Energy builds in Clayton County

By Molly Moser

A free solar energy workshop hosted by the newly formed Clayton County Energy District was held Thursday, Feb. 25, at Keystone AEA in Elkader. Nearly 100 interested people signed up in advance to learn the very latest technical and financial facts about the costs and benefits of solar energy. 

“Take one minute to think about the promise of monthly savings on utility costs and how that might translate into more dollars for local marketing, building improvements, or take home pay,” advised M.J. Smith of the Clayton County Foundation for the Future, who serves as an advisor to the newly formed Energy District. “The Community Foundation has been a partner in this educational and advocacy effort as we see solar investments and resulting monthly savings on utility bills as another solid wealth retention strategy for our businesses, farmers, families and communities.” 

The Clayton County Energy District started discussions in October 2015 as a result of encouragement from the Northeast Iowa Funders Network (NEIFN), a nonprofit group consisting of representatives from county foundations in Allamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Howard, and Winneshiek counties. The county foundations, all affiliated with the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, partner to promote energy efficiency and green energy in the six-county area.

  Harry Blobaum, who lives near Strawberry Point, was delegated to call together green energy advocates to discuss solar energy in northeast Iowa. “What are the costs? What tax credits and rebates are available? How do the power companies cooperate or resist this movement? Who are the solar installations? What other ways are there to cut energy costs?” asked Blobaum of the group.

“At our first meeting in Elkader we had 10 interested persons attend. Our guest at this meeting was Andy Johnson, who has been instrumental in forming the Winneshiek Energy District in our neighboring county. One of their long-term goals is to form a network of NE Iowa Energy Districts including one in each of the six counties in this corner of the state,” said Blobaum. “This would provide not only information and encouragement for persons in these six counties, but might provide leadership at the state level in promoting green energy and energy conservation. It also may be the beginning of a state-wide network of energy districts.”

The Clayton County Energy District gathered in December and January, and their group grew to more than 25 people. “The momentum continued and by the end of that meeting we had nine persons who had volunteered to form a board of directors to provide leadership for accomplishing some goals we had discussed, again led by the example of Andy Johnson and the Winneshiek Energy District (WED) and their board of directors. Board members, including two high school students, are Kristi Eberhardt, Elkader; Elaine Funke, Edgewood; Joleen Jansen, Elkader; Ron Kaiser, Elkader; Jim Osterhaus, Guttenberg; Roger Thomas, Elkader; Mackenzie Vlazny, Elkader; and Ken Zichal, Elkader. Three advisors to the group are Johnson, Smith and Darla Kelchen of the Clayton County Development Group. “The energy workshop in February is a direct result of hard work and commitment of all these people,” said Blobaum.

The new group intends to become a 501(c)3 to most efficiently direct funding and efforts toward providing information and encouragement to those who are interested in energy conservation and alternative energy sources. 

Although wind energy is an alternative, solar is much more practical for the farmers, small businesses, and homeowners. Thus, they’ve kept their focus on solar energy: current costs are reasonable, equipment is reliable, installers are available and knowledgeable, and some tax credits still exist at the national and state levels. “The vision of our partner, WED, is 100% locally-owned renewable energy by 2050. Clayton County Energy District hasn’t adopted this goal but certainly shares the sentiment of “green meets green.” We need to move toward clean energy (both efficiency and renewables), and when we do it with local leadership and ownership the local wealth creation and retention benefits are huge,” Blobaum explained. “The payback period for a farmer can be as few as five or six years.”

One of the group’s main goals also is to provide information on energy efficiency to those who may not wish to or may not be able to afford a solar installation. “We will be working with Green Iowa AmeriCorps who, upon invitation, will come into a home and conduct an extensive energy audit and make recommendations for changes – even to the extent of changing to energy efficient light bulbs, faucets, shower heads, etc. For low-income families, this is provided for a very small cost, but the service is available to anyone,” Blobaum told The Press.

While the young group worked hard to provide the Go Solar workshop last week, readers certainly will hear more from them in the future. “Encouraging participation in the Green Iowa AmeriCorps work will be near the top of our list of activities,” Blobaum suggested. “We probably will be partnering with WED on reaching out to the Clayton County agriculture community, in promotion of the ag energy planning program WED presently offers. This helps farmers identify efficiency and renewable energy opportunities on their farms, and the financial incentives available, and assists in accomplishing the work.” For more information on that program, visit  http://energydistrict.org/programs/farm-energy-planning/. 

“The response has been amazing,” said Blobaum. “The willingness of those involved to volunteer is overwhelming. We feel this energy workshop is a giant first step. Again, we are grateful for the generous support and expertise of Andy Johnson and the Winneshiek Energy District board of directors.” For more information or to get involved with the Clayton County Energy District, contact Blobaum at hblobaum@gmail.com or 563-933-4062, or Darla Kelchen at ccdg@alpinecom.net.