City of Newton to partner with Grow Solar Program

Newton City Council has followed in the footsteps of the Jasper County Board of Supervisors and has decided to support the Grow Solar Program in order to raise awareness among municipalities and residents regarding solar energy and the installation of systems that could benefit homes, farms or businesses.

Jessica Maldonado, vice president of public affairs at Policy Works, which is a government affairs and public relations firm in West Des Moines that works with The Nature Conservancy, gave a presentation to council members about the program back in January. Support to the program requires no money.

To get involved with the program, the city can provide use of facilities to host community events like the Solar Power Hour, use of logos and communication channels to market the program, review and potential streamlining of solar installation permitting process or consideration of solar projects for facilities.

Like Jasper County, the city will be listed as a partner in launch materials and other communication efforts to help raise awareness for the free solar education opportunities available to city residents. It is up to the city if it wants to get more involved by hosting events at city facilities or joining the program’s advisory team.

According to a copy of the resolution, the city will: provide its logo for promotional materials, promote the program though marketing and communication strategies utilized by Newton and allow city facilities to host community outreach meetings and waive any fees associated with that use.

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.

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.