2021 Annual Report of Activities

2021 CCED Positive Impact Report PDF

• Each month, CCED helps facilitate the Clean Energy Districts of Iowa Network monthly meetings
• The CCED sits at the Clean Energy of Iowa State Table and serves on the organization's Steering Committee
• The CCED maintains LED permanent swap stations: Clayton County Food Shelf
• Each month, the CCED participates in a monthly EV Market analysis workgroup facilitated by UERPLC
• The CCED participates in biweekly legislative clean energy transition roundtable calls with other clean energy advocates and partners

January 2021

• Report: 2021Fundraising efforts = $8210
• The CCED presents Positive Impact Report
• Competes for Global Warming Mitigation Project Grant
• 95 Clayton County 5th grade students participate in our LED curriculum and LED distribution

February 2021

• Presented a EV charging station proposal to Clayton County Conservation Board 
• https://claytoncounty.energydistrict.org/lab2025/2021/01/21/cced-in-action-over-the-holidays/
• Lunch and Learn Iowa Business for Clean Energy
• Elkader Council - Franchise Agreement Ed 
• Virtual Environmental Advocacy State Capitol with IEC

March 2021

• Championed HF 221 Iowa Solar’s Tax Credit Bill - (not made into law) 
• CCED assists Warren County Energy District Exploration
• Lunch & Learn 100% Iowa 
• Submitted Energy Coaching grant application to Iowa’s Energy Office - not funded
• EV Charging Stations are delivered to Elkader, Marquette, McGregor, Guttenberg and Strawberry Point

April 2021

• Clayton County Time Register covers the growth of solar in since CCED inception 
• CCED advocates for Energy Democracy & Energy Burden relief during the pandemic at the federal, state and local levels. 
• Advocacy continues for HF221 State Solar Tax Credit System
• Attends a Future of Energy Storage Workshop
• CCED launches its YouTube Channel! 
• Earth Day promotion of IEC’s and 100% Iowa’s Energy Resiliency & Justice Conversation 
• Jansen and Althoff join DBQED panel discussion - Clean Energy and Conservation for Small Business

May 2021

• Marquette EV Charger is initiated into action
• CCED promotes First Step Home Efficiency Program for Guttenberg Municipal Customers - 20 signups (6) audits
• Lunch & Learn what is First Step Energy Auditing
• Community Solar Discussions are held within CCED
• CCED releases Mission Possible Series with other Energy Districts for Giving Compass 
• MISSION POSSIBLE: A JUST TRANSITION CREATES STRONG COMMUNITIES - Energy Burden in Clayton County
• CCED applies for a $10,000 McDonough Foundation Grant to relieve the counties energy burden with the First Step Efficiency program

June 2021

• Energy Audits completed in Guttenberg
• Past CCED Chair and founder Harry Blobaum’s Giving Compass Story - Empowering Green Energy Champions in Red Counties 
• CCED will be the fiscal agent and serve as the Clean Energy Districts of Iowa coach for the Clean Energy Districts of Iowa Tours in 11 existing energy districts
• Energy burden story collection
• Guttenberg’s EV Station goes online

July 2021

• CCED champions short term franchise with option outs for Elkader and other Clayton County Towns at city council meetings
• LTE - At minimum Elkader Should Get What Decorah and other Cities Got
• Franchise research conducted for eastern Iowa
• Learning session held at Volga Opera House for & Volga Leaders, Tim Dwight and Solar Integrators
• McGregor’s EV Charging Station Goes Online

August 2021

• Clayton County Fair - LED vs Incandescent Demonstration 
• Strawberry Point’s EV Charging Station goes online
• CCED’s submits a winning grant to UMGC - Energy Coaching for Churches and Main St. 
• Several energy audits completed in Guttenberg

September 2021

• CCED Board Chair, Jim Osterhaus pens Mission Possible: Accelerating Solar 10x in Rural America
• CCED organizes a Clean Energy Tour & Coaches ED’s
• Jansen participates in the RE-AMP Collaborative Leadership 8 week Course with Solar United Neighbors

October 2021

• Home Heating Assistance promotions 
• CCED celebrates National Energy Efficiency Day
• CCED receives a $31,250  award for the Energy Coaching from the Upper Mississippi Gaming Corporation

