Local residents working together toward forming an Allamakee Energy District; Next meeting is July 24
by Lissa Blake
Pursuing renewable, clean energy isn’t just about the environment. It’s also about keeping money in the community.
Conservation, sustainability and local economics are just some of the reasons a number of local residents have recently joined forces to pursue the creation of an Allamakee Energy District.
Andy Johnson, founding team member and executive director of the Winneshiek Energy District, said Allamakee County is among a number of counties in the region that have been working on establishing energy districts. They are partnering with the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque to grow the network.
“Clayton and Howard counties were the first to follow and create their own districts. In the last six months, both Johnson and Delaware counties have created their own boards and incorporated,” said Johnson. “An energy district’s goal is local, clean-energy prosperity, wealth retention and creation.”
ABOUT ENERGY DISTRICTS
An Energy District (ED) is a local institution created to lead, implement and accelerate the locally owned, clean-energy transition. The model is created after the Soil and Water Conservation District movement, and currently, EDs are formed as county-level nonprofit organizations.
Winneshiek Energy District (WED) was the first energy district to incorporate in Iowa in 2010. Since that time, Winneshiek County has seen between $12 and $14 million in local investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy, created or retained 100 or more jobs and reduced carbon emissions by 100,000 tons.
Johnson said three years ago, his organization received some grant money from the Northeast Iowa Funders Network - the same organization that has been instrumental in financing the Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Network - to spend time talking to other counties about energy districts.
“We already were working with other counties with our Green Iowa AmeriCorps green audits, so there was already some spillover,” said Johnson. In 2015, WED hosted a series of solar workshops in northeast Iowa and saw a good amount of participation from Allamakee County residents.
LOCAL INTEREST
Johnson said there are a number of solar owners in Allamakee County, and the interest was already there. So when M.J. Smith, director of affiliate foundations for the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque and a friend of Dave and Anne Blocker of Waukon, suggested they host a meeting to talk about the formation of a local energy district, the Blockers thought it was a good idea.
“We were given this earth to take care of it. I think this is an aspect of that,” said Dave Blocker.
Last month, the Blockers hosted a first meeting in their home. A second meeting took place Thursday, June 22 at Robey Memorial Library in Waukon.
“We already knew there was interest. But now we’ve developed our team of six or seven local champions who said they are willing to serve on a board,” said Johnson.
ECONOMICS
Blocker said in a school district that has 70 percent of its students on free and reduced school lunches, the amount of money an energy district could save families would make a difference.
“If we could find families a way to save $20 a month on their energy bill, that’s gas in their car or food on the table,” said Blocker. “We still need power companies. We’re not looking to put anyone out of business. We’re just looking at keeping more dollars local and keeping money in people’s pockets.”
OPPORTUNITIES
Johnson said there are many “shelf-ready, low-cost” programming opportunities Allamakee County residents could look at implementing, including:
• Green Iowa AmeriCorps first-step home efficiency audits and outreach to disadvantaged households with the greatest potential benefit.
• Solar promotion with all customer types, including site assessments; a local solar fair/workshop, etc.
• Farm energy planning, to accelerate on-farm energy efficiency and solar adoption.
• Planning and preparation with Lansing community and regional partners for a post-coal plant future, including training options, plant repurpose options, etc.
• Communication and community engagement around clean energy prosperity.
• Partnership with local government towards locally owned clean energy, energy efficiency, electric vehicle transportation transitioning, etc.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Johnson said the Allamakee group will continue to build a team of “champions,” both willing to serve on the board and in support capacities, as well as brainstorm for how to create a part-time coordinator position if funds will allow. When the initial board of five to nine people is ready, the Allamakee Energy District will file Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State.
After that, the group will develop bylaws, formalize a Board and file for 501(c)3 status. Planning will then begin, including how to budget the seed funds available through grants.
“This will be one step at a time, and we will learn from and receive support from the network and grow together,” said Johnson.
NEXT MEETING
The next meeting to discuss an Allamakee Energy District is Wednesday, July 24 at 6 p.m. at Robey Memorial Library in Waukon. The meeting is open to the public.
Anyone with specific questions about energy districts or how they work, can visit the WED website at energydistrict.org or call the WED office at 563-382-4207.
