Jasper County agrees to partner with Grow Solar program

Jasper County has authorized use of its logos and communication channels to market the Grow Solar program, which aims to provide free education about the benefits of solar power and let participants see bulk savings by group purchasing their own systems for their home, farm or small business.

Supervisors approved the request in a 3-0 vote at their Nov. 19 meeting. The agreement did not require a financial contribution, and the board seemed very much in favor of the program and felt it was a good opportunity to spread more knowledge about solar energy in the county and surrounding areas.

Representatives speaking on behalf of The Nature Conservancy and the Grow Solar program visited with county officials and shared details of the program and solar energy back in October. Jasper County has embraced solar energy in the past and has equipped many of its buildings with solar panels to save money.

Jessica Maldonado, vice president of public affairs at Policy Works, which is a government affairs and public relations firm in West Des Moines, said it is a really exciting time for the solar industry. Maldonado said the solar industry employs 1,000 Iowans and supports 100 businesses throughout the supply chain.

According to information shared during the Oct. 15 presentation, solar benefits both urban and rural Iowa with projects in all 99 counties. Solar has also spurred more than $337 million in capital investment in Iowa, which also increases property values and adds to the overall tax base.

While costs were initially the greatest barrier to implementing solar, data shows prices have fallen 32 percent over the past five years, making it even more affordable for farmers, small businesses and homeowners to install solar and have more control over their energy costs.

“Zillow has found that homes with solar actually have 4.1 percent more value than non-solar homes,” Maldonado said. “They sell quicker and for more money.”

Grow Solar is a customer-owned program. Maldonado described it as “rooftop” solar and not utility-scale solar. Farmers have led the way on solar energy. She said a number of hog barns in the state utilize solar to their advantage by cutting down the overhead costs from their utilities, and thereby saving money.

So what is the Grow Solar program? Maldonado explained it is an educational awareness program, but it is also a group buy. So not only does the program provide opportunities to learn more about solar energy investments, it lets interested parties participate in a volume discount through group purchasing.

“This program has a finite start and stop date, which allows those farmers or homeowners or small business owners to pool that purchasing power together,” Maldonado said. “For a three- to six-month window, this educational program is going on and anybody who goes solar … can realize some bulk savings.”

When Polk County participated in the program, 52 property owners added solar, 360 people attended the free Solar Power Hours and more than $1.6 million in private investment was added. Maldonado said a secondary benefit of the program is it helps people distinguish good contractors from predatory ones.

“It’s pro-consumer education, too, so that if people do go solar they’re doing their due diligence as a consumer,” Maldonado said.

If individuals want to proceed with a solar install, the program allows for free quotes. Then at that point the “solar journey” becomes the responsibility of the homeowner, farmer or small business owner. Maldonado said they make no money from people who decide to go solar.

“At the end of the day, we’d love more people to adopt solar, but just a better educated community is really our goal,” she said.