SunSmart Ames Solar Farm

View real-time output of the community solar farm!

SunSmart and Solar Panel

What are SunSmart Power Packs?

SunSmart Ames is a 2MW community solar farm located between Airport Road and Highway 30. The project makes clean solar energy more accessible to customers with shaded roofs, those who live in apartments, rent their homes, or for any other reason cannot install solar panels on their own property.

Customers of Ames Municipal Electric System can buy shares in the solar farm, called “Power Packs.” Each Power Pack is a one-time investment and represents 175W of generating capacity. The original price of Power Packs was $300. Each year, the price of the Power Packs will reduce by $15 to reflect the years remaining in the contract term. As of January 10, 2025, the price of power packs is $225, and will reduce by another $15 on December 10, 2025.

Power Pack Holders will receive monthly credits on their utility bill. Bill credits are expected to average around $1 per month and are based on the actual production of the solar farm for the duration of the 20-year contract. Achieving a payback is possible, depending on solar output. It should be noted that people typically do not sign up for SunSmart to make money, but to use green, renewable, sustainable electricity.

How can I purchase a Power Pack?

You can purchase your SunSmart Power Packs with a paper or electronic purchase form, both found using the links below. Before purchasing Power Packs, please read the SunSmart Power Pack Terms and Conditions(PDF, 212KB).

If you have any questions, please call 515-239-5177.

Power Packs are fully transferable and can be donated to other Ames Municipal Electric customers, applied to your new home should you move within Ames Municipal Electric territory, remain with the home should you move outside the service territory, or sold back to the utility.  The only requirement is that the credits remain inside the Ames Municipal Electric System.

 

Project Milestones

  • Sheep grazing at the solar farm
    October 10, 2017: The FAA approved the Environmental Assessment and FONSI for the solar site. Due to the proximity of the solar farm to the James Herman Banning Municipal Airport, the project required FAA approval.
  • July 23, 2019: City Council voted unanimously to sign a contract with ForeFront Power to begin development of the community solar farm.
  • Winter 2019 - Spring 2020: Site surveying and engineering design to the solar farm.
  • July 2020: Site grading, access road construction, and boundary fence
  • July 24, 2020: The SunSmart Ames project groundbreaking
  • September 2020: Electrical work, install posts and racking
  • October 2020: Panel installation and preparation for transformer installation
  • November 2020: Interconnection and Commissioning
  • December 23, 2020: Completion of the SunSmart Solar Farm
  • February 2021: Project participants received their first bill credits

Each Power Pack, over the 20-year life of the customer contract, could:

  • Produce enough electricity to power one average home in Ames for about nine months
  • Offset 10,000 miles driven by car
  • Take one car's emissions off the road for a year
  • Reduce CO2 equal to about as much removed by one acre of trees  
  • Reduce CO2 emissions by about five tons
solar-farm-tours-start-here-sign.jpg

The entire SunSmart Ames solar farm, over 20 years, could:

  • Offset 113 million miles driven by car
  • Take more than 11,000 car's worth of emissions off the road
  • Reduce CO2 equal to that removed by about 11,000 acres of trees (an area the size of Boone, Story City, and Huxley combined)
  • Reduce CO2 emissions by about 57,000 tons
  • Produce enough electricity to power 440 Ames homes each year 

 

 

SunSmart Ames was made possible through the participation of over 1,000 Ames residents, businesses, and organizations, including:

collection of partner logos

 

 

