Speaker for the week was Jason Egli, Epo Energy, speaking about use of solar energy in Iowa.

 

President Mark Patton opened the meeting.

Guests and Visiting Rotarians:

Bill Brandt, Janice Baldes, Sophie Horstmann and Eleonora Cherubini, exchange students; Pat Barron from Westchester, PA, and Gregorio Sanchez (visiting scholar); and one other who was a visiting Rotarian from IC Noon.

 

Sharing from District Conference:

Dick Huber gave several awards to Roger Christian for a variety of accomplishments.

The District Conference, held this past weekend at the Marriott was a great experience! The home hospitality dinners were a real highlight. We were first-timers at hosting a district conference, and it will be ours again in just two years, at the end of Chris Knapp’s term as District Governor. We made arrangements for the room at the Marriott two years ago. John Ockenfels, our own club’s retiring District Governor, offered much appreciation for the conference and for our club.

Mike Messier expressed much gratitude for the 35 volunteers from our club who helped at the conference.

 

In the news:

Ann Langenfeld

 

Announcements:

- Janice Baldes announced that the IC Mobile Pack (www.icmobilepack.org) needs 1360 volunteers to pack 272,160 meals over two days for the Feed My Starving Children organization. The event will be held on June 5 and 6 at the Johnson County Fairgrounds. Please see the IC Mobile Pack website for more information.-

- Deb Galbraith invited club members to an open house event Sophie Horstmann and Eleonora Cherubini.

- Casey Cook opened his $5000 match challenge to begin to fund a foundation especially for our club’s service projects.

- Roger Christian offered thanks for those who have been washing dishes spoke to the ongoing need for dishwashers and greeters.

- Liz Nichols reported that she is in the process of counting club attendance at district conference.

 

Happy Bucks:

 

Casey Cook, Nenu, Tom Novak (Louise is cancer-free  J ), Vernette Knapp, Dick Huber, Ann Langenfeld, Deb Pullin-Van Auken, Jack Cameron, Chris Knapp, John Ockenfels, Nancy Pacha, Chris Ockenfels, Jean Bartley, Liz Nichols, Phil Peterson, Deb Ockenfels, Jim Peterson, Deb Ockenfels, Mark Patton, Jack Tank

 

Speaker:

Jason Egli is a chemical engineer, originally from Winfield-Mt. Union, who now lives in Cedar Falls. Over the summer, he will be moving to this area.  His company, Epo Energy, is in the field of solar energy production. It provides energy efficiency solutions. Epo Energy is a family-owned (with brothers) turnkey solar ag-commercial (can do homes) business. Epo has sold 20% of Iowa’s solar energy in last 2 years.

Partners include John Brandt as well as Jason Egli’s brothers and cousins.

Currently there are attractive tax credits available on the purchase of a system. Currently, tax credits are available and include a 30% federal income tax credit and an 18% Iowa tax credit up to $20K / project.

Solar panels produce DC power and need an inverter to convert to AC power. Wattage goes into a sort of “savings account” with a utility company, in a way, banking the wattage produced. About 1000 houses can be served per megawatt.

Epo Energy is of the largest solar power providers in the State of Iowa. It provides a 5 year no-hassles warranty with turnkey installation, and the price is all-inclusive.

One example is solar energy for ACE Hardware store in Washington, Iowa. The big benefit to the store is that on cost averaging, the cost /kilowatt hour is now 9 cents, and should avg. 3 cents over time. Good lending rates are available.  A USDA REAP grant is being reviewed and the company will find out results next week.  $240000 cost to ACE, tax credits fed.: $100000+, state $20000 tax credit; MACRS tax depreciation is used.

There was a question about how well solar works in snow weather. Panels continue to operate with snow on them, snow can even melt off the panels.

To get started with solar energy, begin by collecting 12 months of utility bills. Epo Energy will make a site visit to determine potential location for electrical equipment, to evaluate locations to install the system, and to talk with local government to determine requirements for the utility. Epo Energy then develops the economics for project and determines the length of time it will take to recoup an investment.

Federal tax credits end in 2016. The State of Iowa may continue its state tax credit. The State of Iowa is very progressive in the realm of solar energy.

Currently, installations of solar energy are on the roof but the company prefers a ground location.  Their panels are rated for 90 mph winds and 25 lb/sq/ft of snow on the roof.

For a house, about 60’x12’ is the average space needed for an LG system of solar panels. The company is looking into leasing options. The WACO schools (Crawfordsville and Wayland, IA) use solar energy. Non-profits can use solar energy to power wells in other countries.

 

Respectfully submitted, Joan Garrity