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Report: Rooftop solar systems becoming more popular in Iowa

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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.

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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

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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.

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“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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UPDATE: Amber Alert canceled for missing 12-year-old

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UPDATE: Amber Alert canceled for missing 12-year-old


WATERLOO (KCRG) – The Amber Alert for 12-year-old Deyton Annabelle Cranston has been canceled.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety said Cranston was located and the Waterloo Police Department is investigating.

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Iowa (KCRG) – An amber alert has been issued for a missing 12-year-old out of Waterloo.

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12-year-old Deyton Annabelle Cranston was last seen wearing a white tank top and a blue skirt and wearing clear glasses.

An Amber Alert has been issued for Deyton Annabelle Cranston who has been reported missing from Waterloo(State of Iowa Amber Alert)

She’s described as 5′4′, 135 and has blonde hair and brown eyes.

Officials say to look out for a red Toyota Camry with all tinted windows, a black spoiler, and no license plate on the front.

Anyone with information should contact authorites.

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Vote: Who Should be Iowa’s High School Athlete of the Week? (4/5/2026)

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Vote: Who Should be Iowa’s High School Athlete of the Week? (4/5/2026)


Here are the candidates for High School on SI’s Iowa high school athlete of the week for March 30-April 4. Read through the nominees and cast your vote.

Voting closes at 11:59 p.m. PT on Sunday, April 12. The winner will be announced in the following week’s poll. Here are this week’s nominees:

Greyson Hartman, Washington boys track and field

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The junior recorded the second-best United States throw in the shot put with a toss of 67-3.5. It is the second-best throw in Iowa history, breaking the Class 3A mark set by NFL standout Tristan Wirfs.

Shea Rapp, Ridge View girls track and field

Rapp won the high jump and the 200 at the Audubon Early Bird while also running on the winning distance medley relay and runner-up 4×400 relay.

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Rylee Hemmingsen, Treynor girls track and field

Hemmingsen showed off her skills by winning the 100 hurdles, running on the winning shuttle hurdle and 4×400 relays, and placing second in the high jump at the Audubon Early Bird.

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Cash Varner, Alburnett boys track and field

Varner was cash at the Benton Early Bird, placing first in both the 100 dash and long jump.

Aiden Gosselink, Grinnell girls track and field

Gosselink hit the Blue Standard to qualify for the Drake Relays in the long jump while also winning the 100 at the Benton Early Bird.

Rylan Peters, Waverly-Shell Rock boys track and field

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Peters set a new school-record in the long jump at 23-8 while also hitting the Blue Standard and qualifying for Drake Relays.

Jase Price, Des Moines Christian boys soccer

Price had quite the varsity debut, as the freshman recorded a haul by scoring four goals in a win over Boone. 

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Aiden Kellar, Treynor boys soccer

Kellar tallied a hat trick with three goals in a 5-1 win for the Cardinals over Harlan.

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Kaden Theisen, Western Dubuque boys soccer

Theisen was peppered with 20 shots in a match vs. Beckman Catholic, saving 19 of them to help the Bobcats to a 2-1 win.

Lucas Sidles, Independence boys track and field

Sidles swept the throwing events at the West Delaware Early Bird, winning the shot put and discus.

Adam Kacmarynski, Pella Christian boys track and field

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Kacmarynski won the 100 and ran on the winning sprint medley and 4×100 relays at the Chariton Invitational.

Mark Fraise, Davis County boys track and field

Fraise finished first in the 400 hurdles, was on the first place shuttle hurdle and 4×400 relays, and also ran on the second place distance medley relay.

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Gage Hoppenworth, Johnston boys track and field

Hoppenworth had a three-gold night at the Dowling Catholic meet, winning the 110 and 400 hurdles while running the third leg on the winning shuttle hurdle relay.

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Alayna Goldsberry, Southeast Polk girls track and field

The junior won the 100 and 200 at her home invitational while running the anchor on the second place 4×400 relay.

Natalie Sitzmann, Waukee girls track and field

Sitzmann, a senior, won the 200 and ran on the first place shuttle hurdle and 4×400 relays at her home invitational.

Isabel Spradling, Des Moines Roosevelt girls track and field

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Spradling picked up a first in the 1,500 and was on the gold-medal 4×400 and 4×800 relays at the Waukee Invitational.

Alayna Williams, Carlisle girls soccer

Williams, a senior, recorded five goals in a season-opening win over Knoxville, 10-1.

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Carly Torneten, Harlan Community girls soccer

Torneten not only scored four goals, but she recorded four assists vs. Carroll.

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About Our Athlete of the Week Voting

High School on SI voting polls are meant to be a fun, lighthearted way for fans to show support for their favorite athletes and teams. Our goal is to celebrate all of the players featured, regardless of the vote totals. Sometimes one athlete will receive a very large number of votes — even thousands — and that’s okay! The polls are open to everyone and are simply a way to build excitement and community around high school sports. Unless we specifically announce otherwise, there are no prizes or official awards for winning. The real purpose is to highlight the great performances of every athlete included in the poll.



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Former TJ Otzelberger Assistant From UNLV Would Be Perfect for Iowa State

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Former TJ Otzelberger Assistant From UNLV Would Be Perfect for Iowa State


Iowa State Cyclones men’s basketball head coach T.J. Otzelberger knew that his program was in for a busy offseason.

Before any moves were made with the roster, whether it be players entering the transfer portal or declaring for the NBA draft, Otzelberger knew that he would have five seniors who would have to be replaced on the roster.

In addition to player needs, the head coach needs to replenish his coaching staff. Two of his assistants, JR Blount and Kyle Green, were hired as head coaches. Blount is heading to the San Diego Toreros, and Green was brought back for a fourth stint with the Northern Iowa Panthers.

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Both were integral parts of the team’s success, with Blount being a leader on the recruiting front and Green being an architect behind the team’s defense. Who could Otzelberger turn to as a replacement?

Tim Buckley is great option for Iowa State coaching staff

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Mar 12, 2026; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones mascot during a timeout against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the second half at T-Mobile Center. | William Purnell-Imagn Images

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One person who would make a lot of sense as a candidate is Tim Buckley. Most recently, he was on staff with the Cincinnati Bearcats, but with their head coaching change of Wes Miller to Jerrod Calhoun, Buckley is back on the market.

He is someone with whom Otzelberger has familiarity, which could play a big role in the evaluation process when candidates are interviewing. The two worked together with the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels from 2019-21, the position which Otzelberger held before Iowa State.

Buckley could help replace some of what Green’s departure is being lost with the defensive game plan.

“Buckley seems to have a defensive background, and he was described as being “old school” to Cyclone Alert by one source close to the Bearcat program,” wrote Alec Busse of Cyclone Report, part of the 247Sports Network (subscription required).

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Familiarty, defense are biggest assets Buckley provides

Mar 26, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger speaks ahead of the Midwest regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center. | Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
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He also has some experience working in the Midwest. Buckley spent one campaign in 2007-08 with the Marquette Golden Eagles and worked with the Wisconsin Badgers in the mid-1990s.

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Since Otzelberger took over as head coach, the Cyclones have found a ton of success recruiting in Wisconsin. Buckley can help keep the pipeline active.

He would also bring an established relationship with Otzelberger and plenty of experience. Buckley has been on different sidelines as a coach for nearly 40 years and has been a head coach previously with Rockford and the Ball State Cardinals.

A bonus: Buckley knows the Big 12 landscape after working with Cincinnati the last two seasons. That is an underrated part of his resume, as he can help give some insight into how opponents game plan against Otzelberger and his team while bringing some new ideas to the table in how Iowa State can stop them.



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