Swap Bulbs, Save Money

Swap Bulbs, Save Money

Kristin Eggen, Communications and Outreach 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 lightbulbs for high-efficiency LED bulbs. Winneshiek County July 31 and August 7  Winneshiek Farmers Market – 3 pm to 6 pm August 14 Decorah Community Food Pantry – 1:30 pm to

Read More

“You Found What??” Stories from a year of energy savings

Kristin Eggen, Communications Specialist From disconnected ducts to alien cats, attend this month’s energy breakfast to hear stories from a year in the “boots” of northeast Iowa’s energy-saving superstars: The Green Iowa AmeriCorps team. The 2018-19 team has made an impressive impact in our community through home energy assessments, environmental education, and outreach:  11 months, 4 full-time members, two summer members, 120 homes, and over 112 tons of carbon saved. The

Read More

Localism Versus Wealth Extraction

Fighting the Alliant Rate Increase Andy 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 submitted to the Iowa Utilities Board demonstrating that Iowans are united against the uncontrolled, rapid, repeated rise in rates. Widespread shock and anger have focused on Alliant’s blatantly false claims during the 2018 municipalization

Read More

In Review: The 2nd Annual Electric Vehicle Fest

Briana Burke, Green Iowa AmeriCorps Logistics Coordinator Earlier this June, the Winneshiek Energy District and 150 community members gathered at the Winneshiek County fairgrounds for the 2nd annual Electric Vehicle Fest(EV)val. With the sun shining, and a nice breeze, it was a perfect early summer day to peruse the fairgrounds while learning about electric vehicles(EV). Local EV drivers brought their rides including Teslas, Nissan Leafs, Chevy Volts, and more, to

Read More

Welcome Summer Squad!

Welcome Summer Squad!

Today we welcome Ally Peters and Luke Forsberg as Green Iowa AmeriCorps summer members. Luke and Ally will serve 300 hours this summer helping to scale up our summer programs and make northeast Iowa a more sustainable place to live through environmental education projects, home energy assessments, and community service projects. Both have studied political science and environmental science at Luther College. This summer’s projects will include work with the Decorah butterfly garden,

Read More

GIA Recieves Tool Donation from Allamkee Clayton REC

GIA Recieves Tool Donation from Allamkee Clayton REC

This is John Molumby, from the Allamakee Clayton Electric Cooperative, with Bri Burke and Gracie Engle of the Green Iowa AmeriCorps team. The GIA team recently took a field trip to the ACEC headquarters so we could pick up a blower door fan, frame, and other equipment John was donating to the Winneshiek Energy District. We’ve been working with John for a while. He’s referred ACEC clients with high utility

Read More

Attend the Second Annual Electric Vehicle Fest(EV)al

Attend the Second Annual Electric Vehicle Fest(EV)al

Kristin Eggen, Communications & Outreach Coordinator The Winneshiek Energy District and local partners announce the second annual Electric Vehicle Fest(EV)al will be back at the Winneshiek County Fairgrounds’ Danan Lansing Building on Saturday, June 8th from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. This free event will feature an electric vehicle with various plug-in models from area dealerships, a community electric vehicle car show (sign up to participate), workshops, a history of

Read More

Eat Pizza For Your Energy District

Eat Pizza For Your Energy District

Kristin Eggen, Communications Specialist The Winneshiek Energy District is partnering with Luna Valley Farm on Friday, May 17th from 4-8pm for a clean energy fundraising night. A percentage of the evening’s sales will support local, clean energy programming in Winneshiek County. The Winneshiek Energy District is a local non-profit with a mission to lead, implement, and accelerate the locally-owned, inclusive, clean energy transition in Winneshiek County. Recent projects have included

Read More

Alliant Rate Increase … and What You Can Do About It

Andy Johnson, Director 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 years? We’ve heard many variants of this reaction in recent weeks, some with much more colorful language. If it weren’t so serious, we would be tempted to think the company had a

Read More

We Need Your Help!

We Need Your Help!

Kristin Eggen, Communications 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 safe, reliable vehicle to continue helping others in Northeast Iowa.  Will you read our story and make a contribution to help us reach our goal? Our Wheels, Our Work The team’s van is an

Read More