Sierrans: Below is the excerpt from the new Iowa Governorıs inaugural address about his energy and bio- future. FYI. Lyle ****************************BEGIN EXCERPT**************************** It's our time to accept the challenge, to explore and discover Iowa's unlimited potential. It's our time to win the race to become the energy capital of the world. Let us invoke the lessons previous generations of explorers and leaders have taught us. Let us all come together as one and lead our own ³21st Century Iowa Expedition.² There is an energy frontier open before us, and we must explore it immediately! America and the world are counting on us. Simply put, we can't afford to duck this responsibility! It's time for Iowa to become the Silicon Valley of the Midwest. It's time to create the jobs of the future that will keep your children and my children here at home, where they belong. Itıs time to make the entire state of Iowa a laboratory so we remain on the cutting edge of all forms of renewable energy. We will protect our precious environment: the land, lakes, rivers and streams we all love. However, with the right balance, we can harvest rewards beyond even our wildest imagination. Our value-added opportunities allow us to take from the earth more than once because we are blessed with the best soil and the most productive farmers in the world. In addition, we have a tradition of great scientists like Henry Wallace and Norman Borlaug, and a world-class education system that ³nurtures² our homegrown talent. We have already led the nation with ethanol and biodiesel. Now we must maintain that leadership. With the eyes of the world upon us, we must prepare for the next generation energy economy. We will create an Iowa Power Fund to invest in and attract cutting edge research and development. This will ensure we can lead the way not only in alternative fuels but also in biomass, geothermal, wind and solar energy. Itıs time for Iowa to become the first state in the nation to declare energy independence! We are already on our way! Whether it's the production of soy lubricant in Waverly, the development of a biorefinery in Emmetsburg, the manufacturing of corn-based plastics in Clinton, the wind storage project in Dallas County, or the new biomass option of burning oat hulls in place of coal in Cedar Falls -- Iowa is on the frontier! Our dreams of an amazing future, one of energy independence, prosperity and a quality of life second to none, are within our reach. I know we can turn our dreams into reality! ****************************END EXCERPT**************************** ____________________________________________ Lyle Krewson Sierra Club, Iowa Chapter Lobbyist 1725 S. 50th Street #602 West Des Moines, IA 50265 [log in to unmask] 515-238-7113 - Cel ____________________________________________ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp