Author: Energy District

On March 4 Decorah residents will once again have the opportunity to decide their energy future during a city-wide election to “Establish a Municipal Electric Utility.” By voting “Yes!” citizens of Decorah take the first step in exploring the opportunity of a municipally owned electric utility (MEU). It’s a historic opportunity to prioritize local issues and make choices that are in the best interest of Decorah and it’s citizens, and the broader world.

MEUs in Iowa are reported to have faster response times in disasters, lower rates, and better reliability than Decorah’s current investor owned utility. As the world enters an era of increased electrification, I’d bet that Decorah’s investment in electric infrastructure now would be a wise investment for the future.

The Winneshiek Energy District is working toward a future where energy dollars circulate locally, citizens have transparency and truth from their energy provider, and utilities are innovative drivers of clean energy progress. Rural spaces have a history of being extracted from for the benefit of big business. Let’s flip this narrative through local ownership so that “return on investment to stakeholders” results in vibrant rural communities.

Are you ready to champion local energy? Stay connected with this issue, learn about public events and/or donate. Together we can transform our energy systems to reflect the people that they serve!

During the month of January Winneshiek Energy District Energy Planner Paul Cutting assisted environmental studies professor Laura Peterson in her J-term course Bringing Sustainable Energy Home. Luther’s January term, or J-Term as it’s commonly known, provides students the chance to spend the month learning about a topic in-depth. Made possible for the past two years by a generous donation from Luther alumni Linda and Leon Gregg, 16 students learned the math and science of home energy efficiency and were tasked with proposing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects on the Luther campus. This year, the students had a budget of $20,000 to propose improvements for the college to act on.

During the course, the students gained an understanding of the fundamentals of energy and energy efficiency through field trips to Decorah-area houses, conducted energy audits and solar assessments, learned about electrification and decarbonization with heat pumps, and calculated environmental and CO2 impacts for proposed improvements.

Last year students analyzed energy consumption at three Luther-owned off campus houses, and ultimately proposed investments in two roof-mounted solar arrays and replacement of an existing gas powered water heater with an electric heat pump version.

This term, the students looked at two Luther-owned properties, the first a four unit apartment complex, and the second a duplex. The students weighed several options: solar arrays, increasing attic insulation, replacement of gas water heaters and gas clothes dryers with heat pump versions and lighting upgrades. Through deliberation weighing the cost benefit of each, the students settled on installing a 6.6 kW solar array and adding additional attic insulation at the four unit apartment complex, and upgrading lighting, installing a heat pump water heater and two heat pump clothes dryers at the duplex.

It’s during the darkest days of the year
I find myself most grateful
for modern energy systems. 

Can you relate? 

When temperatures plummet

and daylight is scarce

That’s when the brilliance of electricity
or warmth of a functioning furnace
is a Big Deal.
On a frigid night, it can almost feel magical. 

But it’s not magical. A lot goes on behind the scenes in the mostly-invisible world of energy. 

We all deserve comfort, light, and hope for the future.

Thank you for being part of a community that believes in locally-owned, renewable, efficient, and affordable energy for all;
A community that improves drafty buildings so they aren’t so costly to heat;
A community that shares clean energy success stories to inspire others to take action;
A community that cares about keeping our energy dollars benefitting local economies.

Thank you for being part of a community that works to own and improve local energy systems so we can all thrive, now and in the future.

A special shout out to our supporters who chip in monthly or annually. You make the dream of a local clean energy future a reality. Thank you!

From all of us here at the Winneshiek Energy District, we hope you enjoy a warm and bright holiday season.

Hometown Taxi, a small community-minded taxi company based in Decorah, recently added its first electric vehicle to its fleet. Known for providing rides in and around Decorah and regional trips to places like Iowa City, Rochester, Des Moines and Madison, the company has long relied on its fleet of five Toyota Priuses and a hybrid Toyota Sienna to meet the needs of its customers. After years of considering a move to electric, they purchased a used 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 two weeks ago, marking their first step toward integrating EVs into their operation.

The decision to go electric wasn’t made lightly. Hometown Taxi considered several EVs, and consulted with us here at the Winneshiek Energy District over the past few years. They investigated several EVs, including the now retired Chevy Bolt, Chevy Equinox EV, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Kia EV6, Tesla Y, and others, but ultimately chose the Ioniq 5. Its interior height, spacious design, and flat interior floor were deciding factors, as many of their customers are elderly and need easy access in and out of the vehicle. While they had hesitated for years due to concerns about range, battery life, and charging infrastructure, the recent drop in used EV prices made the purchase feel less risky.

One of the major advantages of the Ioniq 5 is its cutting-edge Hyundai E-GMP platform, which uses an 800-volt architecture coupled with a best in class charging curve that unlocks wickedly fast charging. New Hyundai and Kia vehicles like the Ioniq 5, soon to be released Ioniq 9, Ioniq 6, Kia EV6 and Kia EV9 are built on the E-GMP platform and offer incredibly fast charging. When connected to a 350 kW DC fast charger, the Ioniq 5 can recharge its 77 kW battery from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes. 

However, DC fast charging infrastructure is still limited in rural areas of Northeast Iowa, though larger population cities like Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Ames, Des Moines, LaCrosse, Rochester and Madison are seeing a rapid build out of Level 3 DC fast chargers. Additionally, starting in January, Hyundai vehicles will gain access to Tesla’s Supercharger network, which will further expand Hometown Taxi’s ability to take the vehicle regionally. For now, the Ioniq 5 is being used for local trips in and around Decorah, replacing one of their older Priuses on the in-town route. The long-distance trips to places like Iowa City and Des Moines are still handled by the Priuses. 

To support the new EV, Hometown Taxi installed a Level 2 charger at their heated shop. This allows the vehicle to fully recharge overnight, ensuring it’s ready for daily use. Keeping the car indoors helps mitigate cold weather range loss while also ensuring the vehicle’s interior is warm. Their particular Ioniq 5 has a rated range of 260 miles and is equipped with a heat pump cabin heater, which helps limit range loss in cold weather.

While it’s too early to tell how the Ioniq 5 will perform long-term and with regional travel, the addition of the Ioniq 5 reflects Hometown Taxi’s cautious but forward-thinking approach. They’ll be keeping a close eye on how well the vehicle integrates into their operations, with plans to explore its potential for longer trips down the road. For now, the Ioniq 5 represents a significant step in reducing their vehicle fleet’s emissions while continuing to serve northeast Iowa in a community-focused way.