Solar Energy in Iowa: Policies and Practices at the Municipal, County, and State Levels

This event took place on Tuesday, October 11 from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm in the Levitt Auditorium in the Boyd Law Building. Organizers have uploaded videos of each panel, for those who would like to watch these panel discussions.

The Solar Policy Panels: At A Glance

p11

195

in person attendees at the Solar Policy Panel Series in Boyd Law Building

22

129

virtual attendees on the live webinar

33

17

moderators and panelists, from 7 different counties across 2 states

   aa

Panel Session 1: Solar at the Local Level: How Can Iowa Support Customer-Owned and Community Solar?

9:45 am - 10:45 am | Levitt Auditorium, Boyd Law Building

What local communities can and cannot do to support customer-owned distributed solar and community solar in Iowa.

Watch Panel 1 Video
22

Panel Session 2: Land Use Considerations: Is Utility-Scale Solar Compatible with Current Land Uses?

11:15 am - 12:15 pm | Levitt Auditorium, Boyd Law Building

What feedback is being gathered and from landowners, residents, industry, and other interests for utility-scale solar projects in Iowa.

Watch Panel 2 Video
3

Panel Session 3: Statewide Solar: What Is Planned for a Reliable and Equitable Solar + Storage + Transmission Grid?

12:45 pm - 1:45 pm | Levitt Auditorium, Boyd Law Building

This panel will talk about statewide solar issues – including issues of storage, transmission, and equity.

watch panel 3 video
kw

Welcoming Remarks:

Welcoming Remarks were given by UI College of Law Dean Kevin Washburn in the Levitt Auditorium, Boyd Law Building.

Panel Session 1:

Solar at the Local Level: How Can Iowa Support Customer-Owned and Community Solar?

   aa

Solar at the Local Level: How Can Iowa Support Customer-Owned and Community Solar?

What local communities can and cannot do to support customer-owned distributed solar and community solar in Iowa.

Click to watch Panel 1 video

Panel 1

SG

Sarah Gardner

Title/Position
Climate Action Coordinator, City of Iowa City
kg

Kari Gehrke

Title/Position
Demand Side Management, Alliant Energy
sg

Stratis Giannakouros, Moderator

Title/Position
Director, UI Office of Sustainability and Member, City of Iowa City Climate Action Commission
tk

Travis Kraus

Title/Position
Director, Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities and Associate Professor, UI School of Planning and Public Affairs
to

Tyler Olson

Title/Position
City Council Member, City of Cedar Rapids and President, SiteGen Solar
pss

Patrick Snell

Title/Position
Climate and External Affairs Associate, The Nature Conservancy

Panel 1: Solar at the Local Level Video

Panel Session 2

Land Use Considerations: Is Utility-Scale Solar Compatible with Current Land Uses?

22

Land Use Considerations: Is Utility-Scale Solar Compatible with Current Land Uses?

What feedback is being gathered and from landowners, residents, industry, and other interests for utility-scale solar projects in Iowa.

Click to Watch Panel 2 Video

Panel 2

nb

Nick Boeyink

Title/Position
Executive Director, Iowa Conservative Energy Forum
mc

Mark Crowl

Title/Position
Manager, Renewable Development, Invenergy
aj

Andy Johnson

Title/Position
Executive Director, Clean Energy Districts of Iowa
cn

Charlie Nichols

Title/Position
Director of Planning and Development, Linn County
sroesler

Shannon Roesler

Title/Position
Faculty Director, Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative, Moderator
bs

Becky Soglin

Title/Position
Sustainability Coordinator, Johnson County

Panel 2: Land Use Considerations

Panel Session 3

Statewide Solar: What Is Planned for a Reliable and Equitable Solar + Storage + Transmission Grid?

3

Statewide Solar: What Is Planned for a Reliable and Equitable Solar + Storage + Transmission Grid?

This panel will talk about statewide solar issues – including issues of storage, transmission, and equity.

Click to watch panel 3 video

Panel 3

je

Jennifer Easler

Title/Position
Consumer Advocate and Attorney, Office of Consumer Advocate
sg

Steve Guyer, Moderator

Title/Position
Energy Policy Counsel, Iowa Environmental Council
jmm

Josh Mandelbaum

Title/Position
Senior Attorney, Environmental Law and Policy Center
jm

James McCalley

Title/Position
Anson Marston Distinguished Professor, London Chaired Professor of Power Systems Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Iowa State University
br

Bob Rafferty

Title/Position
Executive Director, Iowa Business for Clean Energy

Panel 3: Statewide Solar

solar

Networking Reception

After the Panel sessions, the panelists, attendees, industry, faculty, and students participated in a networking session to continue the conversation.

Questions or Comments

For questions, comments, or concerns about the Solar Policy Panel Series or the Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative, contact Program Director Blake Rupe at blake-rupe@uiowa.edu.