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
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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
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