This from Iowa Farmers' Union, encouraging an amendment to SF449 that would promote small, local wind production. Iowa Farmers Union is sending the letter below to Rep. Rants asking him to amend and support SF 449. The amendment would provide incentives for farmers and small businesses to get into wind farming. This would be a win-win amendment that promotes renewable energy and helps individuals to get into the business. You are encouraged to make calls and write letters in support of the "Small Wind" amendment. Thanks, Jackie The Honorable Christopher Rants Speaker of the House Iowa House of Representatives State Capitol Des Moines, IA 50319 Dear Representative Rants: On behalf of the Iowa Farmers Union, I ask you to support sensible legislation relating to the production and use of renewable energy. Senate File 449 should be amended to include incentives for local wind production. While much of the 2003 legislative session focused on revitalizing Iowa's economy, renewable energy is also very important. Iowa's farmers and small businesses must be included revitalization efforts and opportunities. One such opportunity is "wind farming." Over the past several years, numerous wind farms have sprung up around the state. However, generating energy from the wind is a new and emerging opportunity for farmers and small businesses. Farmers should be able to build wind turbines to meet their own energy needs and sell excess energy back to the power company. This would have a positive economic impact on rural communities. Currently, the vast majority of wind farms are controlled by a handful of large electric companies. These companies lease portions of land from farmers for their wind turbines. Farmers could make more money by producing and selling electricity themselves rather than leasing their land to a large company. Iowa Farmers Union fully supports the use of wind as a clean and renewable source of energy. It does not deplete any existing natural resources and is readily available on farm land across the state. Wind farming has not yet reached its full potential in our state. It is estimated that Iowa could produce more than 20 times its energy needs from the wind alone. Supporting this type of development for farmers and small businesses would cause economic revitalization. The Iowa Legislature has already demonstrated its support for the utility and wind industry by passing SF 432. The Legislature's support and encouragement for small wind producers, Iowa's local landowners, has yet to be shown. In order for the State Legislature to promote small, local wind production, SF 449 needs to be amended to provide a 2 cent tax credit per kilowatt hour for owners of wind farms that produce less than 3 Megawatts of electricity. I urge you to work for rural Iowans by amending and passing SF 449. Sincerely, Gary Hoskey IFU President Iowa Farmers Union PO Box 8988 528 Billy Sunday Rd Ames, IA 50014 800-775-5227 [log in to unmask] www.iafu.org Erin E. Jordahl Director, Iowa Chapter Sierra Club 3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280 Des Moines, IA 50310 515-277-8868 [log in to unmask] www.iowa.sierraclub.org - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask]