From Senator Rob Hogg--

Dear Friends:

This is my first energy and environmental email update of the 2007 session. 
If you know of others who would like to receive these updates, or if you do 
not want to receive them, please let me know and I will make any changes.  I 
also post my updates on my web site, www.robhogg.org, so feel free to visit 
my web site for more information.

Iowa Power Fund.  The Iowa Legislature will be making important decisions 
this year about the future of energy in the state.  Governor Culver has 
proposed a 4-year, $100 million Iowa Power Fund to help create the Next 
Generation Energy Economy.  I have been working hard on this fund to make 
sure that it includes more than just conventional ethanol technology.  I 
believe it is especially important for this fund to encourage energy 
conservation and energy efficiency - such as green building construction, 
building code education and enforcement, and local government energy saving 
innovations - and to help prepare Iowa for reducing its greenhouse gas 
emissions and for future national global warming regulations.  I have also 
been working on related energy policy issues such as:

·        A state energy plan that includes an option of reducing greenhouse 
gas emissions by 20% by 2020 and 50% by 2040.
·        A climate change commission to explore options to reduce greenhouse 
gas emissions.
·        Expanded and improved energy efficiency and renewable energy 
measures by our utilities.
·        Carbon neutral policies to stop the increase in greenhouse gases as 
our economy grows.
·        Development of the next generation of ethanol technology that does 
not use fossil fuels and uses perennial crops such as switchgrass instead of 
corn.

When bill numbers are available for these proposals, I will let you know. 
If you want to share your thoughts about these energy decisions, you can 
contact legislators by email or telephone.  Contact information is available 
at www.legis.state.ia.us.

Septic Tank Regulation.  I have been serving on the subcommittee for 
SSB1066, a bill to require time-of-sale inspections for any septic tank in 
the state.  The purpose of the bill is to identify and remedy any septic 
tank systems that are failing to protect the environment.  It is believed 
that the time of sale of a property is the best time to remedy any problems 
in a septic system because ordinarily that is a time at which funds are 
available to the seller to make needed repairs.  Although this issue is not 
the most glamorous legislative issue, it is important to deal with 
malfunctioning septic systems and to ensure that all Iowans do their part to 
help clean up our waters.

Upcoming Events.  On Monday, February 12, from 10-noon, I will be joining 
Rep. Janet Petersen and other colleagues for a tour of the Iowa Energy 
Center's Biomass Energy Conversion (BECON) facility in Nevada which is 
involved in research and development of new renewable energy technologies . 
. . On Thursday, February 15, at 11:30 a.m., Glenn Cannon from Waverly Power 
& Light and Kevin Nordmeyer with the U.S. Green Building Council will be 
testifying to the House Subcommittee on Energy in the former Supreme Court 
courtroom (Room 103) at the State Capitol . . . On Friday, February 16, at 
2:00 p.m., I will be joining Rep. Dave Jacoby and Sen. Bob Dvorsky for a 
tour of North Central Junior High in North Liberty, a model of energy 
efficiency developed in partnership with the Linn County REC . . . On 
Saturday, February 17, beginning at 9:00 a.m., there will be a "Cool 
Congregations" program at Christ Episcopal Church, 220 40th Street NE, in 
Cedar Rapids . . . Later that morning, at 10:30 a.m., the League of Women 
Voters will be holding its monthly forum at Mercy Medical Center, 701 10th 
Street SE, in Cedar Rapids . . . On Saturday, February 24, from 10:00 to 
11:30 a.m., Rep. Art Staed and I will be holding a legislative forum at 
Harding Middle School, 4801 Golf St. NE, in Cedar Rapids . . . I hope you 
can join me for one or more of these events.

Rob

State Senator Rob Hogg
State Capitol
Des Moines, IA 50319
(515) 242-5049 (direct)
(515) 281-3371 (switchboard)
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