Red Lion Renewables is Cultivating the Next Generation of Changemakers

A decade ago, Terry Dvorak set out on a mission. He wasn’t looking to build the biggest solar company or chase residential contracts. Instead, he envisioned something more profound: a future where every school district in Iowa could access solar power, not just as a way to cut energy costs, but as a tool to inspire students to become the problem-solvers and innovators of tomorrow. 

Today, as Red Lion Renewables celebrates its 10-year milestone, the company has installed over 150 solar projects, offset carbon emissions equivalent to planting five million trees, and expanded into 50 schools, cities, and counties across Iowa. But for Terry, the true impact isn’t measured in kilowatt-hours saved; it’s measured in the minds of young people who have been empowered to create change.

Terry, who has worked in the solar industry for 18 years, traces his passion back to a business trip to China in 2010. The experience was a turning point. “I remember stepping out of my hotel in Shanghai, taking a deep breath, and gagging,” he recalls. “The air was thick with smog, like paint thinner. It hit me: there are children growing up here who will never know what it’s like to see a clear blue sky. And I thought about my own 2 kids, about the world we were leaving them. That was the moment I knew I had to do something.” 

He founded Red Lion Renewables to make solar energy feasible for schools and municipalities – institutions that needed long-term stability and cost savings but lacked access to upfront capital. His business model focused on leveraging tax credits and securing investment partners to make solar projects possible without burdening schools with upfront costs. 

While the financial and environmental benefits of solar were clear, Terry soon realized that the biggest impact came from engaging students in the process. One of the most powerful examples of this ripple effect began at Wapello Elementary School, a small district in rural Iowa. 

A group of students participating in an Iowa State University-sponsored robotics program were tasked with solving a community problem. They had heard about solar projects at another school and reached out to Terry. “I told them, ‘I’ll help you, but you’re going to do the work,’” he says. “I showed them how to measure solar potential, analyze energy costs, and put together a proposal. They did the engineering, crunched the math, built the case, and pitched it to the school board.” 

What happened next was extraordinary. The board listened—and acted. The project moved forward. According to Red Lion’s impact report, the project will save the school district $1.4 million in lifetime savings. 

But the impact didn’t stop there. The city took notice and initiated its own solar project, estimated to save another $1.6 million. Then the county got involved; all sparked by a group of 8- to 12-year-olds who simply wanted to make a difference.  “It’s like ripples in a pond,” Terry reflects. “These kids proved that they have the power to effect real change in their communities. And now, other schools and cities are seeing what’s possible.” 

Public schools in Iowa, like many across the country, are facing budget shortfalls. For Terry, the goal is for every school in Iowa to have solar power, whether through Red Lion or by inspiring other organizations to take up the cause. “Every dollar a school saves on electricity is a dollar that can go toward teachers’ salaries, new textbooks, STEM programs, music and arts, or even keeping the local swimming pool open,” he affirms. “One town we worked with used their solar savings to fund their family aquatic center and recreation program. That’s real impact.” 

Terry also sees this work as part of a bigger mission: restoring Iowa’s public education system to the excellence it once had. “When I was a kid, Iowa’s schools were among the best in the nation. We’ve slipped in the rankings, and part of that is funding. If we can redirect millions of dollars from energy bills into the classroom, we can start changing that story.” 

As Red Lion Renewables enters its second decade, Terry’s vision remains ambitious: solar power in every school district in his state. Beyond Iowa, he sees opportunities to expand this model to other states, particularly in rural communities where budget constraints often limit access to clean energy solutions. 

“When my grandkids ask me one day, ‘What did you do about climate change?’ I want to be able to say: I did something. I helped schools, I helped cities, I helped young people see that they have the power to create a better future,” Terry shares. 

And that, more than anything, is the legacy of Red Lion Renewables.