Governors' Wind Energy Coalition

Iowans have a long history of being innovators in renewable energy, having passed the very first Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) in 1983. Today, wind energy seems to dominate the news fronts as the renewable energy of choice, but Iowa boasts the adopted use of solar energy in all 99 counties. In a continuing effort to provide legislative support to those individuals and companies investing in solar panels and solar arrays, Gov. Kim Reynolds will be making a stop at a recently completed array project near Coon Rapids on Tuesday, Nov. 21. Two planned solar arrays by Raccoon Valley Electric Cooperative (RVEC), headquartered in Glidden, were announced in March of 2016. The first of the 150 kilowatt arrays was put into use this year and is estimated to be able to generate about 210,000 kilowatt-hours per year. Gov. Reynolds will get a brief tour of the array on Tuesday afternoon, then will speak to attendees at the RVEC Coon Rapids Community Solar site about the state’s leadership in renewable energy.