Clean Energy Districts of Iowa

What Clean Energy Districts of Iowa does

Clean Energy Districts of Iowa (CEDI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit consortium founded in 2019 and headquartered in Decorah, Iowa, that supports a network of 15 county-level Energy Districts across Iowa plus Vernon County, Wisconsin. CEDI delivers technical assistance for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects to cities, counties, native nations, school districts, businesses, farms, and low-to-moderate-income property owners, providing energy benchmarking, bill data analysis, feasibility studies, and design recommendations for solar, wind, geothermal, battery storage, and efficiency upgrades. The organization also operates the "IOWA: Go Solar Now!" educational initiative, the CEDI Coalition advocacy program, and a replicable Energy District Model, with products spanning energy assessments, federal tax credit navigation, and intervener representation before the Iowa Utilities Commission.

CEDI's revenue model is built on federal grants — primarily the DOE Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants — supplemented by tax-deductible charitable donations. Services are provided free to eligible low- and middle-income residents and low-cost to districts, municipalities, and organizations. CEDI leverages a small staff of six, anchored by a CEM-certified EECBG Engineer and a Grant Program Manager, and amplifies reach through content marketing, an email newsletter, earned media, and community coalitions. Notable recent activity includes the April 2026 signing of Iowa SF 2214 supporting CEDI-backed electric transmission siting and ongoing intervener opposition to Alliant Energy rate increases, where CEDI represents a coalition of 49 communities with 86 filings before the Iowa Utilities Board.

Name

Clean Energy Districts of Iowa

Legal name

Clean Energy Districts of Iowa

Website

https://cleanenergydistricts.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Clean Energy Districts of Iowa (CEDI) is a Decorah-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit consortium supporting 15 Iowa counties and Vernon County, Wisconsin, delivering free and low-cost technical assistance for energy efficiency, solar, and renewable projects to local governments, schools, businesses, farms, and residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clean Energy Technical Assistance and Advocacy

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEUAMANAF

Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) & Clean Energy Standards Compliance

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Renewable Energy (Solar, Wind, Hydro & Geothermal)/Policy & Regulatory Consulting for Renewables

Keywords

• Clean energy technical assistance
• Energy efficiency consulting
• Renewable energy program
• Community energy advocacy
• Utility rate intervention

Headquarters

HQ city

Decorah

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal Grants: CEDI receives funding through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program, a $550 million grant program funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to provide technical assistance in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization, CEDI receives tax-deductible donations from supporters to fund clean energy technical assistance, education, and community engagement programs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CEDI is a nonprofit consortium that supports a network of county-level Clean Energy Districts across 15 Iowa counties and 1 Wisconsin county. Its core offerings are technical assistance services (energy audits, benchmarking, and renewable energy project design through the EECBG program), the IOWA: Go Solar Now! consumer solar education program, the CEDI Coalition advocacy before the Iowa Utilities Board, and the Energy District Model framework that enables counties to form their own clean energy institutions.

Product overview

Clean Energy Districts of Iowa (CEDI) is a nonprofit consortium of Energy Districts operating in 15 counties across Iowa and 1 county in Wisconsin. CEDI operates as a service organization rather than a single unified product, offering a portfolio of interconnected programs including the EECBG Technical Assistance program (providing design and analysis for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects), the IOWA: Go Solar Now! initiative (educational resources on solar, tax credits, and net metering), the CEDI Coalition (advocacy before the Iowa Utilities Board), and the Energy District Model (a replicable framework for county-level clean energy governance).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EECBG Technical Assistance Technical assistance program providing design and analysis support — including energy assessments, feasibility studies, and design recommendations — for energy efficiency improvements, renewable energy systems, and greenhouse gas reduction projects. Available to cities, counties, native nations, school districts, and low-to-moderate-income properties within CEDI's Energy Districts, and also provides free residential energy audits for Iowa households at or below 150% of Area Median Income.
• IOWA: Go Solar Now! Educational initiative and resource hub providing guidance on solar installation, federal solar tax credits, Iowa net metering, Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), and elective pay options. Serves Iowa residents, businesses, municipalities, and nonprofit entities exploring solar adoption.
• CEDI Coalition Rate Case Intervention Coalition advocacy service representing 49 member communities and 86 communities filing resolutions before the Iowa Utilities Board in utility rate cases. Provides expert witness testimony, policy analysis, and community coordination on rate cases (including the 2024 Alliant rate case) and energy regulation matters.
• Energy District Model Replicable institutional framework and consulting package for establishing a county-level Clean Energy District that leads, implements, and accelerates a locally owned clean energy transition. Includes a how-to-start guide, model governance documents, and ongoing support from CEDI.

