From Senator Rob Hogg-- Dear Friends: This is my first energy and environmental email update of the 2007 session. If you know of others who would like to receive these updates, or if you do not want to receive them, please let me know and I will make any changes. I also post my updates on my web site, www.robhogg.org, so feel free to visit my web site for more information. Iowa Power Fund. The Iowa Legislature will be making important decisions this year about the future of energy in the state. Governor Culver has proposed a 4-year, $100 million Iowa Power Fund to help create the Next Generation Energy Economy. I have been working hard on this fund to make sure that it includes more than just conventional ethanol technology. I believe it is especially important for this fund to encourage energy conservation and energy efficiency - such as green building construction, building code education and enforcement, and local government energy saving innovations - and to help prepare Iowa for reducing its greenhouse gas emissions and for future national global warming regulations. I have also been working on related energy policy issues such as: · A state energy plan that includes an option of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020 and 50% by 2040. · A climate change commission to explore options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. · Expanded and improved energy efficiency and renewable energy measures by our utilities. · Carbon neutral policies to stop the increase in greenhouse gases as our economy grows. · Development of the next generation of ethanol technology that does not use fossil fuels and uses perennial crops such as switchgrass instead of corn. When bill numbers are available for these proposals, I will let you know. If you want to share your thoughts about these energy decisions, you can contact legislators by email or telephone. Contact information is available at www.legis.state.ia.us. Septic Tank Regulation. I have been serving on the subcommittee for SSB1066, a bill to require time-of-sale inspections for any septic tank in the state. The purpose of the bill is to identify and remedy any septic tank systems that are failing to protect the environment. It is believed that the time of sale of a property is the best time to remedy any problems in a septic system because ordinarily that is a time at which funds are available to the seller to make needed repairs. Although this issue is not the most glamorous legislative issue, it is important to deal with malfunctioning septic systems and to ensure that all Iowans do their part to help clean up our waters. Upcoming Events. On Monday, February 12, from 10-noon, I will be joining Rep. Janet Petersen and other colleagues for a tour of the Iowa Energy Center's Biomass Energy Conversion (BECON) facility in Nevada which is involved in research and development of new renewable energy technologies . . . On Thursday, February 15, at 11:30 a.m., Glenn Cannon from Waverly Power & Light and Kevin Nordmeyer with the U.S. Green Building Council will be testifying to the House Subcommittee on Energy in the former Supreme Court courtroom (Room 103) at the State Capitol . . . On Friday, February 16, at 2:00 p.m., I will be joining Rep. Dave Jacoby and Sen. Bob Dvorsky for a tour of North Central Junior High in North Liberty, a model of energy efficiency developed in partnership with the Linn County REC . . . On Saturday, February 17, beginning at 9:00 a.m., there will be a "Cool Congregations" program at Christ Episcopal Church, 220 40th Street NE, in Cedar Rapids . . . Later that morning, at 10:30 a.m., the League of Women Voters will be holding its monthly forum at Mercy Medical Center, 701 10th Street SE, in Cedar Rapids . . . On Saturday, February 24, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., Rep. Art Staed and I will be holding a legislative forum at Harding Middle School, 4801 Golf St. NE, in Cedar Rapids . . . I hope you can join me for one or more of these events. Rob State Senator Rob Hogg State Capitol Des Moines, IA 50319 (515) 242-5049 (direct) (515) 281-3371 (switchboard) [log in to unmask] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 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