Dear Friends,
When it comes to advancing solar power and handing control of a community’s energy future back to the people, big things are brewing in northeast Iowa. On May 1, Decorah residents will vote on whether to move forward toward establishing a publicly owned utility. “With a municipal electric utility we could enjoy one of the best economic and environmental opportunities available to us,” writes Larry Grimstad, President of Decorah Power.
Predictably, utility monopoly Alliant Energy is fighting back. It’s a classic David vs. Goliath situation, and all the good arguments are on the side of the intrepid core of volunteers leading Decorah Power.
Decorah, Iowa
For an excellent story about the power struggle, check out this Des Moines Register story by Donnelle Eller. Visit Decorah Power’s website, too.
There are 136 municipal electric utilities in Iowa. In 2008, Iowa City tried to become the 137th but was massively outspent and whomped badly by MidAmerican Energy. The last time a city in Iowa successfully established a public power authority was 1974 in Aurelia. Iowa’s two utility monopolies have only grown bigger and more powerful over the decades, and spend whatever it takes to defeat any effort to cut in to their market share.
What’s happening in Decorah is a big deal! If you live here, be sure to vote on May 1. If you don’t live in Decorah but know folks who do, please reach out to them and encourage them to support the initiative. If Decorah residents are successful, other communities will feel emboldened to take back the power from the utility Goliaths.
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Guests on this week’s Fallon Forum include Adam Mason with Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, Joseph Glazebrook of Glazebrook & Hurd, LLP, and State Representative Ako Abdul-Samad of Creative Visions. Here’s what we discussed:
– Wells Fargo under fire comes under fire
– Power for the people in Decorah, Iowa
– Trump Court appointee votes against Trump on key immigration ruling
– Philadelphia Starbucks boots two black customers
– Students walk-out as Waffle House hit by assault-weapon massacre
– Understanding ranked-choice voting