BW INSIGHTS

2020 Legislative Session - Week 8

Lawmakers passed their first major appropriations bill this week, funding K-12 education. Under SF 2142 school spending would increase by about $85.57 million. The 2.3% funding hike was a compromise between Senate and House Republicans. While the Senate proposed a 2.1% increase, the House called for 2.5%, which is what Governor Kim Reynolds... Read More

IEDA and IEC Financial Assistance Programs

The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) and the Iowa Energy Center (IEC) have opened two new programs to facilitate energy-related projects in Iowa, the IEC Grant Program and the Alternate Energy Revolving Loan Program. The IEC Grant Program is a competitive grant program for projects that provide a benefit to Iowans who purchase electric... Read More

HF 193 Has Been Introduced in the Iowa Legislature

HF 193 has been introduced in the Iowa Legislature. It prohibits any “wind generation facility” or “wind energy conversion property” from being located within 2500 feet of any residence. It is an important and far reaching bill despite its brevity. The bill incorporates the definitions of these terms found in Iowa Code sections 476C.1 and 427B.26.... Read More

Financing Renewable Energy Projects

BrownWinick's Energy Practice Group is proud to have been asked to contribute to the Iowa Chapter for the new American Bar Association treatise on Financing Renewable Energy Projects: A Global Analysis and Review of Related Power Purchase Agreements. It is a valuable resource for developers seeking to develop projects anywhere in the world. This... Read More

Iowa DOT Issues Report on Electric Vehicles

On December 31, 2018, the Iowa DOT released a report analyzing the potential effect of electric vehicles on the Road Use Tax Fund in Iowa. Because these vehicles use no gasoline, they do not pay the state fuel tax. The number of electric vehicles is relatively small at this time, so the impact on the Road Use Tax Fund is not immediately... Read More

Iowa's Next Energy Frontier - Microgrids

Living in Iowa, you have likely driven within sight of a wind turbine farm with its tubular towers sprouting up hundreds of feet above the local farmer’s crops, or noticed angled solar panels in tight groupings along some shadow-free earth or perched on the edge of a new building’s rooftop. After such an observation, did you pause to wonder how... Read More