IAMU Informer
Follow IAMU!
  • Informer News Feed
  • IAMU Website

Cedar Falls Utilities Building 1.5 MW Community Solar Project

11/2/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Cedar Falls’ first community solar project will be larger and less expensive, thanks to the strong response from households and organizations that signed up to participate.

During the summer enrollment campaign, Cedar Falls Utilities (CFU) electric customers were offered units in the solar project for $399 each. Because of high enrollment, CFU will build a larger project with better economies of scale. As a result, the final price per unit for those who signed up will be reduced from $399 to $270. 

More than 1,200 residents and businesses have signed up to be a part of Simple Solar. Customers who purchase units will receive a utility bill credit based upon the output from the panels for twenty years. Total capacity of the array will be 1.5 MW. It will be the biggest community solar project in the state.

“We want to thank the community for their response to Simple Solar,” said CFU General Manager Jim Krieg. “Because so many of our customers decided to invest in solar energy, we are able to deliver a project that will provide flexible, clean energy at an excellent price.”

The project will be built near Prairie Lakes Park in Cedar Falls on eight acres donated by the city of Cedar Falls. Construction will begin this fall, and the solar project is expected to be operational by the spring.
The University of Northern Iowa (UNI) has committed to purchasing approximately 20% of the project,   a significant investment in renewable energy.
"UNI is excited to add to our inventory of solar energy with the Simple Solar project and further our sustainability efforts," said John Streicher, senior facilities engineer for UNI's Physical Plant. "We are pleased our continued collaboration with CFU helped make the Simple Solar project a success."
 “We appreciate UNI partnering with us to build Simple Solar,” said Krieg. “Their investment in this project is an important part of making community solar a success in Cedar Falls. UNI’s commitment to alternative energy will allow us to maximize the solar output from this site.”
RER Energy Group is the solar developer that will build the array. “The manner in which they funded this project, through considerable customer participation, illustrates the cutting-edge thinking that is prevalent at CFU," stated Mike Barnes, Project Manager for RER Energy Group. “Being a resident of Cedar Falls, there is a significant amount of pride working on a local project that I’m sure will have national repercussions in the solar industry.”
Customers who signed up for units will receive information, including a purchase agreement, in the mail this fall. If customers are still interested in buying units, CFU is adding customers to a wait list. CFU will provide information to customers on the wait list after those who have reserved units complete the enrollment process.
Call 319-266-1761 or email [email protected] to be added to the Simple Solar unit wait list.
Simple Solar Facts:

·         CFU and a solar project developer will build and maintain a community-solar project near Prairie Lakes Park in Cedar Falls.
·         1,200 CFU customers have signed up for units in the project. Units are 170 watts of capacity and are now priced at $270 each.
·         The clean energy from the solar panels will be used in the community.
·         Residents and businesses that have purchased units will receive a monthly credit on their CFU electric bills for 20 years based on the output from the solar panels.
·         For more information, customers can visit cfu.net/solar or call 319-266-1761.

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Subscribe to The Informer!

    * indicates required

    Archives

    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014

    RSS Feed

Picture

Copyright 2025 Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities