Groundbreaking of I-RENEW building at Prairiewoods

It’s not everyday that Iowa Governor Chet Culver is at Prairiewoods. On Wednesday, July 21, Culver, local politicians and Prairiewoods and I-RENEW board members, gathered on the Prairiewoods’ grounds for the beginning of a unique collaboration. With $50,000 from the Iowa Power Fund Community Grants Program through the Office of Energy Independence, I-RENEW  will construct a building with an educational solar array roof on the Prairiewoods’ grounds. The building, about the size of a three-stall garage, will be located near Prairiewoods’ organic garden. I-RENEW plans to use this building to train renewable energy installers who want to obtain professional certification. Ultimately, the goal is to build a workforce that can assess and install renewable energy systems. This serves Iowa by educating homeowners, businesses and contractors about renewable energy sytesms so they can make informed decisions about which technologies will work for them. What a great day!