Speaker: Cheaper costs making solar power more plausible - KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and Sports

We hear the term green energy used a lot these days. It's usually about renewable, cheap methods of power.

More than 150 Siouxlanders and other Iowans are in Sioux City Tuesday to learn more about the future of wind and solar energy.

Sessions were held throughout the day at the convention center on topics like installing solar panels or a wind turbine at your home.

One of the keynote speakers says solar power has a heavier following abroad, and is now gaining traction in the states. He says the key solar is becoming more affordable for those in the city and country.

"You could only put up solar if that's what you wanted to do. You couldn't justify, especially in a state like Iowa, where our electric rates are relatively low, compared to the rest of the country," said Bill Haman, industrial program manager for the Iowa Energy Center in Ames, Iowa.

One of the biggest challenges Haman says solar still faces is how to return energy to the grid, that's not being used right away.

The batteries that store the power are still expensive, but the panels themselves are becoming increasingly cost effective.