Solar energy threatened in state known for eco-friendly fuel

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Solar energy threatened in state known for eco-friendly fuel

By SCOTT McFETRIDGE and DAVID PITT
April 25, 2019

ANKENY, Iowa (AP) — When Todd Miller began his two-person solar installation business in a suburb of Des Moines, one of the challenges he faced was keeping up with customer orders, as tax incentives and plunging prices for the boxy roof panels created a booming demand for this form of clean energy.

Four years later, Miller’s company has grown to 14 employees, but now he faces a real obstacle: action in the state Legislature that he says could put solar companies out of business.

The threat is coming from an unlikely source, a utility known as an alternative energy champion for its installation of thousands of wind turbines across the landscape. The wind energy darling is pushing lawmakers to tack on an extra cost to future solar customers, even if doing so makes solar energy economically uncompetitive.

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For years wind and solar were friendly twins in the campaign for green alternatives to fossil fuels, but the relationship is getting ugly in a number of states, especially in Iowa, where more than 4,000 turbines generate 34% of the state’s electricity, the second highest rate in the country.

About half of those turbines were installed by Des Moines-based MidAmerican Energy, a wind energy leader that proudly notes its towering blades spin enough power to equal its customer demand. The utility has taken aim at a growing solar industry made up of dozens of small companies across the state.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/a2f35e13d32b407296d317be90d62195

[msongs]

1. corporate whores are corporate whores, alternative or regular. nt

[Wellstone ruled]

2. Okay,here you go.

Midwest Energy is a Buffett wholly owned company. Next,we in Nevada have mainly one Electrical Supplier and the is Nevada Energy which is part of Rocky Mountain Power which is part of Midwest Energy. We as Citizens here in Nevada had to pass legislation to open the Electrical Market to home owner Solar Panels and there for forcing Nevada Energy to buy our excess Power at two cents below NV Energy's retail price.

The Fellow who headed up Rocky Mountain Power and later Nevada Energy is now the key decision maker at Midwest Energy. Looking like Iowa Citizens are going to have to do a Petition in order to get ballot relieve as we did here in Nevada. Trouble comes with ever GOP Governor and Attorney General every Solar Bill never sees the light of day.