Decorah Lions Club members discuss energy sustainability

(Left to right) Larry Grimstad with Decorah Lions Club president Craig Spilde

Decorah Lions Club members have heard from Decorah resident Larry Grimstad about the growing use of renewable energy sources in town.

Grimstad and a partner became interested in renewable energy systems about 13 years ago, constructing a wind turbine in Mitchell County.  After five attempts they were able to find a generator which would work.  That turbine is still producing electricity.  A second turbine will soon be constructed at the same location. 

Grimstad then constructed both a wind turbine and a solar array on his home farm and because of size limitations on land based wind turbines, felt that he would direct his efforts toward solar.

Grimstad next constructed Luther College's solar arrays on Pole Line Road just north of campus.  The solar panels and Luther's wind turbine now produce almost half of the electricity Luther uses.

Lions Club members were told there are now 650 homes and 150 businesses in the area which are producing clean power with solar arrays.  Four Decorah area contractors have become skilled in solar array construction. 

The payback on solar array construction is now estimated to be about ten years, since components continue to become less expensive.  There is also the advantage of reducing carbon emissions.