Our shared values call us to be faithful stewards of our shared planet and to seek justice for our neighbors, especially those bearing the heaviest burdens. Today, many Iowans, particularly those in low-income households, renters, and residents in our rural heartlands, are struggling under the weight of rising energy costs with no way to choose a cleaner, more affordable path.
New legislation making its way through the Iowa legislature, called the Local Generation Act (SSB 3092 / HSB 629), would provide more energy choice for Iowans and help keep rising energy costs in check. The bill would help establish community solar programs in Iowa, helping give an option to those who may not be able to put solar on their own homes. It would allow multiple Iowans to subscribe to a single, local solar project and receive credits directly on their utility bills. It would also allow a congregation with solar panels and a parsonage on the property to share the same clean energy benefits.
Why is energy equity a moral imperative?
- Equity for the Vulnerable: Low-income families often spend upwards of 8% of their income on energy – nearly triple what higher-income households pay. Community solar provides an immediate lifeline by lowering bills.
- Stewardship of Choice: This isn’t about mandates; it’s about choice. It breaks the monopoly on energy generation and allows Iowans to invest in local, “neighbor-made” power.
- Supporting Our Rural Neighbors: The bill helps farmers diversify their income through “solar farming” while keeping land in agricultural production.
Your voice is essential. As people of faith, we speak with a moral authority that transcends politics. Legislators need to hear that energy policy isn’t just about kilowatts. It’s about people.
Email your legislators today and let them know as a leader in our faith community you support the Local Generation Act and ask that they do too. We must provide Iowans with energy choice and protect our most vulnerable neighbors from rising utility costs through more consumer choice for low-cost solar.
Let’s ensure the sun shines on every Iowan, not just those at the top.