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 www.IowaCAN.org, 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: www.legis.state.ia.us. 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 [log in to unmask]. 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