Iowa's New Bohemia Solar Project
by Cliff Day
A group of enthusiastic volunteers recently completed installation of
the LARGEST PHOTOVOLTAIC ARRAY EVER CONSTRUCTED IN IOWA (7,200 Watt) in
the New Bohemia neighborhood of Cedar Rapids (3rd Street and 10th
Avenue SE). This project was made possible by collaboration between the
Iowa Renewable Energy Association (I-RENEW), Alliant Energy, The City
of Cedar Rapids, the Thorland Company, Plan B, and the Iowa Department
of Natural Resources. Funding was provided by the U.S. Department of
Energy. This new photovoltaic array will provide power to Alliant
Energy's Second Nature renewable energy program customers and serve as
an educational resource on renewable energy for the community.
The New Bohemia Solar Project in Cedar Rapids. (Look at the
chem trails criss-crossing the sky in the background!)
chem trails criss-crossing the sky in the background!)
The New Bohemia Solar Project was completed under the technical
guidance of Dennis Pottratz of Go Solar. Mr. Pottratz is one of Iowa's
foremost experts on installation of solar and wind energy equipment.
The project manager is Rich Dana of Plan B. Mr. Dana is a renewable
energy consultant who is currently serving as the Iowa renewable energy
outreach coordinator for the Union of Concerned Scientists. The project
was organized as two three-day workshops that provided the volunteers
both classroom instruction on photovoltaic design and actual hands-on
installation experience. For more information on the project, you may
contact Mr. Dana at: (319) 530-6051 or by e-mail at rich@gotoplanb.net.
The project will be formally dedicated on Friday, September 9, by Peter
Dreyfuss, Director of the Chicago Region of the U.S. Department of
Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency andRenewable Energy. On
Saturday, September 10, Mr. Dreyfus will be keynote speaker at
I-RENEW's Energy Expo 2005 at the Prairiewoods Franciscan Center in
Hiawatha, Iowa just north of Cedar Rapids. Mr. Pottratz will also be hosting introductory
photovoltaic workshops at Energy Expo 2005.
The following links provide more information on the New Bohemia Solar Project and Energy Expo 2005:
Plan B (Rich Dana): http://www.gotoplanb.net/
New Bohemia Solar Project photos: http://www.gotoplanb.net/solarpix/
Go Solar (Dennis Pottratz): gosolar@oneota.net
I-RENEW: http://www.irenew.org
I-RENEW Energy Expo 2005 Speakers and Workshops (Sep 10 & 11): http://www.irenew.org/expo.html
Blog For Iowa 