Quantifiable outcome

• Clayton County, Iowa installed 76kW solar system utilizing $49K in federal direct-pay incentives
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NextGen Highways (Great Plains Institute partnership)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 April 2026NextGen Highways, a partnership of the Great Plains Institute and many Iowa organizations including CEDI, played a key role in coordinating legislators' understanding of transmission issues in Iowa. This partnership was instrumental in passing SF 2214, authorizing electric transmission lines on highway rights-of-way.
• Lawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEDI's EECBG Engineer Gerald Robinson recently served as Program Manager and Principal Investigator at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, bringing expertise from this national research institution to guide client projects.
• USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEDI offers free energy coaching to assist farms and small businesses in applying for USDA REAP grant funding for renewable energy or energy efficiency improvement projects. CEDI has received USDA grants and assists clients with REAP applications.
• Iowa Utilities CommissioncoreOthersCEDI is an official intervenor in Iowa Utilities Commission proceedings, advocating for fair utility rates and representing the interests of 49 member communities and 86 communities filing resolutions opposing rate increases.
• CEDI Coalition (49 member communities)coreOthersThe CEDI Coalition consists of 49 communities that have joined to oppose Alliant Energy's proposed rate increases. 86 communities have filed resolutions drafted by CEDI with the Iowa Utilities Board.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• GRID Alternatives: Nonprofit focused on community solar deployment, particularly serving low-income households. Comparable to CEDI in mission alignment around equitable clean energy access, federal incentive navigation (IRA direct pay), and community-based delivery model.
• Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA): Coalition of state clean energy programs and agencies that share information and coordinate on clean energy policy and program design. Operates in the same space of multi-state clean-energy capacity building and policy facilitation as CEDI.
• Efficiency Vermont: Statewide energy efficiency utility delivering technical assistance, incentives, and programs across Vermont. Comparable business model to CEDI's Energy District network in channeling state- and ratepayer-funded support to homes, businesses, and municipalities.
• Vote Solar: State-level solar advocacy nonprofit that mobilizes grassroots support and engages in utility regulatory proceedings to advance distributed solar policy. Directly comparable to CEDI in mission and advocacy tactics, including ratemaking intervention at state utility commissions.
• Great Plains Institute: Regional clean energy think tank and policy coalition that operates the NextGen Highways partnership with CEDI. Comparable as a Midwest-based clean energy intermediary convening multiple stakeholders on transmission, renewable siting, and energy policy.
• VEIC: Nonprofit energy efficiency consulting and program-implementation organization operating Efficiency Vermont and similar statewide programs. Closely comparable mission profile to CEDI in delivering technical assistance, energy planning, and clean-energy program management for communities.
• Energy Trust of Oregon: Independent nonprofit providing energy efficiency and renewable energy programs and incentives funded by Oregon utility ratepayers. Closely comparable to CEDI in mission, nonprofit structure, and delivery of program-level clean energy technical assistance.

Broad incumbents

• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL): U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory producing renewable energy research, technical assistance, and data tools. CEDI's EECBG Engineer Gerald Robinson's prior LBNL tenure connects the organization to this broader national laboratory ecosystem.
• NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority): Statewide clean energy authority running large-scale technical assistance, grant, and incentive programs. Similar program scope to CEDI but at materially larger scale, longer operating history, and with state-government backing.
• Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC): State economic development entity accelerating clean energy through funding, technical assistance, and workforce programs. Comparable to CEDI in technical-assistance delivery but operates at a much larger scale with dedicated state funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clean-energy-districts-of-iowa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Clean Energy Districts of Iowa