Over 60 individuals from over two dozen organizations and four states gathered at the Hotel Winneshiek in early December for the (first annual?) Iowa-Midwest Energy District Conference. The goal was to share experience with locally-owned clean energy and to strategize about how to grow the Energy District movement.
Published in Oneota Co-op’s The SCOOP, Winter 2016 Edition, December 1, 2016. On my fridge there’s a magnet that says “Yay! Local!” Maybe you have seen such magnets, marked by enthusiastic sentiments such as “Yay! Cats!” “Yay! Gnomes!” “Yay! Bacon!” We are in an enthusiasm epidemic. Compared to cats, gnomes, or bacon, the noun “Local” may come off as being oddly abstract or lacking trendy cuteness, yet we show up
The Winneshiek Energy District’s December Energy Breakfast features Sam Pollan, recent research delegate to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Marrakech, Morocco. Pollan spoke about his experience as a delegate at this year’s conference, provided an overview of international climate negotiations and explored what they mean for Decorah. The event was held at 7:30 AM in the lower level of T-Bocks on Tuesday, December 20th.
To All Iowa Clean Energy and Climate Stewardship Champions: don’t get discouraged, roll up your sleeves and get to work! That is the message from Winneshiek Energy District, which hostedthe first Iowa-Midwest Energy District Conference* in Decorah, on December 8-9. Great things are happening in clean energy at the local level around Iowa. Imagine if we could universalize those efforts, and create a “universal local” infrastructure for local leadership in clean
Free home energy efficiency audits and simple improvements are now available to single family low to moderate income homeowners in Howard, Winneshiek, Allamakee, and Clayton counties thanks to a partnership between Green Iowa Americorps/Winneshiek Energy District and the Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund.
We had a great turnout at the The 2015 Farm Solar Workshop! With this level of interest we’ll likely be doing it again in the near future! (We even got great press — check out the articles from both the Cedar Rapids Gazette and Agrinews.) We covered installation options, tax incentives, payback times, and why efficiency should be part of a renewable installation. A group of experts including tax professionals, solar installers,
What’s up with all this talk of “community solar” or a “Winneshiek Shared Solar field”, anyway? We’re glad you asked.
The Iowa legislature is currently debating three pieces of legislation of special interest to renewable energy advocates in Iowa. To take action, call or email your Iowa Representative or Senator, with contact information found here. Some information here is take from the Iowa Environmental Council’s weekly legislative updates, which can be received by signing up at their site. “NO” on SF406/HF548 SF406/HF548 imposes additional requirements for interconnection customers connecting renewable energy
What are the challenges facing rural communities in Northeast Iowa? How can communities proactively address these challenges to create thriving, resilient communities? These questions and more will shape a community forum and conversation featuring work in Northeast Iowa as well as conversation about the future of rural communities. The goals of these forums are to share the results of work in the region, engage community leaders and stakeholders in a
Winneshiek County topped all other Iowa counties in residential solar installations in 2014, according to figures from the Iowa Department of Revenue. The county is likely in the top five for commercial installations (click on the image for a pdf showing both maps). “It’s absolutely amazing, that Winneshiek County comes out ahead of even the metropolitan counties with populations so much larger,” said Kyra Bellrichard, with Business and Community Solutions