From: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2001
Subject: Weekly Column- It's a Breeze
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It's a Breeze by Sen. Chuck Grassley, of Iowa

Iowa farmers looking to diversify their crop acres are finding it's a breeze
to squeeze more value out of their farmland. Sitting smack dab in the middle
of America's breadbasket, Iowa's fertile fields and abundant grain harvests
have helped feed the world and allowed generations of farm families to earn
a living off the land. But in recent years, a new crop has sprung up across
the state and added a new twist to production agriculture.

Acres of wind turbines are dotting the landscape in farm fields near Storm
Lake, Clear Lake, Mason City and Albia. These high-tech wind farms serve as
a welcome new revenue source to landowners and local governments. Consider
that a farmer can receive more than $2,000 per wind turbine per year for 20
years in direct lease payments for allowing giant wind turbines on their
property to capture Iowa's inexhaustible supply of wind. In fact, wind farms
in Iowa pay more than $640,000 annually to local landowners. In addition to
tapping into an alternative source of income, these farmers are helping to
engineer a steady supply of energy produced locally. The wind farms even
lure sight-seers and tourists to the area, who generate cash flow to the
local retail economy.

Wind energy is also good news for consumers. Understandably, I've gotten an
earful throughout the last year from Iowans concerned about the rising costs
of energy. Whether it's prices at the pump or home heating bills, Iowans are
watching energy expenses soak up a greater share of their monthly budgets.
Harnessing the power of wind will help clamp down on energy shortages and
soaring prices in the future. But the benefits go far beyond dollars and
cents.

In addition to the economic impact, wind energy bears promising
environmental and national security gains for Americans. Wind energy
generates clean electricity right here at home. Every 10,000 megawatts of
wind energy produced in the U.S. can reduce carbon monoxide emissions by 33
million metric tons by replacing the combustion of fossil fuels. This also
helps insulate the United States from a restrictive overseas oil supply
dominated by the Middle East. The nation's long-running energy dependence on
foreign sources of fuel plays a dominant role in U.S. foreign policy and
military strategies, adding layers of burden to American taxpayers.

As a strong advocate for homegrown, renewable sources of energy, including
ethanol, soy diesel and biomass, I sponsored the 1993 law that created
federal incentives to give wind energy production a fighting chance to
compete against traditional, finite sources of energy. Domestic wind energy
capacity in the United States today generates more than 2,500 megawatts.
This can power the equivalent of roughly 700,000 homes. Set to expire next
year, I have introduced legislation to extend the federal wind energy tax
credit for five years through January 1, 2007.

Called the Bipartisan Renewable, Efficient Energy with Zero Effluent
(BREEZE)Act, this legislative initiative sends a strong signal to the wind
farms springing up around the country. In Iowa alone, four new wind power
projects are prepared to go online by the end of the year. They will join
the 20 facilities already underway in Iowa.

Washington ought to continue on the path to greater energy independence by
promoting wind energy production. Wind is an underused, abundant, and
renewable natural resource. Tapping into it makes perfect sense. It's a good
investment in America's 21st century energy needs.

107-10-01

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