FYI. This from the Iowa Senate Republican staff news weblink of 10/10. Just to know what they are saying about wind energy in Iowa. Lyle Krewson ___________________________________________________ Iowa Solidifies Role as Leading Producer of Wind Energy Iowa is beginning to see the rewards of recent legislative initiatives aimed at boosting wind energy production across the state. According to the American Wind Energy Association, Iowa is already a leading state in the nation for wind energy production. Iowa currently ranks third nationally in wind generating capacity and ranks tenth in wind development potential. Iowašs total wind generating capacity of 422.7 megawatts accounts for 9 percent of the national total and ranks third behind only Texas and California. Iowa leads all Midwestern states in wind production and is 62 megawatts ahead of second place Minnesota. Recent initiatives by Iowa lawmakers will help boost those numbers. Iowašs number 10 ranking in wind development potential is a fact not missed by developers who are building two new wind farms in the state. Currently, Iowa is already home to more than 400 wind turbines. Wind farms are operational in Buena Vista, Cerro Gordo, Worth, and Hancock Counties. These farms, contracted to Interstate Power and Light and MidAmerican Energy, account for 414 megawatts of power. Both developers plan to continue their investment in wind energy. Interstate Power and Light is building a new 43.5 megawatt wind farm in Dickinson County and MidAmerican has a 310 megawatt wind farm in the planning stages. According to MidAmerican, the 310 megawatt wind farm will be the worldšs largest land-based wind project in Iowa. The recent growth can be attributed to legislative initiatives aimed at increasing alternative energy production. During the 2003 session, Iowa lawmakers approved legislation that made it possible for an electric utility to fulfill its 105 Megawatt alternative energy requirement by owning alternative energy producing facilities. Prior to this change a utility could only purchase alternative energy. This meant that another party had to first construct the facility and then sell the energy to the utility. Several other state programs have also spurred Iowašs wind energy growth. They are the Alternate Energy Revolving Loan Program administered by the Iowa Energy Center and alternate energy purchase programs, which allow utility customers to contribute to alternate energy development. Even at the federal level, Iowašs U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley is working to extend the production tax credit for wind energy. He authored the first-ever wind energy production tax credit in 1993. All of these initiatives are a win-win for Iowans. Wind energy is an environmentally-friendly way to help meet our statešs growing energy needs. When MidAmerican and Interstate Power and Lightšs new facilities come on line, Iowa will rank a close third nationally and could even surpass Texas to move into second place. A combination of environmental concern and business-friendly legislation has created a potential for Iowa to become the national leader in clean energy production. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ___________________________________________________ Lyle R. Krewson Sierra Club Conservation Organizer 6403 Aurora Avenue #3 Des Moines, IA 50322-2862 515/276-8947 515/238-7113 - cel [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask] ___________________________________________________ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp