What does success look like?
Local Economic Prosperity
We all need energy to survive and thrive. When community members spend less on energy costs, they have more for local spending. Reduced energy spending means improved bottom lines, less wealth extraction, and more local wealth retention.
Wise. Local. Clean.
Energy Use
Local clean energy use is smart! Choosing energy efficient measures and free energy sources like the sun and ground costs less and pollutes less. This is a green meets green, win/win formula for West Union.
Model for Other Communities
In 2008, in order to overcome looming economic challenges, the pioneering community of West Union chose to participate in a Green Streets Pilot Project including sustainable downtown street renovation and a one of a kind, city owned, commercially shared geothermal system. Today, West Union serves as a model for similar rural communities for maintaining vitality in the face of declining population growth.
Learn About West Union's Geothermal Story
Expert Interview: Brian Urlaub Project Engineer
Learning Session: A Study of West Union's Geothermal System
Interview: West Union District Energy LLC Board Chair
Why West Union?
The old adage “timing is everything” best explains the backstory of West Union’s shared geothermal system. Here are some relevant contributing factors to our unique community owned shared geothermal system.
In 2006 the city of West Union became a Main Street Iowa community. Main Street communities use a community based approach toward downtown revitalization.
In 2007, the West Union City Council began visioning a needed downtown street rehabilitation.
In 2008, the agency which houses Main Street Iowa, the Iowa Economic Development Authority (formerly the Iowa Department of Economic Development) was on the hunt for a community to participate in an integrated streetscape sustainable strategies project.
As a rural Iowa county seat, with a consolidated school district, and a town in the Turkey River Watershed, with contributing downtown stormwater runoff, the city of West Union was a top consideration for the green pilot project.
Why West Union?
The old adage “timing is everything” best explains the backstory of West Union’s shared geothermal system. Here are some relevant contributing factors to our unique community owned shared geothermal system.
In 2006 the city of West Union became a Main Street Iowa community. Main Street communities use a community based approach toward downtown revitalization.
In 2007, the West Union City Council began visioning a needed downtown street rehabilitation.
In 2008, the agency which houses Main Street Iowa, the Iowa Economic Development Authority (formerly the Iowa Department of Economic Development) was on the hunt for a community to participate in an integrated streetscape sustainable strategies project.
As a rural Iowa county seat, with a consolidated school district, and a town in the Turkey River Watershed, with contributing downtown stormwater runoff, the city of West Union was a top consideration for the green pilot project.
Green Streetscape vs. Conventional Street Project Comparison
- Total Project Cost
- Outside Funding
- Streets Rehabilitated
- District Geothermal
- Streetscape
- Civic Plaza
- Bioswales
Green Streetscapes Project Cost
$2.7 Million Cost to West Union
- Total Project Cost $10.2 Million
- Outside Funding $7.5 Million
- Streets Rehabilitated
- District Geothermal
- Streetscape
- Civic Plaza
- Bioswales
Conventional Project Estimate
$4.5 Million Cost to West Union
- Total Project Cost $4.5 Million
- Outside Funding $0
- Streets Rehabilitated
- District Geothermal -
- Streetscape -
- Civic Plaza -
- Bioswales -