Iowa

Report: Rooftop solar systems becoming more popular in Iowa

Published

8 months ago

February 15, 2024

Report: Rooftop solar systems becoming more popular in Iowa

Iowa ranked 27th in the country with its 308 gigawatt-hours of solar in 2022

Chris Larson (left) and Levi Detweiler position a solar panel July 6, 2023, as a crew from Eagle Point Solar installs solar panels on the roof of a home in northeast Cedar Rapids. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

The energy generated by small-scale solar energy systems — including on rooftops — have grown more than 300 percent in Iowa over the last decade, according to a new report from nonprofits Environment America Research & Policy Center and Frontier Group.

The nation’s share of power originating from U.S. small-scale solar systems increased tenfold between 2012 and 2022, reaching more than 61,000 gigawatt-hours of electricity, the report found based on U.S. Energy Information Administration data. That’s enough electricity to power 5.7 million homes — nearly four times more than all the housing units reported in Iowa in 2022. Rooftop solar comprised 64 percent of that energy.

California, Arizona, New York Massachusetts and New Jersey marked the top five states for small-scale solar generation in 2022. Iowa ranked 27th with its 308 gigawatt-hours and 23rd for generation per 100,000 residents.

Most of Iowa’s small-scale solar generation — 173 gigawatt-hours of it — appeared on commercial facilities like warehouses, superstores and other retail buildings. Two-thirds of those systems went online between 2017 and 2022. The state ranks 17th for its commercial solar.

Read More:
6 ways the Inflation Reduction Act affects Iowans

Residential solar was the next most popular type of system in Iowa, comprising 123 gigawatt-hours in 2022. The state tied for 31st throughout the nation in this category. Again, the majority of these systems were built after 2017.

The remaining 12 gigawatt-hours of Iowa’s small-scale solar generation in 2022 belonged to the industrial sector, which includes agriculture, construction and manufacturing. Iowa tied for 21st nationally and was among the top states with the fastest growth in this type of generation between 2014 and 2022.

Iowa Environmental Council’s energy policy counsel Steve Guyer, who owns and leads GWA International in Altoona, said the report accurately reflects Iowa’s existing investments in small-scale solar systems and confirms trends he has seen.

Why has Iowa seen a recent push in installations, he asked?

In his experience, Guyer has seen customers invest in solar for reasons spanning environmental causes to economic benefits. Iowa’s pork industry in particular has capitalized on rooftop solar to lower electric costs, especially as manufacturing prices for the tech continue to fall, he said. The state has also seen spikes in solar energy activity when it offers tax credits and its utilities offer rebates and net metering.

“It’s a little ebb and flow that we’ve seen through the years,” Guyer said about solar trends in the state. “The Inflation Reduction Act certainly will have a big impact moving forward.”

The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act offers a 30 percent federal tax credit for residential, commercial and agricultural solar projects for the next 10 years. The law also allows some tax-exempt entities — like churches, nonprofits and local governments — to receive compensation for such projects. Last April, solar companies in Eastern Iowa reported upticks in local demand for the projects.

In their report, Environment America Research & Policy Center and Frontier Group advocated for more rooftop solar to reduce strains on the power grid, save electric customers money, increase grid resilience and reduce the amount of land taken up by energy sources. They also pushed for more pro-solar policies at the state level, including solar incentives, net metering, simpler permitting processes and more support connecting new generation to the power grid.

Brittney J. Miller is the Energy & Environment Reporter for The Gazette and a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues.

Comments: (319) 398-8370; brittney.miller@thegazette.com

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Iowa

Fatal crash on I-35 in Iowa

Published

6 hours ago

October 13, 2024

Press Room

NORTHWOOD, Iowa (KTTC) – One person is dead after a single-vehicle crash Sunday afternoon in Worth County.

According to Iowa State Patrol, around 1:45 p.m., a vehicle was traveling southbound on Interstate 35 in Worth County near the 208-exit ramp. The driver lost control of the vehicle, went into the median, through the cable barrier and struck the bridge pillar.

The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

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Iowa

Updating Iowa State rankings in college football polls ahead of UCF matchup

Published

14 hours ago

October 13, 2024

Press Room

Updating Iowa State rankings in college football polls ahead of UCF matchup

The latest college football polls have been released, and Iowa State keeps moving up.

Iowa State improved to 6-0 after beating West Virginia 28-16 on Saturday in Morgantown.

The Cyclones are now set for a matchup at home vs. UCF on Saturday, Oct. 19.

Iowa State rankings update

Where did Iowa State land?

On Sunday, Iowa State checked in at No. 12 in USATODAY US LBM coaches poll. Previously, the Cyclones were No. 13.

Iowa State climbed up to No. 9 in the newest AP Top 25 college football poll. Last week, the Cyclones were No. 11.

US LBM Coaches Poll

Here is a look at the new US LBM college football coaches poll top 25.

