Winneshiek County Recycling Cuts Ribbon on New Solar

Our newsroom runs on more than coffee and craft beer — it runs on you. Support Decorah News' local reporting today. WINNESHIEK COUNTY — Sunshine greeted a small crowd Tuesday, Jan. 28, as Winneshiek County Recycling marked the one-year anniversary of becoming a solar-powered facility. The 147-panel rooftop solar array was installed Jan. 24, 2025, by Decorah Electric and generates enough electricity to meet the facility's annual electrical needs, powering balers, conveyor belts, electric forklifts, safety monitors and office equipment. "I think it's a fantastic opportunity for the county to save money," said County Supervisor Mark Faldet. "In the long view, it's a good investment. I hope it's the first of many." The ribbon-cutting ceremony, coordinated by the Winneshiek Energy District, was attended by five Winneshiek County Recycling staff members, Winneshiek County Landfill Director T.J. Schissel, Joel Teslow of Decorah Electric, and Winneshiek County supervisors Steve Kelsay, Shirley Vermace and Faldet. Winneshiek County Recycling Supervisor Jeff Kuboushek cut the ribbon. "I'm proud of this project," said Waste Reduction and Recycling Educator Evan Neubauer. "It not only saves the county money, but it keeps our facility from using fossil fuels, which benefits our environment. It's a win-win." During its first year of operation, the system generated 78,290 kilowatt-hours of electricity and saved the facility approximately $10,000 in utility costs. The array produces enough energy to cover the building's annual usage, saving an average of $824 per month. The project cost $135,500 and received a 30% federal direct-pay incentive totaling $40,978.71, leaving a remaining cost of $94,521. Neubauer said the investment is expected to pay for itself in about 10 years based on current electricity rates. The average lifespan of a rooftop solar array is 25 to 30 years. Direct pay, also known as elective pay, allows eligible entities that do not owe federal income taxes to receive payments equal to the full value of tax credits for qualifying clean energy projects or investments, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Nontaxable entities are eligible for direct pay through the end of 2027. "The federal direct-pay incentive is a significant cost-saving opportunity for nontaxable entities," said Winneshiek Energy District Director Kristin Eggen. "We are proud to celebrate another Winneshiek County solar success story that will save significant taxpayer dollars over its lifespan and generate locally owned, clean energy for years to come." "The system has an optimizer, and the optimizer's job is to mitigate things like partial shading from snow cover," said installer Joel Teslow of Decorah Electric. "The other thing is that the racking has no roof penetration." Community and public organizations interested in learning more about solar energy or requesting a solar ribbon-cutting event can contact the Winneshiek Energy District at contact@energydistrict.org or by calling 563-382-4207, Ext. 1. Get the inside scoop! Subscribe to the free DecorahNews.com newsletter and receive local news, expert analysis, and stories that matter most—straight to your inbox.