November 2021

• CCED conducts a local leaders tour featuring tour stops at Mount St. Francis Dubuque, ACEC and the Sun Source program, Energy Burden and EV Stations review
• CCED presents EV Charging Station project to EV Workgroup 
• CCED presents EV Charging Station at a state-wide forum for planners 75 attendees - sponsored by CEDI & 1000 Friends of Iowa 

December 2021

• Online Fundraising via Give Lively Tutorial
• Holiday Lighting Recycle and Collection Project 
• Legislative Roundtable Discussions begin 
• Action Alert ~38 Clayton Couty solar systems almost $125,000 state tax credits  denied

 

2020 CCED Positive Impact Report PDF

Recapping our Positive Impact (Slides)

Recapping our Positive Impact (recording)

2020

• Each month CCED helps facilitate the Clean Energy Districts of Iowa Network monthly meetings

• CCED sits at the Clean Energy of Iowa State Table and serves on the organizations Steering Committee

• The CCED maintains LED permanent swap stations: Guttenberg Public Library, the Osborne Nature Center, the Edgewood Museum, Motor Mill (in season) and the Volga Public Library

January 2020

• Report: 2019 Fundraising efforts = $9100
• The CCED intends to implement a robust social media presence taking our message to where CC residents spend time
• Energy talks in Vernon County, WI & Linn County Iowa
• Host a booth at Energy Efficiency Day at the State Capitol CCED/CEDI 
• Recruit participants for Guttenberg First Step EE program
• Continued State Table steering committee 
• Add: “Include Everyone, Electrify Everything, Decarbonize Electricity” to our vision

February 2020

• Plans to host Mugs and Music - a night to recognize supporters & tell clean energy stories
• Wrote the Energy District Start Up Manual
• Collected & Delivered 600+ LBS for recycling for the ED Region
• Advocate for Iowa’s Solar Compromise which codifies Iowa’s Net Metering Law and Value of Solar Study

March 2020

• Iowa Net Metering becomes Iowa Law
• Prepared several grant apps around Electric Vehicle Market, Main St. Coaching & Energy Ratepayer bill of rights
• Proposed EV charging stations in Clayton County’s tourism destinations
• Would have attended a day of clean energy jobs advocacy in Washington, DC - cancelled due to COVID 19
• Met with Rep Finkenauer District Director regarding Clean Energy Transition & Job & Ratepayer rights
• Focus: COVID 19 https://claytoncounty.energydistrict.org/lab2025/2020/03/31/utility-shutoffs-public-health-and-energy-burden/

April 2020

• Recruitment begins to filled vacant board seat
• New Monona area board member, Kathy Koether joins the CCED Board of Directors
• Guttenberg Residential Energy Audit plan delayed
• CCED works on energy equity issues related to the pandemic promotes LIHEAP extensions
• CCED continues to build a plan for relevancy in the Covid pandemic
• In recognition Clayton County is currently an EV charging station desert, the CCED will propose a project for grant funding to establish EV charging stations in the heart of the Driftless Region in order to bolster the local tourism industry. 
• CCED celebrates Earth Day by promoting Interfaith Power and Lights Cool Congregations Carbon Calculator - for houses of worship and households

May 2020

• RE-AMP understands the dilemma of many network members and stepped in with an all important $5,000 grant! We will be using these grant dollars to float our continued local clean energy programs, advocacy, and market transformation work.
• CCED advocates for Energy Democracy & Energy Burden relief during the pandemic at the federal, state and local levels. 
• The CCED was featured in a local social media video log FYElkader

June 2020

• Summer intern begins FREE LED Delivery, Solar Mapping and Solar Story Collection
• Summer intern begins Cool Congregation implementation project
• Audited the SOO Green High Voltage Direct Current (HDVC) Link public meeting, proposal for underground line along railroad right of way
• CCED offers rural small businesses & farms energy planning services
• 375 households sign up for the FREE LED Delivery 

July 2020

• Community Owned Solar Farms - Osage, IA’s story Lunch and Learn
• Met with Monona, Marquette, Elkader, McGregor, Guttenberg & Strawberry Point town councils & city administration regarding a proposed EV charging station project
• In partnership with with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) met with US Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer
• Continued interviews for the Rate Payer Bill of Rights “Taking it to the streets” project
• Chairperson Jim Osterhaus gave an interview to the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque’s Rural Resilience Project
• Served on the State Table Steering ReAmp Network grant proposal team
• Organized local solar contractors to sign on to a letter to our US Senators to extend the (Solar) Investment Tax Credits
• Cool Congregations, Solar Mapping Internships continues
•  FREE LED Delivery are in full swing FB video post
•  Letter to the editor  thanking Rep Finkenauer for supporting the Moving Forward Act
• Rural Energy for America Energy Planning recruitment - Koether Farms & Schera’s Restaurant 
• CCED will be the fiscal agent and serve as the Clean Energy Districts of Iowa coach for the Clean Energy Districts of Iowa Tours in 9 existing energy districts

August 2020

• Planning begins for LED learning session for Clayton County 5th grade students - funded in part by Allamakee Clayton Electric Cooperative
• Special Projects Lunch and Learn - Solar Mapped, LED’s Delivered, Cool Congregations introduced
• $50,175 grant proposal for Clayton County Public EV Charging Stations submitted to Upper Mississippi Gaming Board
• LED Delivery Report:  3000 LED’s swapped with energy hogging incandescent bulbs at  375 households - 125 North, 125 central, 125 south 8 bulbs/household 
• Solar Mapping the # of “mapped” points increased from 20 instances of solar to 75
• Based on extensive research the amount of solar in Clayton County was estimated to be 1.3MW which excludes the 1000kW ACEC solar field near Strawberry Point. 
• Since the inception of the CCED in 2015 the amount of solar in Clayton County has increased 400% to 1.3MW of solar! 

Year	# of Installments	Total KW	Cumulative Installments	Cumulative KW
2010	1	6	1	6
2011	1	6	2	12
2012	0	0	2	12
2013	6	100.3	8	112.3
2014	7	127.3	15	239.6
2015	8	109.4	23	349
2016	18	238.4	41	587.4
2017	12	188.4	53	775.8
2018	16	265.2	69	1041
2019	10	114.9	79	1155.9
2020	4	170.5	83	1326.4
Total	83	1326.4	83	1326.4

• Cool Congregation Program introduced to Clayton County churches: St Mary - Strawberry Point, St. Joseph - Elkader, St Peter - Garnavillo, St Mary - Guttenberg On site visits were conducted and the carbon footprint was measured via the Interfaith Power and Light (IPL) Cool Congregation calculator. CCED summer intern assessed the current energy usage and suggested potential sustainability measures to move these churches closer to their Cool Congregation certification

September 2020

• Lunch & Learn - Local Weather Patterns & Climate Change and what we can do about it
• CCED organizes a Clean Energy Tour 
• CCED coaches (8) other Energy Districts on how to conduct a local Clean Energy Tour for Leaders (ongoing project through 12/2020)
• CCED is interviewed by KCTN radio about making a difference in Clayton County
• Continued development of LED technology curriculum for local 5th grade classrooms

October 2020

• Lunch & Learn - West Union’s Shared Geothermal System, Can this work in other communities?
• One on one meeting with US Senate candidate Theresa Greenfield - intro to Energy Districts
• Virtual Clean Energy Tour for Leaders hosted 15 local leaders and candidates for office Tour Stops: City of Marquette community owned solar, Cool Congregation St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Elkader; EV cars & the coming charging stations & county tourism
• CCED celebrates National Energy Efficiency Day
• CCED receives a $50,175 award for the Public EV Charging Station project from the Upper Mississippi Gaming Corporation

November 2020

• Began planning for learning session with US Congresswoman elect IA1 - Ashley Hinson
• The CCED orders (5) Blink Network EV charging stations. One for Guttenberg, Marquette, McGregor, Strawberry Point and Elkader
• The CCED plans a joint learning session with the Clean Energy Districts of Iowa to discuss the emerging Ratepayer Bill of Rights

 

December 2020

• Joint Energy District, online Ratepayer Bill of Rights Lunch and Learn
• Hosted a December Lunch & Learn EV Charging and Clayton County’s Tourism Sector
• Countywide Xmas Light collection sites
• Conducts the Green Meets Green Annual Appeal Goal $10,000 for operational funds
• Supplies LED’s to Xmas basket distribution at 3 county charity events

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January 2018

• Wrote for Community Foundation Impact Grant $6000 to expand staff (not awarded)

