Andy Johnson, Director OK we’re past the mid-terms, what is the picture for clean energy policy in Iowa? Not great, frankly, but here are two priorities we can all – whatever your ideology – get to work on, and one long-shot, alley-oop shout-out to Republicans with clean energy leadership inclinations. First priority: Restore full funding to the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). The WAP is a comprehensive home energy improvement
Joel Zook, Energy Planner In the clean energy line-up, Solar is the MVP. We get it. Solar is shiny and new, it slashes your electric bill, you’re creating your very own clean energy – what could be better? But if you dig down to why people install solar there are often two main reasons: it makes sense financially, and it’s going to help reduce their impact. I’m here to introduce
In early November, the City of Guttenberg, the Clayton County Energy District’s (CCED) and local landlord’s Isaac Eulberg and Gary Willman completed their lights and water direct install kick off the project. Consistent with the energy district’s value, “to build community by keeping energy local, clean and fair,” the goal of the project was to lower energy costs for a targeted group of low to moderate income households while helping
Joel Zook, Energy Planner Home and Business owners thinking about upgrading their insulation, heating or cooling systems should act now before rebates lower, or disappear in early 2019. This article outlines the changes that are coming to the energy efficiency programs across Iowa. Iowa’s investor-owned utilities have filed plans for their 2019 energy efficiency programs. The proposed programs completely remove rebates for some measures (building insulation and high-efficiency boilers). Other proposed
Every September the WED office welcomes a new Green Iowa AmeriCorps team. This year four amazing women join the WED office for 11 months of home energy saving, community engagement, and helping northeast Iowans reduce their energy use. We are grateful to have such a positive, hardworking, dedicated members who come from diverse backgrounds. Throughout the year you’ll hear about their experiences here in the monthly newsletter. Read below to
Andy Johnson, Director The recent Global Warming of 1.5°C report, released by the prestigious Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on October 8, was a wake-up call to some. To many others, it was one more installment in 30+ years of science documenting the dangers of human-induced climate change, and the opportunity we still have (maybe) to protect a liveable world for our kids and grandkids. We’ll summarize key take-away’s from
Check out this Winneshiek Energy District feature in the Daily Yonder, an online news site that’s “keeping it rural”: A New Take on Energy Conservation in the Heartland The local, clean energy progress in northeast Iowa wouldn’t’ be possible without the support of our founders and supporters along the way. This is OUR story.
Local organizations partner to host “member plus 1” film screening The Winneshiek Energy District (WED) and the Oneota Film Festival (OFF) will host a screening of the new documentary film Happening: A Clean Energy Revolution, directed by James Redford and featuring Mark Ruffalo, on Friday, November 2 at The Lingonberry, downtown Decorah. The doors will open at 6:30pm. The film will begin at 7:00pm and will be followed by a
October 9, 2018 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Scott Timm Iowa State University Extension and Outreach 515-291-2560 stimm@iastate.edu A workshop on home maintenance and weatherization techniques will be presented in the Upper Explorerland conference room, 325 Washington Street, at 6:30pm, October 18th. This workshop is meant to assist homeowners and renters learn more about building science, how to properly maintain their homes, and teach techniques for sealing up their properties to reduce
For the ninth year in a row, we are hosting a Green Iowa AmeriCorps team that helps us make progress toward our vision of having 100% Local, Renewable, Efficient Energy by 2050 through boots-on-the-ground work. We are excited to welcome a new team of Green Iowa AmeriCorps members. . Katherine, Briana, Maddy, and Gracie will serve from September 16, 2018 to August 16, 2019. They’ll do important work including: Providing home energy