It was not until 2014 that there was any significant solar panel installations in Iowa. To date, they have largely been in the residential and commercial sectors. However, starting in 2018, there are significant utility scale projects in the works. Iowa now has 704 installed megawatts of solar capacity. This is enough to power 91,596 homes and brings the state to a ranking of 37th nationwide.

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Here are some key numbers about the state’s solar activity to date;*

  • About 56 megawatts of solar capacity was added in the state in 2023. This gave the it a ranking of 39th for that year.
  • Iowa can boast having 82 solar companies, enabling the employment of approximately 898 people.
  • The state invested $150 million into solar projects in 2023. The grand total invested to date now stands at $1.1 billion.
  • Prices for solar in the state have dropped 37 percent over the past 10 years.

Two notable solar projects in the state are the Dubuque and Strawberry Point installations, coming in at 3.8 and 1 megawatts, respectively. Dubuque can supply enough electricity for at least 450 homes.

The state has a renewable portfolio standard that goes back to 1983 and is named the “Alternative Energy Law.” Iowa was easily able to meet it’s original goal of 105 megawatts with its extensive amount of wind power. The law does not state anything in particular relating to solar power.**

Net metering allows for customers to be credited for their excess electricity at the retail rate in Iowa. System sizes are allowed to be as large as 500 kilowatts, essentially allowing for residential systems of any size.**

About 41 solar installers now operate in the state. They can be found in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Sioux City, Iowa City, Waterloo, Ames, Ankeny, Council Bluffs, and Dubuque to name a few. Iowa has a fair amount of installed solar from the residential sector and that trend should continue in the coming years.

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*Information and figures gathered from seia.org.
**Information and figures gathered from dsireusa.org.