Month: May 2025

Ask the Expert Q&A with Energy Planner Paul Cutting.

Q: Many of the car rental companies at the MSP airport, especially, are offering a lot of EVs at competitive rental prices, but I am hesitant to choose them because I don’t know that much about how to charge EVs in rural Northeast Iowa. How can I use this resource effectively (and in cool/cold times of year, especially) without getting stranded between charging stations?

PC: Great question. Admittedly I’m not an EV driver, nor have I ever rented one!  But here are a few things you might consider as you weigh your ability to drive electric in unknown rural territory:

Battery Performance: In warm weather, most EVs perform to their rated ranges. In cold weather, ranges can be cut drastically, in some cases by as much as 50%. That car with 300 miles of rated range may only be good for 150 or 200 miles in January. So, if you’re renting from MSP and traveling to Decorah, you’ll have to do some sort of charging along the way, and you’d be wise to research your route prior to starting. There are many apps and websites to help you with this.

Research your route: Where are the chargers and do they actually work? For this, plugshare.com will be your friend, as will downloading any associated phone apps for the chargers you plan to use. Some chargers allow for payment with credit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, while others require access through their phone app. Download these prior to starting your trip.

Understand the time difference between level 2 and level 3 fast charging. Level 2 chargers usually operate at speeds up to about 10kW. For example, an EV with an 80 kW battery can take upwards of 8+ hours to charge on a level 2 charger. These are perfect for destinations, like hotels, downtowns, or places you spend time at, and are commonly found in most small towns and rural areas. Plug your car in and return the next morning and it’s topped off. Decorah has many level 2 public chargers available.

Level 3 fast charging operates on a wide speed spectrum from about 30 kW to 350 kW. Not all level 3 chargers are created equal, so be sure to check plugshare.com for charging speeds. Using the same MSP to Decorah example, there’s 300 kW charging in Rochester, and 50 kW charging in Cannon Falls, Zumbrota and Preston. In Decorah, Decorah Chevy has level 3 charging with speeds of 180 kW and Alliant Energy recently installed level 3 chargers with speeds of 100 kW.

We hope this information empowers you to rent an EV during upcoming travels!

Do you have a question about home energy efficiency, renewable energy, or local energy initiatives? Maybe there’s something that’s always been confusing, or unclear to you? Submit a question to Clean Energy Q&A.

Written by Paul Cutting, Energy Planner

If you’ve been thinking about solar for your home, now might be the time to move from deliberation to action. For Alliant customers in Decorah and across Northeast Iowa, the current environment offers an enticing mix of low installation costs, consumer favorable net metering rules, and generous federal incentives. But the landscape is changing and these advantages won’t last forever- tariffs may drive up costs, Iowa’s super generous net metering rules will change in 2027, and the 30% federal tax credit may not last long. 

The cost of going solar is as low as it’s ever been. Thanks to a robust local network of experienced contractors, installation costs across Northeast Iowa are extremely competitive compared to other markets. Many Alliant customers see payback periods of about seven years and that over the lifetime of the system that initial investment is paid back many times over. Simply put, solar is a good place to put your money.

However, this window of opportunity might not last forever. New tariffs on imported panels, inverters, and new tariffs on steel and aluminum will likely push prices higher. That means the most cost-effective time to invest is now, before additional costs hit.

The 30% renewable energy tax credit remains a powerful incentive. Under the Inflation Reduction Act, homeowners can claim the federal tax credit equal to 30% of their total investment. The credit directly reduces the amount of federal income tax you owe, and if you don’t have sufficient tax liability for the year in which the system was built, the remaining unused portion can be carried forward and drawn down over future tax years. Coupled with low installation costs, 30% off is a great deal.

The current tax credit will remain in place at full value until 2032, unless congress repeals it. There’s reason to think this may happen- congress is looking for revenue to pay for $5 trillion in tax cuts, and renewable energy credits may be on the chopping block. But if that were to happen it’d likely be for a specified date or tax year in the future. We here at the Energy District are telling customers to move ahead normally. By the time your contractor files an interconnection application with Alliant and is ready to build out your array, there’ll likely be clarity as to whether the credits remain.

Net metering— the system that credits customers for excess electricity they produce—is set to change in 2027. Right now, Alliant customers sell surplus power back to the grid at the full retail rate Alliant charges all customers. In 2027, the Iowa Utilities Board will oversee an evolution of full net metering to a regime known as value of solar, which will surely be less generous. By installing solar before the net metering change, you’ll be grandfathered into the existing system, locking in a better deal and maximizing savings.

Alliant’s energy prices aren’t getting any cheaper. Alliant’s current all-in residential rate is about $.1775/kWh, which is amongst the highest in the midwest, and has been increasing at a rate higher than inflation. With net metering, every kilowatt-hour you send back to the grid is credited at Alliant’s full retail rate at that point in time.

Solar isn’t just an investment in energy and cost savings, it’s an investment in your home. Studies show that homes with solar sell faster and at higher prices than those without. Plus, solar can be the gateway to future electrification, like electrifying your space and water heating with highly efficient electric heat pumps, an electric vehicle, or backup battery storage. By installing solar now, you’re investing in your home and unlocking future possibilities.

In short, the conditions have aligned to make now a great time to install solar. With low installation costs, a generous federal tax credit and favorable net metering rules, it might be an opportunity too good to pass up.