Aaron Fultz Dale & Roxanne Thompson J Paul Clark Linda & Mark Westgate Rick & Janet Brimeyer
Aaron Sadow Dale Balmer J. Ben & Sarah Buck Linda Seaverson Rick Lippard
Aaron Wood Dale Vander Schaaf Jackie & Cheryl Kimberley Linda Shenk Rick Maxwell
Abby Terpstra Dale Woodward Jacob Moss Linda Stemler Robert Bannister
Adam Fernow Dan Jaynes Jacqueline Comito Lisa Kuehl Robert Bergmann
Al Warren Dan Olk Jake & Ruth Graves Lisa Schulte Moore Robert Erickson
Alan Hughes Dana Conrad James & Carol Brannon Lois Fulton Robert Gelina
Alan Johnson Danelda Allen James & Karen Register Lon Hampton Robert Jolly
Alan Junck Daniel & Debra Edwards James Coyle Lori & Robert Kappmeyer Robert Lorr
Albert Contreras Daniel & Karen Nettleton James David Schlosser Lori Biederman Robert Mills
Albert Maas Darlys & Ronald Orth James Kenneth Howe Lori Whitmer Robert Parrish
Alexander Graham Darryl Bennett James Pierce Louis Banitt Robert Summerfelt
Alexander Hall Dave & Melanie Rogotzke James Pope Lucinda Martin Robin Berger
Alisha Bower Dave Ross James Stuart Luke Mueggenberg Robyn & Kevin Dennis
Allen & Jean Carlson David & Kathleen Breitbach James Twedt Lynn Jenison Rod Copple
Allen Lang David Brenner Jamin Hitchcock M.L. Van Valin Rodney Heisterkamp
Allen Thompson David DenHaan Jan & Cornelia Flora Maggie & Brent Wynja Roger Grau
Alvin Day David Faux Jan & Don Ostermann Margaret Munson Roger Jones
Amanda Olsen David Fitz Jana & Greg Stenback Margaret Torrie Ron Shiflet
Ames Community Theater David Lamm Jane Walter Margret & James Andrews Ronald Carson
Ames Ecumenical Housing David Lawrence Janeen Christy Marie Mayer Rose Gottlieb
Ames Historical Society David Meek Janet Gebler Marilyn & Tedd Devick Rosemary Griffin
Ames Public Library David Millard Janet Huggard Marilyn Clem Roy Hougen
Ames United Church of Christ David Mower Janet Marie Heintz Marina Kraeva Rudolf & Helen Jensen
Amy & Alejandro Andreotti David Oakland Janice Beagley Marion Kresse Ruth & James Hill
Amy Rutenburg & Jeremy Best David Orth Janice Graham Marjory & Kenneth Howe Ryan Sanderson
Amy Smith David R Russell Janine & Daryl Tellinghuisen Mark & Joan Gordon S.K. & J.C. Haugeen
Amy Toth David Robinson Jarad Niemi Mark Imhoff Sallie Walsh
Anand Balasubramanian David Russell Jarod & Angela Carl Mark Leichty Sally Houser
Anastasia & Alex Tuckness David Starrett Jason Strum Mark Lohafer Samantha Ciccotti
Andrea King David Svoboda Jay Vannice-Adams Mark Looney Samuel Wormley
Andreja Bakac David Tucker Jean Brett & William Femrite Mark Murphy Sandi Ward
Andrew Bock David Wilcox Jean Buck Mark Redmond Sarah & Jonathan Bunge
Andrew Coyle David Wilder Jean McBreen Mark Siemers Sarah Nostwich
Andrew Miner Dean Bierwagen Jeanne & Rod Rogert Mark Slagell Sarah Nusser
Andrew Worth Dean Keyt Jeannette & Andreas Johannsen Mark Steffen Sarah& Scott Rummery
Angela & James Nespor Dean Ulrichson Jeff Hemphill Mark Woolley Scott Elston
Anjeanette Perkins Deanna Ward Jeffrey Jutting Marlene Ehresman Scott Hass
