Iowa Environmental Council Staffer: TV campaign this spring about solar energy cost $1.25 million

If you watched local television stations in March and April, chances are good you saw commercials sponsored by the REAL Coalition, which claimed solar energy users weren't paying their fair share of the costs of the electrical distribution system.  As we wrote in a March 18th story (http://www.decorahnews.com/archived-stories/2019/03/21803.html), the identity of the organization behind the "REAL Coalition" was murky, but it appears to have been set up by MidAmerican Energy.

Iowa Environmental Council staffer Kerri Johannsen, in a visit to Decorah on Tuesday, told an audience the best estimate is that REAL Coalition spent $2 million over eight weeks this spring (including $1.25 million in TV ads) to convince people that solar energy customers were being unfair in not agreeing to be charged more for their connection to the electrical grid.  "A lot of people saw through the arguments," Johannsen told the Winneshiek energy District's breakfast meeting.  She said the legislation the REAL Coalition was supporting couldn't get the required votes in the Iowa House of Representatives.  However, since the bill passed the Iowa Senate, it can be brought up next legislative session.

Johannsen told the Decorah audience, "We need to look at the costs and benefits (of solar)."  She praised Decorah State Representative Michael Bergan for being "a strong advocate" against the efforts of MidAmerican.  She criticized MidAmerican, however, asking, "What kind of rate of return do you need if you're spending money this way (on TV ads)?"  Concluded Johannsen, "They're undermining their customers' interests."