Regional 'Grow Solar' group-buy to launch; Iowa City to host May 26 information session

City sustainability staff told the commission that a regional Grow Solar group-buy program will launch at the end of the month and run through September, with installations expected to be completed by the following February. Staff said the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, which has run similar programs, will help organize and that the first Johnson County presentation will take place in Iowa City on May 26 at Big Grove.

The program uses a group-buy model: residents sign up, a designated installer is selected through an RFP that includes scoring multipliers to reward collaborative bids (including women‑ or minority‑owned firms and first‑time applicants), and price breaks occur at aggregate thresholds (staff cited example tiers such as 50 kW and 150 kW). Staff emphasized that the RFP encourages local installers to apply and that one installer may be selected but collaborative bids were incentivized to avoid burdening local providers.

Commissioners asked which counties are eligible; staff said the six-county regional climate action area includes Washington, Benton and Cedar counties among others. Staff also said they recused themselves from the installer selection because of prior relationships with local companies and will report contract awards publicly once the process is complete. A community 'solar power hour' and ongoing outreach are planned to answer homeowner questions and reduce the sense of a sales pitch by including past participants and installers for Q&A.