EasternIowaFarmer_Fall2023
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THE ENERGY ISSUE<br />
install solar is one enticement.<br />
As part of that act,<br />
Congress dedicated more<br />
than $2 billion for renewable<br />
energy systems and energy<br />
efficiency improvement<br />
grants for agricultural producers<br />
and rural small business<br />
owners though 2031.<br />
Those are administered<br />
through the USDA’s Rural<br />
Energy for America Program<br />
(REAP). In parts of Jackson<br />
County, the benefits include<br />
a 30% direct tax credit and<br />
an additional 10% credit<br />
spread out over five years.<br />
The energy district<br />
movement in Iowa started<br />
in Winneshiek County more<br />
than 13 years ago. Now<br />
12 counties comprise the<br />
Clean Energy Districts of<br />
Iowa, with Jackson and<br />
Dubuque counties participating<br />
locally. Work is under<br />
way to form a Jones County<br />
chapter.<br />
Iowa leads the country<br />
in using renewable energy,<br />
with 63.3% of its electricity<br />
generated from wind<br />
and solar, according to the<br />
2022 annual report from<br />
the American Clean Power<br />
Association, a Washington<br />
D.C.-based group that<br />
represents renewable energy<br />
companies.<br />
Iowa was in the lead the<br />
previous year as well, with<br />
55% of its electricity generated<br />
from utility-scale solar,<br />
small-scale solar and wind.<br />
In Jackson County, solar<br />
is slowly catching on, Fisher<br />
said.<br />
The energy district hit<br />
an important benchmark<br />
with its Grow Solar Jackson<br />
County project, which ended<br />
in the fall of 2021, when<br />
it surpassed a benchmark<br />
milestone of contracting 50<br />
kilowatts of solar energy.<br />
In fact, it contracted 102<br />
kilowatts of solar energy,<br />
representing $216,000 in<br />
local investments during the<br />
project, which emphasized<br />
solar education and volume<br />
purchasing to make solar<br />
more affordable for businesses<br />
and homeowners.<br />
“Farmers are among the<br />
largest energy users in the<br />
county and the potential<br />
to gain the most from the<br />
movement toward locally<br />
owned clean energy. Depending<br />
on the farmer’s<br />
local utility policies, they<br />
can eliminate anywhere<br />
from 50% to 100% of their<br />
energy bills,” Fisher said.<br />
“The ROI for such an investment<br />
varies broadly, again<br />
based on utility policy, but<br />
can be generally estimated<br />
at 8% to 20% annually when<br />
looked at across the 25-year<br />
warrantied service of a solar<br />
system.” n<br />
WHEN YOUR SUCCESS IS<br />
MEASURED IN BUSHELS –<br />
COUNT ON US<br />
TO HELP YOU<br />
MAXIMIZE THEM!<br />
400 East 11th Street, DeWitt, IA 52742<br />
Office: 563-659-5125 | Cell: 563-275-2433<br />
www.extension.iastate.edu/clinton<br />
JASON SPAIN: jason.spain@plantpioneer.com<br />
563.212.3345 | Welton, Iowa | www.spainag.com<br />
eifarmer.com FALL 2023 | EASTERN IOWA FARMER 69
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