Solar power has been a boon for Steffensmeier Welding & Manufacturing. Completed in 2016, the 430 kW solar field saves the company $8000 to $9000 per month. “Our first bill after getting off the demand charge was $13.48,” says owner Jenny Steffensmeier.

The savings have allowed Jenny to invest in her employees, hire new workers, expand production, and give back to the community. “All of these things potentially could not have happened because the cash flow was not there before,” she said.

The installation provides 100% of the company’s current electrical needs for fabricating and manufacturing, and delivering the fine craftsmanship that is cornerstone in the Steffensmeier tradition.

The company was the first fully solar-powered manufacturing and fabrication business in Iowa, and has received multiple awards and visits from key political figures to include US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Governor Terry Branstad.