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Senate Update: Passing California, Iowa No. 2 in wind
by Bob Dvorsky, State Senator · Op-Ed · February 11, 2016
Iowa has passed California to become the No. 2 ranked state nationally with more than 6,000 megawatts of installed wind energy capacity, according to a national report by the American Wind Energy Association.
Wind now accounts for more than 28 percent of Iowa’s total electric production, generating enough energy to power 1.5 million homes.
Iowa’s growth in wind energy has brought new businesses and jobs across the state. There are more than 215 Iowa businesses connected to the wind industry, employing more than 6,000 Iowans.
Iowa is home to 12 active manufacturing facilities. These manufacturers represent just a portion of the businesses in Iowa that are here because of the wind industry. Iowa is also home to companies that maintain, repair and provide supplies for wind energy systems. Iowa’s wind energy resources have even encouraged companies like Facebook and Google to locate in the state because they want to power their facilities with clean energy.
Iowa is well positioned to continue as a leader in the wind industry because:
• Our state offers incentives to create and expand wind energy facilities and related jobs.
• Our community colleges provide the skills training Iowans need to work in the wind energy industry.
• We are centrally located in the middle of the nation’s largest wind energy resources.
• The winds in parts of Iowa are stronger than average, making them well suited for producing wind energy.
Iowa’s booming wind energy industry is not an accident. Coupled with federal wind energy tax credits, the state of Iowa has been aggressive in promoting the industry and should continue to do so.
Continued growth of Iowa’s wind industry will create more jobs and boost our economy, while providing the clean energy options that consumers want.
Upcoming public forums: Muscatine County Legislative Forum: 9 a.m. Feb. 6 at Muscatine Community College, 154 Colorado St, Muscatine; and Johnson County Legislative Forum 9:30 a.m. Feb. 27 at Coralville City Council Chambers, 1512 7th St, Coralville, Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Johnson County.
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