Paul Cutting, Energy Planner If you’ve been following the national news about electric vehicles (EVs) lately, you might think things are quite dire. There’s concern of the Trump administration’s attempts to eliminate funding for the buildout of a national charging network, fear that tax credits will be eliminated, slowing sales amongst certain manufacturers, and eye-popping used vehicle depreciation. But the reality is far less bleak, if not outright positive. The
Hello! My name is Emilee Burcham and I am a junior at Luther College. I am an environmental studies major with a minor in social welfare. I am involved in Student Senate, Norse Against Sexual Assault, the Center for Sustainable Communities, and I work at the Oneota Co-Op. I am so excited to be the energy burden intern for this spring. I am passionate about equity and green energy and I
In the weeks to come WED will engage in a strategic planning process. Help us plan for the next several years of clean energy progress in Winneshiek County with this 6 minute survey. Your input will help us be as effective as possible in reaching WED’s mission to lead, implement and accelerate the locally-owned clean energy transition. No matter if you’re a long time follower, or new to our mission, your feedback
Today Decorah residents can vote to “Establish a municipal electric utility (MEU).” Doing so would allow the city of Decorah to take next steps in determining the feasibility of a Decorah MEU to provide improved rates and reliability. Since 2017 Winneshiek Energy District has championed this grassroots effort to explore local ownership because we believe that locally-owned power will bring increased prosperity to our region, provide rate relief to all energy users, and pave
Paul Cutting, Energy Planner Lansing, Iowa Lansing, Iowa, located along a beautiful stretch of the Mississippi River in Northeast Iowa, is the quintessential Mississippi River town. Sporting a largely intact core of mid 19th century brick and limestone buildings, it has the feel of a different era. Until 2022, Lansing was home to the Lansing Generating Station, a 338 megawatt coal-fired power plant built in 1948 by Interstate Power Company.
On March 4 Decorah residents will once again have the opportunity to decide their energy future during a city-wide election to “Establish a Municipal Electric Utility.” By voting “Yes!” citizens of Decorah take the first step in exploring the opportunity of a municipally owned electric utility (MEU). It’s a historic opportunity to prioritize local issues and make choices that are in the best interest of Decorah and it’s citizens, and the broader
Many people wonder “Would an EV fit my lifestyle”? You know what they say: “There’s only one way to find out!” WED caught up with Mo Valko of Decorah to hear about her recent experience renting an EV for an east coast adventure. What was the make and model of your EV rental? MV: Chevy Bolt EV, year 2023 What inspired you to rent an EV instead of a gas
During the month of January Winneshiek Energy District Energy Planner Paul Cutting assisted environmental studies professor Laura Peterson in her J-term course Bringing Sustainable Energy Home. Luther’s January term, or J-Term as it’s commonly known, provides students the chance to spend the month learning about a topic in-depth. Made possible for the past two years by a generous donation from Luther alumni Linda and Leon Gregg, 16 students learned the
It’s during the darkest days of the year I find myself most grateful for modern energy systems. Can you relate? When temperatures plummet and daylight is scarce That’s when the brilliance of electricity or warmth of a functioning furnace is a Big Deal. On a frigid night, it can almost feel magical. But it’s not magical. A lot goes on behind the scenes in the mostly-invisible world of energy. We
Hometown Taxi, a small community-minded taxi company based in Decorah, recently added its first electric vehicle to its fleet. Known for providing rides in and around Decorah and regional trips to places like Iowa City, Rochester, Des Moines and Madison, the company has long relied on its fleet of five Toyota Priuses and a hybrid Toyota Sienna to meet the needs of its customers. After years of considering a move