Members of the “Decorah Area Group,” a group of citizens and experts from our area who submitted testimony against Alliant’s proposed rate increase, are in Des Moines this week to attend rate case hearings. From left: Jim Martin Schramm, Dave Berg, Andy Johnson, and Sheila Tipton. Jim is an Energy District Board member and Director of Luther College Center for Sustainable Communities. Andy is our Executive Director here at the Winneshiek
Andy Johnson, Executive Director A coalition of entities called the “Decorah Area Group” (including your Energy District) is collaborating to oppose the dramatic increase in electric rates proposed by Alliant Energy earlier this year. This article will summarize the extensive set of testimony submitted recently to the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB), provide links for you to dig as deeply as you desire, and explain where the process goes from here.
Early in 2019, Alliant Energy filed a rate request with the Utilities Board to raise base rates 24.45% for residential customers, 18.36% for general service customers, and 25.29% for large general service customers. Winneshiek Energy District (WED) believes the proposed rate increase is unreasonable, unjust, and discriminatory. We are working with local and state partners to ask the Iowa Utilities Board to do everything in their power to reject the
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
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
Kristin Eggen, Communications Specialist The Monthly Energy Breakfast series from the Winneshiek Energy District welcomes Kerri Johannsen from the Iowa Environmental Council to Decorah on Tuesday, May 21. Johannsen will join the local energy conversation at 7:30 AM at T-Bock’s Sports Bar and Grill and share updates from this legislative session regarding clean and local energy. Register at energydistrict.org/breakfast by May 17th. Johannsen will provide a review of activity from
Joel Zook, Energy Planner The Energy District has been closely following any developments out of the state capitol regarding MidAmerican’s attempts to do away with net-metering for solar customers as we know it. The proposed law (HF669) has already passed the Iowa Senate, but it appears to be stalled in the House for lack of support. You can learn more about the bill and its impacts, if passed, on our
Joel Zook, Energy Planner The Energy District, in partnership with the Decorah Public Library, is hosting a Carbon Footprint Workshop on April 30th at 6 pm at the Decorah Public Library. We’ll talk about how to measure your household carbon footprint and discuss ways you can reduce it through energy efficiency and renewable energy investments. We’ll also highlight our local carbon offset program, Oneota Tags, which supports the work of
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
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