Let's go for it man!!! Daryl
On Feb 5, 2008, at 1:10 PM, Mike Carberry wrote:

> Apologies for multiple postings. Please feel free to forward to  
> your family, friends and state legislators.
>
> http://www.press-citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080205/ 
> OPINION02/802050311/1018/OPINION
>
>
>
>
> Tuesday, February 5, 2008
>
>
> My global warming wish list for Iowa
>
>
> Mike Carberry
>
> Guest Opinion
>
> You may call me greedy, but I want a lot from the current session  
> of the Iowa General Assembly when it comes to clean energy and  
> global warming solutions. You may look at them as a late Christmas  
> present, New Year's resolutions and birthday present all rolled  
> into one big package. Here are my personal priorities for the 2008  
> Iowa legislative session. They include (in no particular order):
>
> • Reduce global warming pollution 80 percent by 2050. Set  
> greenhouse gas reduction goals based on scientific consensus. Iowa  
> should ensure that greenhouse gas emissions peak now and then  
> achieve a long-term goal of reducing emissions by 80 percent below  
> 1990 levels by 2050. Engage with other states in the Midwest to  
> establish a market-based system to reduce greenhouse gases  
> efficiently and effectively. Midwestern states can cap emissions,  
> auction greenhouse gas permits and create a trading market to  
> reduce emissions. A regional system is an effective way for states  
> in the region to reduce emissions and will position the Midwest for  
> action on future national policies.
>
> • Raise the Renewable Energy Standard, or RES, of 25 percent of  
> total electrical sales in Iowa by 2025. This is the mechanism that  
> initially forced Iowa utility companies to begin considering  
> renewable energy and many think a prime reason that Iowa currently  
> is fourth in wind-generated electricity. The old standard of 2  
> percent has been surpassed and no longer is effective. A new  
> standard of 25 percent by 2025 now is achievable and consistent  
> with national priorities. Short-term standards of 10 percent by  
> 2010, 15 percent by 2015 and 20 percent by 2020 also are needed.  
> This is approximately 1 percent growth a year. Require a certain  
> percentage of the standard to be purchased from locally owned  
> renewable energy projects.
>
> • Encourage Community Owned Renewable Energy. Local ownership of  
> our renewable energy infrastructure brings more benefits to the  
> rural economy than outside corporate ownership. Much capacity  
> currently exists on distribution lines in Iowa to supply clean  
> energy. Legislation will require all utilities to offer a tariff  
> that is modeled on the successful Minnesota Community Based Energy  
> Development program, or C-BED, which sets rates that encourage  
> local ownership of renewable energy. These smaller community-owned  
> projects will be distributed across Iowa thereby utilizing the  
> existing transmission grid eliminating the need for big expensive  
> power lines.
>
> • Create an energy efficiency standard of 2 percent per year of  
> total sales reduced for all utilities, including municipals, rural  
> electric cooperatives and investor-owned utilities in both the gas  
> and electric sector. Iowa's utilities have made significant gains  
> in implementing efficiency programs, but more can be done to  
> realize the vast cost-effective potential of energy efficiency.  
> Iowa has significant opportunities to reduce electricity use from  
> energy efficiency, which is cheaper than alternatives like building  
> new generation capacity.
>
> • Set up net billing and standardized interconnect. Net billing  
> allows a producer of renewable energy to interconnect to the power  
> line on their side of the meter and "run their electric meter both  
> directions," the total usage being "netted" out at the end of each  
> month. Most rural and municipal utilities currently do not offer  
> net billing opportunities to their customers effectively denying  
> them the ability to participate. In addition, inconsistent  
> interconnection standards make it more difficult and expensive to  
> install renewable energy. All utilities in Iowa will work with the  
> Iowa Utility Board and interested parties and submit a simplified  
> standardized net billing plan (tariff) that will encourage  
> renewable energy net billing.
>
> • Permit no new coal-powered plants that do not permanently capture  
> and sequester CO2 from day one. Iowa now faces two proposals for  
> new coal-fired power plants. Compared to coal, renewable energy and  
> energy efficiency offer significant economic benefits and support  
> goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Iowa. Iowa must use  
> renewable energy and energy efficiency, instead of coal, and the  
> economic benefits from these opportunities are staggering.
>
> Given that this an election year, I might not get all of these  
> requests but it never hurts to ask. The ones that I don't get this  
> year surely will be on my list next year because they are things  
> that really are needed not just wanted.
>
> Mike Carberry is a tree hugger and professional environmental  
> advocate from Iowa City.
>
> Return to article
>
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>
>
> -- 
> Mike Carberry
>
> Iowa Global Warming
> Senior Regional Field Director
>
> 2029 Friendship St.
> Iowa City IA 52245
>
> Office:   319.338.8820
> Mobile:  319.594.6453
>
>
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> www.IowaGlobalWarming.org
>
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>
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