Governor signs Power Fund Bill today. The press release below contains a good, brief description of the bill. Lyle ____________________________________________ 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 ____________________________________________ > ------ Forwarded Message > From: Press Release from Iowa Governor's Office <[log in to unmask]> > Reply-To: Press Release from Iowa Governor's Office > <[log in to unmask]> > Date: Wed, 23 May 2007 14:30:03 -0500 > To: Press Release from the Governor's Office > <[log in to unmask]> > Conversation: Governor Culver Signs Historic Power Fund Into Law > Subject: Governor Culver Signs Historic Power Fund Into Law > > OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR > Governor Chet Culver « Lt. Governor Patty Judge > > > FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE > May 23, 2007 > Contact: Brad Anderson > (515) 281-0173 > > > GOVERNOR CULVER SIGNS HISTORIC POWER FUND INTO LAW > > GOVERNOR SIGNS POWER FUND POLICY IN AMES; SIGNS POWER FUND APPROPRIATIONS IN > CEDAR FALLS > > (Des Moines) Today, Governor Chet Culver declared, ³Our 21st Century Iowa > Expedition starts now!² and signed the historic $100 million Iowa Power Fund > into law. > > The Governor signed the Power Fund Policy Bill (HF 918) in the Food Sciences > Building at Iowa State University in Ames. Later this afternoon, the Governor > signed the Power Fund Appropriations bill (HF 927) in the Center for Energy & > Environment Education at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. > > ³Today, I believe, is the time for Iowa to take the lead in the race to become > the energy capital of the world,² said Governor Culver. ³The Power Fund is an > exciting, forward-thinking plan that will coordinate our efforts as we explore > our new energy frontier. By signing the Power Fund into law, we can create > the jobs of the future in Iowa that will keep our kids at home where they > belong. I believe the Power Fund is one of the most important pieces of > legislation the Iowa legislature has passed in recent history, and I commend > them for their efforts.² > > The goal of the Power Fund is to invest in cutting edge research and > development that is required in the new energy economy. This will create the > jobs of the future and work to wean ourselves off foreign oil. More specifics > on the Iowa Power Fund are below: > > THE IOWA POWER FUND (HF 918): > > * Establishes the Office of Energy Independence. > > * The Director of the Office of Energy Independence is appointed by the > Governor. This person will, among other things: 1) Coordinate administration > of the Fund; 2) Coordinate existing state and Federal energy policy programs; > 3) Pursue new research investment funds from public and private sources; 4) > Establish renewable energy performance measures; 5) Develop an Iowa Energy > Independence plan. > > * WHO CAN APPLY? Anyone working to research, develop, commercialize and > implement new ways to wean ourselves off foreign oil through: 1) New types of > renewable energy; 2) Emerging biofuels such as cellulosic ethanol; 3) Energy > efficiency. > > * POWER FUND DUE DILIGENCE COMMITTEE will consist of 7 members. These > individuals will review recommendations that come before the Power Fund Board: > > ü Office of Energy Independence appointee with business expertise; > ü Regents representative; > ü DED representative; > ü Iowa Energy Center representative; > ü DED biotechnology commercialization representative; > ü 2 members of the Power Fund Board. > > * POWER FUND BOARD will be made up of 11 members: > > ü IUB Chair or designee; > ü DED Director or designee; > ü DNR Director or designee; > ü Secretary of Agriculture or designee; > ü 7 appointees by the Governor (3-year terms; must be confirmed by > Senate); > > In addition, there are 7 ex-officio members representing legislature, Regents, > IA Association of Community College Presidents, and IA Association of > Independent Colleges and Universities. > > * ESTABLISHES IOWA ENERGY INDEPENDENCE PLAN: A Plan shall be developed by the > Director of the Office of Energy Independence with the assistance of DNR and > with public and private partners selected by the director. The plan shall > provide options and strategies for reducing Iowa¹s consumption of energy, > dependence on foreign sources of energy, use of fossil fuels, and greenhouse > gas emissions. This plan shall provide for achieving independence from > foreign sources by 2025. The plan shall be submitted to the Governor and > General Assembly by December 14, 2007. > > * ESTABLISHES ENERGY EFFICIENCY STUDY: The Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) shall > conduct a study of energy efficiency plans and programs offered by all natural > gas and electric utilities to determine the status and effectiveness of such > programs. Results of the study should be made to the General Assembly by > January 1, 2008. > > ### > > <http://www.governor.iowa.gov> > > > > > > > --- > You are currently subscribed to igov_press_releases as: [log in to unmask] > To unsubscribe click the Unsubscribe link below, or send a blank email to: > [log in to unmask] . > http://Membership.Lists.ia.gov/u?id=3128831C&n=T&c=F&l=igov_press_releases > <http://membership.lists.ia.gov/u?id=3128831C&n=T&c=F&l=igov_press > _releases> (click here to unsubscribe) > ------ End of Forwarded Message - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 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 Sign up to receive Sierra Club Insider, the flagship e-newsletter. Sent out twice a month, it features the Club's latest news and activities. Subscribe and view recent editions at http://www.sierraclub.org/insider/