Winneshiek Energy District asks Winneshiek County for $15,000

Even though it's called the "Winneshiek Energy District," the non-profit organization's "Residential Energy Planning with Cost-Share" program right now is only available to homeowners within the City of Decorah.

Energy District officials hope to change all that--so they're asking for $15,000 in funding from Winneshiek County--money that would be used in part to expand the residential energy program countywide.  (Many other Winneshiek Energy District programs, such as its commercial cost-share program and a "Direct Install" program, have been or are available countywide.)

Winneshiek Energy District Director Andy Johnson told supervisors Monday that the Energy District has probably saved Winneshiek County residents between $750,000 to $1 million so far.  But the federal stimulus funds that were a primary source of funding for the organization are drying up, putting the three full-time employees and seven Americorps volunteers at risk for being out of work.

Supervisors listened to Johnson's presentation for half an hour on Monday, but took no action.