February 2018

• Budget Session
• Membership Drive Planning Session

March 2018

• Farm Energy Breakfast with Joel Zook - 30ish attendees
  Business & Supporting Member placards developed and displayed at all public events
• Prepared a pre-app for Upper Mississippi Gaming Corp - to fund a permanent LED Swap Station at the CC Food Shelf - Goal supply 5000 LED bulbs to low income residents or 4/household=1250 households Economic Benefit @ $5.60/bulb=$28,000/yr savings
  (not awarded)
• Community Energy Planning with the UNI Center for Environmental & Energy Education & Eric Giddins (Strawberry Point, Elkader, Guttenberg, Monona, McGregor, Marquette)
• Developed and Introduction to the CCED presentation

 

April 2018

• Organized the 5/4 Solar for Non-Taxable Entities...Let’s Get Started Workshop
  Paying less for energy = more for your mission = better for the community = better for the world
• Community Energy Planning with the UNI Center for Environmental & Energy Education
• Eric Giddins (Strawberry Point, Elkader, Guttenberg, Monona, McGregor, Marquette)
• Presentation to the Guttenberg Municipal Hospital Foundation

May 2018

• 5/4 Solar for Non-Taxable Entities...Let’s Get Started Workshop 65+ attendees
  Energy Savings=
• Town of Volga, St Paul Lutheran considering solar...many other leads to come
• SolSmart Community Partner application - pitched the idea to several local governments
• Managed a booth at the Music & Monarchs Festival & LED Bulb Swap

June 2018

• Membership Drive Organization Continue
• Communia Neighborhood Energy Audit Blitz
• Home Energy Breakfast and Garnavillo Auto/ FreeWind Solar presentation
• Guttenberg SolSmart Community & Home Energy Efficiency program discussion

July 2019

• Clayton County Solar Map data collection begins

 

August 2018

• Clayton County Fair in partnership with Clayton County CAN
• Solar Panels on Display at the Fair - credit Wufekuhle Electric
• Volga City Truck Cruise in partnership with Clayton County CAN
• SolSmart Grant grant recipient

Sept 2018

• Marquette Town Council moves forward a Solar Power Well Projec
• Guttenberg COU/Landlord/Energy District Rental Unit Lights & Water project approved & planned
• Membership Renewals
• Fundraisers planned
• Joined the RE-AMP Clean Energy State Table Grant dollars received
• Board bio’s added to the website
  St Paul’s Lutheran - Monona conducted an Energy Assessment in advance of solar generation

Oct 2018

• Met with Guttenberg City Council - Introduced EE partnership program, Sol-Smart technical advice provided for their Net Metering policy
• Local Sourcing - LED & faucet & shower head aerators
• Attended a RE-Amp energy efficiency roundtable
• 10/17 Iowa Clean Energy State Table - Energy Efficiency Meeting
• Fundraisers held 10/15 & 10/16 - $5150 raised 11 donors each from North and South
  
  

November 2018

• Direct Install Blitz at 37 apartment units in Guttenberg -
• Legislator Solar Tour with IEC & Iowa Community Action - Sen Mike Breitbach & Anne Osmundsen
• GIA conducted 7 Home Energy Assessments and Direct Installs
• Annual Board Reorganization Meeting

December 2018

• Guttenberg City official EE & Solsmart summit
• Electric Vehicle Breakfast - Johnson’s (45) in attendance best attendance to date
• Xmas Light recycling project - collection sites in every town including one at the County Transfer Station - quadrupled at least our collection efforts - 400+lbs collected up from 90lbs in 2017
• LED Giveaway at Shepherd of the Hills “Xmas Just for Kids” 200 families received 3 LED Bulbs and education

 

January 2017

• Hired Program Coordinator - Contracted Service with Jansen Products/Joleen Jansen  position is compensated to work 4 hours a week to do the work of the CCED.

Feb 2017

• Co Hosted Legislative Listening post at Johnson’s. Around 80 people in attendance GIA team collected home energy assessment

March 2017

• March 10, 2017 Solar Tour for Iowa Legislators
  Rep Bergan, Hager & Sen Zumbach; 10 County Leaders

- Visited Daren Bockenstedt  Hog Farm/ Final Electric, Edgewood Locker, Community Savings Bank, Signs and Frames - luncheon and press conference

• March 18, 2017
  LED Lighting Workshop 36 attendees ( farmers, homeowners, business, gov officials etc), Vendors and Facebook Live Event

