đ°City of Ames Grant Opportunities
This grant opportunity supports Amesâ homeowners interested in making energy-saving upgrades at home. Up to $4,000 is available for solar or whole-home heat pump projects, helping reduce upfront costs while supporting community-wide sustainability goals. Applications are open until all available funding is used, so apply now! Pre-approval is required before installation.
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Kickstart recycling at your apartment building with up to $5,000 in funding; no match required! This program covers startup costs like bins, supplies, and even up to six months of recycling service, plus hands-on support from City staff. You will also get help engaging tenants with a fun pizza party to launch the program. Funding is limited, so apply now to bring convenient, single-stream recycling to your property.
Young individuals with climate-focused ideas can bring their projects to life through the Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Fund! Opening in September 2026, the program offers $1,000-$5,000 microgrants for Ames projects led by youth ages 15-24 that support the Climate Action Plan and include community education or engagement. It is a wonderful opportunity to turn creative sustainability ideas into action and make a visible impact on the Ames community.
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âťď¸Curbside Recycling Service Starts Tomorrow!
If you havenât already, start filling your carts with glass, metal cans, paper, certain plastics, and cardboard. Double-check your recycling service day here: Service Map. Get answers to your questions on our website or by emailing us at recycling@cityofames.org.
Also check out these resources for more background information on our transition from waste-to-energy to recycling:
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âď¸Solar Powered Swimming
The Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center and Steven L. Schainker Plaza buildings are going solar! The new solar arrays will include 527 panels and are estimated to save the City almost $500,000 in utility costs over 25 years.
After a competitive bidding process, City Council awarded the contract to CB Solar of Des Moines, IA. CB Solar will be installing a combined 231 kW system, and the lifespan of the equipment is 25-30 years.
This system will reduce emissions by 158 MT CO2e annually, equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions from approximately 37 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles driven for one year. The solar installation on the Aquatic Center is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2026. The solar installation at the Plaza will be completed by spring 2027.
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âĄOne Step Closer Toward Energy Savings
The City of Ames is one step closer to launching an energy upgrade program for City of Ames Electric customers. This spring, the City secured a $7.6 million federal loan with a 0% interest rate. The funding was granted through the Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP), administered through the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). These funds would support an on-bill financing program to implement home energy retrofits, which would ultimately reduce energy use in the community in alignment with Climate Action Plan goals.
This program would offer heat pump upgrade options for customers whose HVAC systems are nearing or have reached the end of their useful life. The Cityâs investment would cover most of the system purchased through the program, and the customer would pay a significantly reduced up-front cost to the contractor. Once the system is installed, the customer will repay the Cityâs investment through their utility bill at less than 1% interest! The program hopes to eliminate high up-front costs for energy efficient equipment and avoid paying high interest rates through other financing options.
Ames Electric Services and the City Managerâs Office will return to City Council in the fall with final loan documents to seek final approval of the program and funding opportunity.
đĄAmes Energy Center Update
The City of Ames Electric Department has started the planning process for the new Ames Municipal Energy Center (AMEC), a major infrastructure investment expected to be completed in 2031. The power plant will be built on the former coal yard site, southeast of the existing power plant. The three Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engine (RICE) units are expected to operate 30% more efficiently than our current generation process, reducing the plantâs fuel costs. Additionally, the units are estimated to reduce the carbon footprint of the Cityâs electricity generation by 20.5%. Once complete, AMEC will be a monumental step for local energy generation and a milestone for the Climate Action Plan, serving the Ames community for decades. Visit the Major Projects webpage on the City of Ames website to stay up to date on the latest news!
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đ Sheep at SunSmart Solar Farm
I heard there are sheep out at the SunSmart solar farm. Are the rumors true?
You heard right. In June, Ames Electricâs SunSmart Community Solar Project welcomed back approximately 25 sheep to the solar farm along Airport Road across from the James Herman Banning Municipal Airport. The sheep will maintain vegetation on the site in place of mowing throughout the summer. Additionally, honeybee hives maintained by ISU were placed in June for the third consecutive year. The mix of grass and clover planted in and around the solar panels make excellent forage for both the sheep and honeybees.
The SunSmart community solar farm has been operational since December 2020. Ames Electric Services financed the solar farm through a power purchase agreement with Forefront Power. A power purchase agreement is a long-term agreement to purchase power at a set price. Forefront Power owns and maintains the solar panels and sells the energy produced to Ames Electric.
Utility customers in the City of Ames can buy shares in the solar farm, called âPower Packs.â Each Power Pack is a one-time investment and represents 175W of generating capacity. Owners of Power Packs will receive monthly credits on their utility bill. Bill credits are based on the actual production of the solar farm. Power Packs are still available for purchase on our website here.
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đTwo New DC Fast Chargers
The City of Ames is adding to its electric vehicle infrastructure, bringing the total number of stations to 15! The two newest stations to the lineup are wrapping up installation this month. They will be located at the corner of Lincoln Way and Grand Ave in the Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh parking lot. The new chargers will be level 3 chargers dispensing up to 80 kW of power from a single station, making it quick and easy for EV owners to get back on the road. City owned EV charging stations have avoided 450,302 kg of greenhouse gas emissions over their lifetime.
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đąThe Importance of Worms & The Sounds of Summer
Hear from Di and Ava, Green Iowa AmeriCorps Members serving with the City of Ames, about local environmental conservation. The Green Iowa team provides no-cost energy audits and weatherization services to Ames residents. They also work on a variety of outreach projects to engage the Ames community about sustainability and environmental topics. Learn more about the Green Iowa AmeriCorps program on our website here: cityofames.org/GIA
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