In partnership with Winneshiek Energy District members, Kevin and Leslie Sand, our Green Iowa Americorps team created the Tiny Trees Initiative to make Decorah a little greener and help reduce the energy bills of Decorah residents through natural shade. A large shade tree should be planted 20 feet or more from the house to maximize the shade benefit and ensure the safety of your home (source). If you think you
by Paul Cutting, Energy Planner Electric Vehicles (EVs) have improved by leaps and bounds over the past five years. The 2017 Nissan Leaf—then one of only a few EVs on the market—had a range of just 107 miles. Today that same vehicle has a range of 215 miles. In fact, most new entry level EVs, like the Chevy Bolt (259 miles range), the upcoming Chevy Equinox (300 miles), the upcoming
Rural Solar Prosperity Under Attack In Iowa; Farm Solar Ban Proposed Recent years have witnessed a significant rise of anti-solar activism around Iowa (and the Midwest), and the sentiment is spreading to the Legislature. Efforts are afoot that would effectively ban commercial and utility-scale solar throughout the state, and kill a new rural industry, job-creator, and prosperity engine before it even gets off the ground. SSB 1077 would ban solar from
by Amy Bouska, Board Chair, Howard County Energy District As a result of a renewable electricity standard signed into law in 1983 by then-Governor Terry Branstad, wind turbines have been appearing in Iowa farm fields for decades. Opinions about the new “crop” vary widely: Are they a good thing because they help reduce carbon emissions and provide a new export “crop,” or are they a bad thing because they are
Paul Cutting, Energy Planner The first of many new IRA-related tax credits and incentives came into effect January 1, 2023, and include new and updated tax credits for solar, battery storage, heat pumps, electric vehicles and more. We’re also excited about two electrification and efficiency rebate programs, and anticipate they will come into effect sometime late this year or early 2024. Solar, Battery Backup, Wind and Geothermal Tax Credits Following
by Paul Cutting, Energy Planner A few weeks back a Decorah homeowner asked me to help locate air leaks in their flat roofed, mid-century home. We picked a cold day, where the temperature difference between the interior and exterior were great, and used the blower door to suck air out of the house and an infrared camera to find breaks in the building envelope. This particular house was built with
Paul Cutting, Energy Planner Most of us probably understand the general concept and benefits of home electrification. Electrify all aspects of our daily lives–from space heating, water heating, home cooking, to transportation–while at the same time increasing the share of renewables on the power grid. After all, in 2021 about 57% of Iowa’s power mix came from renewables. Grid power aside, electrification presents many challenges and expenses beyond just the
By Paul Cutting, Energy Planner Ductless heat pumps are exciting for their potential to serve as low-cost, straightforward and simple solutions to home heating electrification. As the name implies, ductless heat pumps use interior units that have incorporated evaporator coils and blowers to deliver heating and cooling to interior spaces. You’ve likely seen interior mini split style wall units that hang close to a ceiling. Along with wall units, there
By Andy Johnson and Warren McKenna Click here to read the pdf version with footnoted sources Here we go again. Grid operators and utilities are issuing dire warnings about looming blackouts this winter, and often linking the threat to the closure of coal plants. The narrative serves utilities like MidAmerican Energy well, whose parent company Berkshire Hathaway Energy is one of the dirtiest utilities in the nation. MidAmerican would love