State tax credits for solar energy panel projects could be an issue in the 2019 state legislature

Federal income tax credits for solar energy projects will be phasing out in 2021.  Environmental Law and Policy Center Senior Policy Advocate Steve Falck, who visited Decorah Tuesday, says his group is working to protect the $5 million a year in State of Iowa solar project credits.

Falck says the credits "are very popular in Iowa."  The ELPC estimates that a total of $28 million in state credits since 2013 has produced $166 million in private investments in solar energy projects.

Falck told the Winneshiek Energy District breakfast Tuesday that the ELPC is working to persuade the Iowa Department of Transportation to allow Iowa school districts to allow the use of electric school buses.  He says since state law limits bus routes to a maximum of 45 minutes to protect young children from long bus rides, the electric-powered buses, with their 100-mile range, are perfect for school bus routes and have lower fuel and maintenance costs.  Over $9 million in funds sent to Iowa as part of the VW settlement has been earmarked for replacing older school buses.

Falck, a Fayette County native, works out of the ELPC's Des Moines office on clean energy and clean water policy initiatives.