Board backs letter of support for county battery-lending library to boost resilience

The board voted to approve a letter of support for the Des Moines County Energy District’s application to the Community Foundation of Des Moines County to fund a Community Battery Lending Library. Chair read a draft letter describing the project’s plan to place 11 solar rechargeable battery kits across the county for loan to emergency management, ambulance services, area health-care providers, Burlington Public Library and community organizations.

Kenny, who identified himself as chair of the Des Moines County Energy District, described the program as volunteer-led and said the district provides free home energy assessments, supports the county's mobile solar trailer and will now launch a battery-lending library to make portable power available during outages. "Our goal is simple ... resilient and self reliant Des Moines County powered by local energy and local people," he said.