Luther College to install solar panels on 2 acres

DECORAH, Iowa --- Luther College is pursuing a solar array that will reportedly be the largest in the state once complete.

Members of the City Council approved a site plan for the project this week following the recommendation of the Decorah Planning and Zoning Commission.

According to Diane Tacke, vice president for finance and administration at Luther, 1,250 solar panels will be installed on about 2 acres. The site is on the north side of Pole Line Road.

Decorah Solar Fields will build the project.

The property is zoned C-5 commercial, but the Decorah Board of Adjustment approved a special-use permit. Under the city's zoning ordinance, solar panels are only allowed on A-1 agricultural property.

Luther intends to lease the 280-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system from Decorah Solar Fields for seven years. After that, the college hopes to buy the installation.

Tacke said the solar array will be able to provide electricity used by Baker Village, not including the commons area. Baker Village is an all-electric facility using geothermal energy for heating and cooling.

Larry Grimstad, owner of Decorah Solar Fields, said the panels will be fixed, meaning they will not track the sun.

Alliant Energy will connect the solar field to Baker Village with a half-mile underground transmission line.

The system could be operational by June 1.

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Luther College to install solar panels on 2 acres