Ann Campbell Debora & James Strickland Jen & Bill Malone Marlene Strathe Scott Johnson
Ann Hein Deborah & David Carter Jennifer Garst & Steve Libbey Marna & Scott Nelson Scott Ocken
Ann Oberhauser Deborah & Paul Hudson Jennifer Greimann Marny A Buck Shaeley and Anthony Santiago
Ann Staudt Deborah Coates Jennifer Hart Martha Ann Atkins & Joseph Rippetoe Sharon & Dan Wirth
Ann Thompson Deborah Fink Jennifer Johnson Martha Helland Shawn Blaesing
Ann Vorwald Deborah Jo Niehof Jenny & Kevin Gries Martha McCormick Sheng Ly
Anna Wolc Deborah Nelson Jeremy Fields Martin & Sherry Goddard Sherilyn & Mitchell Hoyer
Annastacia McCarty Deborah S. Reed-Margetan Jeremy Johannsen Martin Miller Sieglinde Prior
Anne & Henry Kohler Debra & John Haywood Jeremy Withers Marty & Bruce Smith Snowdrop Rentals, LLC
Anne & Juan Foegen Debra D Smith Jeri Neal Marvin Bakker SomChai Arunsiripate
Anne Kimber & Robert Haug Debra Metzger Lee Jermaine Prescott Mary & Allan Baker St. Cecilia Church
Anne Kinzel & Lou Cathcart Debra Schildroth Jerome Peltier Mary & John Wilson St. Thomas Aquinas Church
Anthony Massingill Delora & David Hade Jerry & Leanne Alexander Mary & Matthew Logsdon Stacey Ross
Anthony Woodcock Denise & Scott Bauer Jerry Hatfield Mary & Matthew Martens Stacey Starrett
Anupam Sharma Denise Retteff Jesse Leonard Mary Ann & Paul Lundy Stanley Rabe
Arcadia Lodge #249 Diana & David Laird Jessica Wonderlich Mary Ann & William Dilla Stephen & Johnny Rogers-Smith
Ardella Krull Diana &Glenn Crosswait Jidong Sun Mary E Richards Stephen Shifflett
Arlen Patrick Diana Madsen Jill & Jeff Bailey Mary Greeley Medical Center Stephen Siegel
Arnold & Christine Cowan Diane & James Patton Jim & Frankee Oleson Mary Sand Stephen Willson
Arthur David Digby Diane & Kenneth Birt Jim Beckwith Mary Wells Stevan Holm
Audrey & Jon Hunstock Diane Gillott Jo Ann Kinart Mary West Steve and Kim Linduska
B. Joan White Dianna & Ron Nelson Jo Ann Kovar Mary Wheelock Steve Gent
Barbara & Wayne Pedersen Dianne & Fred Borgen Joan Mathews MaryJune & Michael Cain Steve Schallehn
Barbara Biondo Sloan Dianne Ritz Joann & Dan Miller Matt Abbott Steven Buck
Barbara Clark Dick Wright Joel Coats Matt Bolster Steven Kruse
Barbara Woods DJ Lauritsen John & Barbara Pleasants Matt Darbyshire Steven Mindham
Barbi & Reggie Greenlaw Doan Schmitz John & Cynthia Dobson Matthew Haubrich Steven Schroder
Benjamin & Katherine Flickinger Don Goering John & Mary Hathaway Maureen Stohlmayer Stewart Damman
Beth & David Weiskircher Donald Kom John Adam Max & Linda Schnepf Sue & Alvin Ravenscroft
Beth & Peter Martin Donald Lewis John Arnold Melody Franje Sue & Thad Stanton
Beth & Randy Larabee Donald Wishart John Core & David Houy Merck Animal Health Susan & Austin Thompson
Beverly & Warren Madden Donna Banker John Even Jr. Merry Rankin & Tom Anderson Susan & James Converse
Beverly Hall Donna Kienzler John Klaus Michael Brown Susan Benner
Bill and Gayle Bevis Doug & Kris Meinhard John Lawrence Michael Butler Susan Donaldson
