Maddi MacDonald, Green Iowa Americorps Logistics Coordinator On January 18th, 2022, Steve Falck from Environmental Law and Policy Center joined Clean Energy District of Iowa’s Executive Director, Andy Johnson to discuss this year’s state and federal policy priorities. Bills proposed last year are still working their way through the legislatures. Current Energy Policy in Iowa: Residential Solar Tax Credit Many Iowan’s are still advocating for funding the tax credit waiting
Andy Johnson, Executive Director The City of Decorah’s Municipal Electric Utility Task Force (TF) is charged with a community engagement and learning process, and commissioning a new or updated feasibility study. In order to avoid the divisiveness of competing studies, the TF requested a comprehensive data set from Alliant twice during 2021, and was twice denied. The City then submitted a “Customer Transparency Request” to the Iowa Utilities Board through
Jim Martin-Schramm, Clean Energy Districts of Iowa The Clean Energy Districts of Iowa (CEDI) has agreed to join a settlement agreement regarding a proposal by Black Hills Energy (BHE) to increase natural gas base rates. The agreement achieves the majority of objectives CEDI pursued in its testimony. “We’re pleased with the settlement agreement” stated Jim Martin-Schramm, who developed the testimony for CEDI. “Some level of increase was inevitable, and any
Max Walker, Green Iowa Americorps For the November installment of our Energy Lunch, the Winneshiek Energy District hosted MJ Smith, who presented on the mission of the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque to strengthen small Iowa communities, particularly for their next generation. MJ is the senior affiliate advisor of this foundation, and has done this work for 15 years. The mission for the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque (CFGD) was
This story ran in the October 20, 2021 edition of the Iowa Farm Bureau Spokesman, and is reprinted with permission. With heating bills expected to rise this winter, there are a number of ways that farmers and rural residents can save on energy costs during the winter. Joel Zook, a certified energy manager and a National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) technical service provider, says a good place to start is
Andy Johnson, Executive Director For years, Iowa homeowners have been told the state’s solar tax credit is available for solar systems installed through 2021. Now it appears the State of Iowa is about to break that promise. Iowa’s budget is strong and the solution is straightforward – if the Republican-controlled Legislature acts. First we’ll explain the problem, then return to the solution (hint: your state legislators need to hear from
by Joel Zook, Energy Planner WED Energy Planner Joel Zook recently participated in Here Comes the Sun: Solar Friendly Ordinances for communities, a webinar to help communities think through how to best zone for solar. As more and more Iowans are adding solar to their homes and businesses, communities are wrestling with how to create zoning codes that allow for solar installations while maintaining the character of their communities. From
WED Energy Planner Joel Zook has been working with the City of West Union for the past 18 months, helping to increase participation in their city-owned district geothermal system. The projects is wrapping up and the project team made a final presentation to the West Union City Council last month. This following article originally ran in the Union Echo Leader and was written by Jack Swanson, Fayette County Newspapers (fayettecountynewspapers.com)
Heidi Eger, Communications On August 28th, we wrapped up our 7 week Electric Vehicle showcase at the Decorah Farmers Market. Over the course of 2 months, we talked to hundreds of market goers about fully Electric Vehicles and Plug-in Electric Hybrids. Each week, we hosted a different car shown off by it’s driver. People want to hear how these cars handle in the snow, what a commute is like, how
Andy Johnson, Executive Director So reads the first Headline Statement from the most recent, definitive, and ominous IPCC report, Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. More: “Human-induced climate change is already affecting many weather and climate extremes in every region across the globe.” These include “heatwaves, heavy precipitation, droughts, and tropical cyclones”, the changes are accelerating, and “many changes due to past and future greenhouse gas emissions are irreversible for