dendroica:
Johnson County’s Field of Beams
For the last five years, tucked away in southwest Johnson County in the unincorporated community of Frytown, Farmers Electric Cooperative has been one of the [Iowa’s] leading proponents of solar power.
And with plans to purchase about nine acres of land south of Farmers Electric Co-op headquarters at 1959 Yoder Ave. SW near Kalona, co-op manager Warren McKenna says the oldest rural electric cooperative in Iowa is on the verge of taking solar power to a whole new level….
Founded in 1916, Farmers Electric Co-op has been investing in solar power since 2008 when the cooperative installed solar arrays at Township Elementary and Iowa Mennonite School for renewable energy and educational opportunities. A third array is planned for Pathway Christian School near Kalona as well.
Next came the solar garden, which allows residents to purchase solar panels — at a reduced cost — in the cooperative’s growing solar array behind the company’s main building. The value of power generated on the panels is then deducted from the customer’s electric bill….
Another initiative allows residents to purchase and install site arrays near their businesses, farms or homes. Again, the power generated replaces electricity used on the property.
While arrays can cost between $30,000 and $80,000, McKenna said the panels can pay for themselves in 10 years or less. Federal and state incentives also are available to customers who invest in solar power.
All these initiatives fit into the co-op’s goal to generate 15 percent of its entire power output using renewable energy by 2025. At this rate, that goal could be met a decade early, McKenna said. “We’ll meet the renewable energy portion of that goal by probably 2015,” he said.
(via Iowa City Press Citizen)