Blakely & Aaron Mortvedt Doug Biggs & Gloria Betcher John Ringelestein Michael Lazere Susan Gwiasda
Bob & Sheila Kindred (Ted Robert Kindred) Doug McCay John Rundle Michael Martin Susan Hegland & Thomas Andre
Bonita Pinski Douglas Gentile John Sawyer Michael Zenor Susan K. Jarnagin
Brad Barrett Drew Delp John Schuh Michelle & Greg Fuqua Susan Kohler
Braden Hosler Dustin Myers Johnny Eveland Michelle Marie Wall Susan McNicholl
Brady Engle Earl Crow Jon Fleming Michiyo Nakatani, Yushi & Shota Hattori Susan Petra
Brenda Allen Ebby Luvaga Jon Wilson Mitch Kerns Susan Wilson
Brenda L Witherspoon Edward Braun Jonathon Hassid Mouly Kumar Susan Wuhs
Brenda Swaim Elaine Dekovic Joseph Merchant Myra Cohen & Mark Wirzman Susan Yager
Brent Shanks Eldon and Zoanne Erickson Josephine O'Donnell NAMI Central Iowa Suzan Shierholz
Brian & Stacey Carlson Elgin & Gail Johnston Joshua & Jennifer Hibben Nancy Blyler Suzanne & Brian Thompson
Brian Anderson Elizabeth & James Billings Joshua Strable Nancy Carroll Suzanne Rock
Brian Eslinger Elizabeth Beck Joy Sabl & Pieter Maris Nancy Franz Suzanne van der Valk
Brian Phillips Elizabeth Britt Judith Parks-Kruse Nathan Tosten Tamara Lorenz
Brianna Burke Elizabeth Calhoun Julie Whitson Neal Iverson & Kathryn Kramer-Iverson Telin Chung
Bruce Hardy Elizabeth Wade Karen & John Server Neoma & Phillip Thomas Terese & Dwight Peters
Buckley Peterson Elizabeth Zimmerman Karen Craft Neysa Goodman Terrie & David Hoefer
Burgess Shriver Ellen E. Johnsen Karen K. Colbert Nicholas Hoffman Terry & Karen Lewis
Camille Oliver Emergency Residence Project Karen Neff Nicholas Johnson Terry Lowman & Mark Kassis
Candace Albaugh Emily Hyde Karen Simon Nick Thorp Terry Potter & Christa Anderson
Candy & Steve Schainker Emily Paull Karen Wickert Nicole Wilson Terry Proescholdt
Carl Bern Emmanuel & Linda Agba Katherine Gregory North Crest Inc. Thomas & Judith Jackson
Carla Persaud Eric Evans Kathleen & Charles Glatz Northminster Presbyterian Church Thomas Casey
Carlton & Sally Peterson Eric Klaus Kathryn & John Miller Otavio Augusto Camargo Bartalotti Thomas Fenton
Carlton Moen Eric McCabe Kathryn Andre P. Jeffrey Berger Thomas Hertz
Carol & R. Dean Phillips Eric Schares Kathryn Krienker-Klink Pat Foley Thomas Johnson
Carol Galyon Erica Unger & Robert Wallace Kathy Parsons Patricia & Michael King Thomas Meyer
Carol Williams Etha Hutchcroft Katy Patterson Patricia Brown Thomas Moorman
Carolyn & Bill McCall Ethalinda Cannon Kay & Donald Marner Patrick Clark Thomas Schrier
Carrie & Jake Adams First Baptist Church Kay Thede-Hughes Paul & Cinian Durbin Thomas Thomas
Carver Nebbe First Christian Church Kelly Beacom Paul Domoto Thomas Walsh
Catherine Brown First National Bank Kelly Conner Paul Fuligni Thomas Zimmerman
Catherine Curtis First United Methodist Church Kelly Welsh-Wingate Paul Kearney Thressa Thompson
Catherine Scott Francis W. Todey Ken & Bernadette Siebert Paul Klimesh Tim Garner
Cathy Carlyle Fred & Linda Vogtlin Ken Cameron or Elizabeth Baird Paul Sacks Timothy Hoekstra