Texas
Oregon
Penn State
Georgia
Ohio State
Miami (Fla.)
Alabama
LSU
Clemson
Tennessee
Notre Dame
Iowa State
BYU
Texas A&M
Ole Miss
Missouri
Kansas State
Indiana
Boise State
Pittsburgh
Illinois
Michigan
SMU
Army West Point
Nebraska

Schools Dropped Out

No. 16 Oklahoma; No. 17 Utah

Others Receiving Votes

Oklahoma 81; Arizona State 49; Navy 37; Utah 31; Vanderbilt 26; Syracuse 13; UNLV 12; Iowa 12; Texas Tech 9; Liberty 9; Washington State 8; Memphis 4; Louisville 4; James Madison 3; Tulane 2

AP Poll

Here is a look at the new Associated Press college football poll top 25

Texas
Oregon
Penn State
Ohio State
Georgia
Miami (Fla.)
Alabama
LSU
Iowa State
Clemson
Tennessee
Notre Dame
BYU
Texas A&M
Boise State
Indiana
Kansas State
Ole Miss
Missouri
PIttsburgh
SMU
Illinois
Army West Point
Michigan
Navy

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:

Vanderbilt 68, Nebraska 62, Arizona St. 39, Oklahoma 36, Washington St. 32, Iowa 29, Texas Tech 18, Syracuse 13, Arkansas 13, Utah 7, Louisville 6, Southern Cal 5, Liberty 2, UNLV 1.

Reach Eugene Rapay at erapay@gannett.com and follow him on X/Twitter @erapay5.

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Iowa

Becht, Hansen lead No. 11 Iowa State over West Virginia 28-16 for first 6-0 start since 1938

Published

22 hours ago

October 13, 2024

Press Room

Becht, Hansen lead No. 11 Iowa State over West Virginia 28-16 for first 6-0 start since 1938

Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht believes the Cyclones have yet to hit their peak during their best start in 86 years.

Carson Hansen rushed for three scores, Becht threw a touchdown pass and No. 11 Iowa State beat West Virginia 28-16 on Saturday night.

The Cyclones (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) opened the season with six wins for the first time since 1938.

“I feel like we haven’t even played our best game yet as a whole — special teams, defense, and offense,” Becht said. The goal is “finding ways to get better each and every single week, and our mindset is just 0-0 and trying to win that next game.”

Iowa State forged a first-place tie in the league with BYU and idle Texas Tech.

The Cyclones broke open a close game by scoring two touchdowns after intercepting West Virginia’s Garrett Greene in the second half.

Becht found Eli Green on passes of 12 and 34 yards on consecutive plays to set up the Cyclones at the West Virginia 17. A third-down holding call on West Virginia cornerback Ayden Garnes gave Iowa State first-and-goal at the 3, and Hansen scored on the next play for a 21-10 lead early in the fourth quarter.

Jontez Williams made his third interception of the season on West Virginia’s next drive, and Iowa State took over at the Mountaineers’ 34. Hansen ran for 20 yards on the ensuing drive, capped by his 2-yard scoring run for a 28-10 lead with 4:42 left.

Hansen, a sophomore who also scored on an 11-yard run in the second quarter, finished with 96 rushing yards, one shy of the career high he set last week against Baylor. He ran for a total of 67 yards during an injury-filled freshman season.

“For him to consistently play the way he has the last couple of weeks, it’s awesome to watch,” Becht said.

West Virginia (3-3, 2-1) was held to 148 rushing yards against the league’s top defense after amassing 389 yards on the ground a week ago at Oklahoma State. The Mountaineers were hurt by several high snaps that threw off their timing and runs parallel to the line of scrimmage that lost yardage.

“In the second half, when it was winning time, we didn’t win,” said West Virginia coach Neal Brown. “We struggled to get into a rhythm.”

Becht completed 18 of 26 passes for 265 yards, including a 60-yard scoring toss to Jaylin Noel in blown coverage in the second quarter.

Becht’s father, Anthony, was honored on the field after the first quarter for his induction into the West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. He played tight end for the Mountaineers from 1996-99 and 11 seasons in the NFL.

“You couldn’t ask for a greater night for his family,” Iowa State coach Matt Campbell said.

Rocco Becht said he wished he could have been there with his dad, “but I had bigger things going on trying to win this game.”

Jahiem White had an 8-yard scoring run and a 10-yard TD catch for West Virginia. Greene finished 18 of 32 for 206 yards.

Iowa State: The Cyclones answered the challenge on both sides of the ball in winning their seventh straight road game. Becht played smart and efficient, and the nation’s sixth-best scoring defense was stout again.

West Virginia: The Mountaineers many too many mistakes at key times and now have lost eight consecutive games to ranked opponents.

Iowa State might have a tough time moving up when the AP poll comes out on Sunday. The Cyclones were tied at No. 11 with Notre Dame, which beat Stanford 49-7.

Iowa State: Hosts UCF on Saturday night.

West Virginia: Hosts No. 18 Kansas State on Saturday night.

___ Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

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