April 2017

• Began meeting with commercial “Main St.” businesses, institutions and organizations to encourage LED transitions. Moser’s, Rock a Dot, Carter House, Rivals - Strawberry Point, Premier Ag Systems
• Joel Zook audited the Clayton Lighthouse for perspective new owner
• Throughout the year met or talked on the phone with Guttenberg, McGregor, Edgewood, Elkader & Strawberry Point

May 2017

• Website redesigned and established & ClaytonCounty.EnergyDistrict.org redirected ClaytonCountyEnergyDistrict.org
• Promoted the upcoming Farm Energy Fair
• Managed a booth at the Music & Monarchs Festival

June 2017

• Presented the founding of Clayton County Energy District to the Winneshiek Energy District
• First Energy Breakfast - 25 attendees featured Andy Johnson held in Guttenberg
• Co-hosted a Farm Energy Fair at NICC
• Met with Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque reps about the formation of future energy districts particularly in Dubuque

July 2017

• Completed portion of USDA- Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) Grant App: RCDI Engagement and Planning Tools for Resilient Communities- CCED
  (not awarded)
• Started to organize our new 4 for 4 light bulb swaps by coordinating with Norby’s, Elkader to be an outlet for low cost 60 watt equivalent LED light bulbs. Eventually coordinated with Fisk Farm and Home, Monona.

August 2017

• Co hosted a Clayton County Fair booth with Clayton County CAN focused on Farm Energy Planning & LED transitions - Collected 40 some names of local residents interested in farm energy planning, home energy assessments or joining the distribution list

September 2017

• Elkader & Edgewood Farmers Market 4 for 4 LED Bulb Swaps
  164 bulbs swapped in 40 households This is a win win scenario aligns with our goals by not only connecting energy consumers to  more energy efficient technologies, but also, connecting them to affordable local purchase options. This is good for the local economy and the environment.
• Clean Energy Breakfast - held in St. Olaf  25 attendees featuring Paul Foxwell - ACREC Also held a 4 for 4 Light Bulb Exchange

• New board members: Recruited new board members from Monona - Gary Passmore, Volga - Tom Klingman, St. Olaf - Randy Lenth
• New board recruits represent underrepresented geographic locations in the county & provide expertise in the area of energy planning.

October 2017

• Met with Andy Johnson to discuss the formation of an umbrella organization for the Energy Districts to aid in the securing of major foundation grants.
• Attended several sessions of the Decorah Power Learning Series.
• $100 million/yr is spent in Clayton County farm energy inputs we aim to reduce this figure. Working with Clayton County NRCS we promoted to CC farmers the deadline for Environmental Quality Incentive Programs (EQIP) Cost Share programs

November 2017

• Began “Business Member” spotlight program to be fully implemented 2017
• Promoted and attended a Lunch Learn in Guttenberg by CCED business member Eagle Point Solar
• Held a partner exhibit booth at the Clayton County Annual Meeting
• Harry Blobaum represented the CCED in Des Moines at a gathering of the evaluation committee of the Solutions Project.  (http://thesolutionsproject.org) At this meeting, Andy J. was on a panel to discuss what we are doing in Iowa regarding clean energy and efficiency.  They are all about efficiency and clean energy and after concentrating on the states of NY and CA, they are interested in Iowa.

December 2017

• Facilitated the completion of the Moser’s LED transition
• Clean Energy Breakfast at Johnson’s Elkader featuring Heather Zichal
• Partnered with Shepherd of the Hill’s (SOTH) Christmas Just 4 Kids Project and gave away 612 bulbs to 153 Clayton County families in need. SOTH LED Giveaway - other partners Fisk Farm and Home Monona, Norby’s Farm and Fleet, Wilke’s Grocery Store and Thrivent Financial Collectively $3400+/yr annual savings
• Established a county wide Christmas Light Recycling project - 90 lbs recycled in 2017
• Connected several local establishments to the LED transition steps - JNJ Pizza, American Family Insurance, Bethany Lutheran Church, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church
• Established a fee per assessment schedule with WED for GIA Home Energy Assessment
• Hosted a Central Community Global Science field trip and discussed LED technology and solar power generation
• Christmas light recycling collection and education project - Report to come in 2018
• Roger Thomas resigned from the BOD

December 2016

• Attended the Iowa Energy Conference - This conference focused on justification of Local & Clean Energy Districts & hosted several state legislators to discuss the formation of enabling legislation for a quasi governmental energy district in every Iowa county.
• Decorah News covers the creation of CCED