Cecilia & Timothy Dunlay Frederick Bradner Kenneth Dunker Paul Scott Timothy Lupardus
Chad Hart Frederick Wehrenberg Kenneth Kruempel Paula & Glenn Norton Timothy Mooney
Chad Skonkwiler Fritz & Victoria Keinert Kenneth Recker Peggy & Mark Chidister Tom Wessels Glenice Varley
Chad West Gary Alexander Kenneth Zeigler Peggy F. Murdock Tony Ramey
Charles Ripley Gary Meyer Kevin & Lisa Hall Pete Scott Travis Anderson
Charles S. and Lori J. Jarmon Gayle Luze Kevin Stow Peter Flora Trish & Raymond Strah
Charles Sage Geoffrey Sauer Kiley Sealine Peter Hallock Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Charles Tebbutt Gerald Schradle Kim & Dustin McDonough Peter Sailor Ursula Frei
Cherie Howard Glenn & Mary Wiedenhoeft Kim Muckler Phil & Rose Martin Valeria Stallbaumer
Cheryl Binzen Glenn & Pam Sibbel Kimberly Thomas & Ricardo Rodriguez Phil Cacek Venita & Bob Currie
Cheryl Hanway Glenn Beavers Kirk Stevens Phil Gauger Vicky Thorland-Oster
Chris & Helen Colvin Glenn Kappelmann Kris & Dale Olson Philip Vater Victoria Dumdei
Chris Davis Gleason Good Neighbor Emergency Assistance, Inc. Kristen & Lee Wilkins Pranav Shrotriya & Neha Mehrota Vikki & Frank Felimeyer
Chris Mondak Gordon & Irmi Miller Kristin Dillavou Raji Joseph Virginia Folsom
Christianna White Great Plains Sauce & Dough Co Kristina Konrady Ralph Gandy Virginia Griesheimer
Christine King Green Hills Residents Association Kueier Chung Ramona & Steve Pett Vladimir Kogan
Christopher Maylard Green Hills Residents Association Kyle Perkins Randall Naeve Wade Fortune
Chuck Gilarski Gregory & Diane Nelson Larry Cormicle Raymond England & Teddi Barron Wendy Kisch
Cinzia Cervato Gregory Glaser Larry Halverson Rebecca Hoeppner Wheatsfield Cooperative
Clark Gaff Gregory Vitale Larry Schrag Reinhold Berg Willaim Watertor
Clarke Pasley Gretchen Meyer Laura Frescoln Renate Dellmann William & Catherine Simpkins
Claus Niesen Gustavo MacIntosh Laurie Evans Renee Rule William Barry
Collegiate Methodist Church Haruko and Norio Nakagawa Leah & Orville Berbano Renee Van Marel William Gutowski
Collegiate Presbyterian Church Hastings & Gartin Law Group, LLP Lee & Lori Burras Renewable Energy Group Inc William Hoefle
Collegiate United Methodist Church Heather Riley Lee Bendickson Richard & Babara Smith Winnie & Mark Gleason
Connie Stegge Helen Gunderson Leigh Tesfatsion & Herman Quirmbach Richard Engen Wolfgang & Lesia Oesterreich
Constance & Stephen Ringlee Helen Jiles Leila Ammar Richard Geil Workiva
Corey & Amy Mellies Henrietta Klarenbeek Leslie & Steve Kawaler Richard Honzatko Zachary Coffin
Corrinne Grover Holly Elbert Leslie Ann & David Olson Richard Olson Zebulon Acord
Craig Anderson Hongli Hennessy Leslie Osam Pensack Richard Roepke
Curtis Martinek Ian Dobson Leslie Peterson Richard Schneider
Cynthia Marten & Dallas Thies Igor & Flor Slowing Linda & Gary Lieberman Richard Shibles
Cynthia Needles Fletcher J Arbuckle Linda & John Hagge Richard Wilson