Grow Solar Program Kicks off Educational Sessions in Cedar Rapids

The Grow Solar program is returning to Eastern Iowa for homeowners, businesses, and farmers throughout a six-county region. This group buy program allows individual home and commercial property owners to access competitive prices for solar installations through the power of volume purchasing.

Building on previous successful programs in the region, this program is an opportunity for residents of Benton, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn, and Washington counties to purchase a solar system at a below-market cost. Grow Solar East Central Iowa is designed to help homeowners, small businesses and farmers take control of their energy costs by offering discounted solar installations.

The program is coordinated by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) in partnership with the East Central Iowa Council of Governments, the City of Cedar Rapids, the City of Iowa City, The Nature Conservancy in Iowa, 1000 Friends of Iowa, and the Iowa Energy Fund.

"Solar provides local, predictable, and clean energy-helping Iowa communities manage long-term energy costs and strengthen resilience," said Sara Maples, Sustainability Program Manager with Cedar Rapids. "The Grow Solar campaign supports this transition by driving renewable-energy job growth right here in Iowa."

Grow Solar will host free educational sessions, known as "Solar Power Hours," to help everyone understand the ins and outs of solar energy. After these sessions, interested homeowners will be connected with a trusted, independently selected installer for personalized site assessments and project proposals.

Join the City of Cedar Rapids and members of the Grow Solar East Central Iowa team at the Cedar Rapids Solar Power Hour:

WHERE: Big Grove Brewery, 170 1st Street SW, Cedar Rapids

WHEN: Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 5:30 PM

This free educational event will help answer common questions about solar energy and showcase how the program can help save money on solar installations. Those interested in attending can learn more and RSVP at https://www.growsolar.org/eci .

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Grow Solar East Central Iowa (led by MREA, the City of Cedar Rapids, the City of Iowa City and the East Central Iowa Council of Governments) facilitates group buying of solar panels to make solar energy accessible and affordable for residents and businesses in Linn, Johnson, Benton, Iowa, Jones and Washington Counties.