Power Up Iowa has commenced operations as a statewide coalition of renewable energy supporters advocating for local, state and federal policies that grow wind energy investments in Iowa.
Power Up Iowa, an initiative of the American Wind Energy Association, comprises more than 60 stakeholders from various sectors, including the wind industry, business, education and local government. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg joined state business and civic leaders on Thursday to launch the group.
“Iowa is a leader in wind energy, and we’re witnessing its positive impact across the state,” said Reynolds. “Supporting wind in Iowa has led to educational opportunities, job creation and investment in rural communities. It’s also helped us attract companies like Facebook, Apple, Google and Microsoft due to our low-cost renewable energy.”
“Iowa is a great place to do business, in part due to the investment and infrastructure for renewable energy,” said Matt Sexton, community development regional manager for Facebook. “We are thrilled to call Iowa home and support our data center operations with 100 percent renewable energy.”
Participants in the press conference discussed the positive impact that wind energy has had on Iowa’s workforce – including as it relates to Reynolds’ Future Ready Iowa initiative — as well as the positive impact it has on farmers, rural communities and the environment.
By educating, raising awareness and participating in conversations with the state’s leaders, Power Up Iowa aims to make the case for continued growth in wind power.
“An investment in wind power is an investment in Iowa’s workforce,” said Jay Byers, CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership. “Wind energy has played a role in our success here in the Des Moines metro to attract companies to locate here and attract young talent who place a high personal value on clean energy. This is one of the factors fueling our thriving tech start-up community helping us keep and attract the next generation of leaders.”
Well then by God, Iowa better get some regulations on these wind companies. They need to go through the IUB as per Iowa Code 476A. Big Wind is running roughshod over rural Iowa as evidenced by Invenergy’s onslaught in Worth County. Worth County has no regulations on wind energy companies. The power of two supervisors prevents the implementation of any regulations. Worth County has no minimum setbacks, no decommissioning guidelines, no environmental oversight. Rural Iowa is sick of it and fighting back. Ninety percent of landowners say no to wind installations in the Worthwhile Project proposed in Worth Co, IA.… Read more »