Recap: Farm Solar Workshop

Recap: Farm Solar Workshop

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,

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Take Action: 2015 Iowa Legislation on Renewable Energy

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

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Public Community Conversations Forums

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

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Winneshiek County Leads in Solar!

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

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Recap: Going Solar Workshop

Did you miss our 2015 Going Solar Workshop at Luther College? Well don’t worry. We’ve got video of the lectures, along with other valuable information from the event. View a PowerPoint presentation document on Iowa Solar Incentives. Additional Solar Resources We’ve got lots of great resources about how to go solar in our resources View our Solar Installer Resource page. View our Solar Incentives Resource page. Learn about Decorah Bank

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Join us for the Earth Hour candle-lit vigil

Join us for a candle-lit vigil in support of the planet, at Water Street Park in downtown Decorah, starting at 8:30pm on Saturday, March 28, 2015. Bring a candle, bring a guitar, bring your voice, and bring your desire to change climate change. After some time at the vigil, step across the street to Java John’s Coffeehouse for a candle-lit coffee, wine, and beer experience. If your business would like to

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Energizing Agriculture

Winneshiek Energy District has been awarded over $400,000 from the United States Department of Agriculture to develop and implement an agricultural energy efficiency and renewables initiative over three years. The initiative will include the six Northeast Iowa counties of Winneshiek, Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard, and Chickasaw. “Farmers aren’t too different from the rest of us” says District Director Andy Johnson, “they lead busy lives and energy isn’t always top of

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Voter Attitudes Towards Energy Issues in Iowa 2014

The following document presents the results of an August 2014, bipartisan survey of Iowa registered voters on energy issues. The survey was commissioned by the REAMP network, a consortium of energy and climate organizations in 8 Midwestern states, of which Winneshiek Energy District is a member. 2014 Midwestern Energy Issues Survey Iowa Release