ACT NOW to Pass Senate File 117!  

Since the first day of the 2003 legislative session, Iowa Citizen Action 
Network and its allie have been working to educate legislators on the 
economic, environmental and energy security benefits of increasing Iowa’s 
Renewable Energy Standard to 10% by 2010.  

The Iowa Legislator has responded by introducing Senate File 117, which would 
increase our Renewable Energy Standard to 10% by 2010 and require that 20% of 
the standard come from small renewable energy systems.  

What is a Renewable Energy Standard? It is the amount of renewable energy 
that Iowa’s investor-owned utilities must purchase. Our current standard, 
adopted by the state legislature in 1983 is 2%. Thanks to that legislation, 
the wind power industry in Iowa was launched, and our state became one of the 
nation’s leaders in the growing renewable energy industry.  

Why do we need to increase the Renewable Energy Standard?  

For the environment: Renewable energy means cleaner air and cleaner water. 
Iowa’s existing wind turbines create zero emissions, compared to the 125,000 
tons of soot forming sulfur dioxide, and 39 million tons of global warming 
pollution that Iowa power plants currently emit. Pollution from power plants 
cause a host of health problems, from asthma attacks to neonatal death and 
slowed neurological development.

For the economy:  Despite the fact that we are in a state budget crisis, we 
still spend $6.6 billion a year on electricity, with more than 60 percent of 
those dollars leaving Iowa to benefit the economies of other states and 
nations. By producing our own home-grown renewable energy, those dollars will 
stay in the state and boost our farm economy. Studies have shown (by Iowa 
Policy Project and the Tellus Institute) that from 8300 to 10,000 jobs will 
be created in Iowa from renewable energy with a 10% standard by 2010.

For the nation’s energy security: By producing our own home-grown renewable 
energy, thus diversifying electric power sources, we are less likely to 
experience price fluctuations and black-outs.  

(for more reasons go to <A HREF="http://www.iowacan.org/">www.IowaCAN.org</A>, click on Sustainable Energy in the 
upper left-hand corner, then click on Frequently Asked Questions on the 
bottom right)  

Our state leaders need to make a real commitment to our environment, our 
economy and to our nation’s energy security by requiring our regulated 
investor- owned utilities to purchase Iowa’s own home-grown renewable 
energy.  There is no better time for our state leaders to increase the 
Renewable Energy Standard to 10% by 2010. 

Tell your state representatives to support Senate File 117! 

ICAN and its allies will continue to educate legislators on the need for more 
renewable energy —but we will need your help to get this bill passed. Our 
message is clear: Pass Senate File 117. 

WHAT YOU CAN DO:  

1. Call, meet or email your state senator and representative. Tell them of 
your support for a Renewable Energy Standard of 10% by 2010. Tell them that 
Senate File should stand alone without unnecessary amendments.    

Who is your State Senator? Who is your State Representative?  Find out at: <A HREF="http://www.legis.state.ia.us/">
www.legis.state.ia.us</A>. Click on: “Find your Legislator.” 

2. Tell ICAN organizer Michelle Kenyon how your State Senator and State 
Representative responded to your support for the Renewable Energy Standard of 
10% by 2010. Email her at <A HREF="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]</A>. By working together, we can 
ensure that Iowa will have a clean energy future.   

3. Write a letter to your local paper to show your support for Senate File 
117. Please let Michelle know if you need any assistance.  

Thank you for taking action!   
Michelle KenyonOrganizer, Iowa Citizen Action Network