Iola city administrator: Little appetite for new city solar project – The Iola Register

Posted on February 25, 2026 by Now.Solar

By RICHARD LUKEN – THE IOLA REGISTER
Local News
February 24, 2026 – 2:47 PM
As Iola continues to shape its power generation and electric usage, solar power will not likely be generated locally anytime soon.
City Administrator Matt Rehder made the comments Monday in response to questions from new City Councilman Jeremiah Ivy about the city’s energy portfolio.
Ivy began the discussion at Monday’s Council meeting by asking about residents and businesses who have installed solar panels to generate their own electricity.
Ivy works at B&W Trailer Hitches in Humboldt, which recently installed a large rooftop solar grid.
Ivy wondered if Iola customers receive credit for times in which they produce more electricity than they consume. (They do.)
The customers and the city get credit at the end of the year for the amount of power put back into the energy grid, Rehder explained.
While those customers get some tax credits from the state and federal government to help with installation costs, it’s not worth it to build larger-than-necessary solar grids, Assistant City Administrator Corey Schinstock said, because the credits they receive are limited.
That led to Ivy’s next question: With Iola perpetually looking at ways to increase its electric capacity, why not go solar?
It’s been looked at before, Rehder noted, and twice rejected in his time as city administrator, most recently in 2022.
“In theory, solar is fantastic,” Rehder said, “but in practice, it’s a maintenance nightmare, and not worth the money.”
That said, the city relies heavily on renewable energy, by purchasing capacity from solar, wind and hydroelectric producers elsewhere.
In 2027, Rehder said roughly 20% of the city’s electric capacity will come from renewable energy.
“It’s the same power, without the maintenance costs,” Rehder said.
INSECTS will take center stage in Iola June 19-20.
Council members approved a request from Vicky Wallace of Humboldt on behalf of the State 4-H Committee, to waive rental fees to host an “Insect Spectacular” 4-H workshop at the John Silas Bass North Community Building June 19-20.
The workshop will bring in dozens of 4-H’ers from across the state. Most such workshops average around 75 participants.
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