming districts. Craig Mosher (Johnson County) was also recognized for his contributions as a founding energy district board member at both Winneshiek and Johnson County Energy Districts.

Winneshiek Energy District executive director Kristin Eggen served on the planning committee alongside 4 other members. “It was great to see folks in person who we’ve only worked with over Zoom” said Eggen. “Nothing beats the type of relationships that come from shared experiences together. It was inspiring to learn from others doing similar work and bring good ideas back to Winneshiek County”

The event was held at Indian Creek Nature Center, a building that is heralded to being “one of the most environmentally sustainable buildings in the country”! In 2019 teh center achieved Living Building Challenge Petal Certification – a rigorous certification that is years beyond LEED in providing a measure of true sustainability.

The Clean Energy Districts of Iowa (CEDI) is nonprofit whose membership consists of county-level clean energy districts. CEDI’s mission is ” To strengthen and spread the clean Energy District model, by providing critical services to member districts, and creating a policy mechanism to authorize and fund clean energy districts at the state and federal levels.” Learn more about CEDI at cleanenergydistricts.org.

 

 

 

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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