Last week, Iowa Governor Chet Culver unveiled Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s plan to create new wind jobs across Iowa and the nation. The Governor explained Obama’s plan during roundtable discussions at TPI Composites in Newton and Clipper Windpower in Cedar Rapids.
"The outcome of this election is very important to the future of Iowa’s wind industry," said Governor Culver. "The wind industry has created more than 2,000 green jobs in Iowa over the last two years, and Barack Obama has a detailed plan to further invest in wind energy and make wind energy a federal priority."
Barack Obama’s Wind Jobs Creation Package includes:
— Requiring 10% of electricity to come from renewable sources by 2012, and 25% by 2025. Obama wants establish a federal Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) to require that 10% of electricity consumed in the U.S. is derived from clean, sustainable energy sources, like solar, wind and geothermal by 2012.
— Extend the federal Wind Production Tax Credit (PTC) for 5 years.
— Invest in a Smart Grid. Obamas administration said it will pursue a "major investment" in the national utility grid using smart metering, distributed storage and other advanced technologies.
— Double Farm Bill funding for wind programs. Demand for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) exceeds available funding by about a three to one margin, according to Governor Culver. To close that gap, Obama proposes doubling this program to increase incentives for locally-owned wind power.
"According to recent statistics, Iowa is has once again moved up into third in the nation in wind energy production," continued Governor Culver. "Iowa’s 1400 towers produce over 1000 Megawatts of clean energy–which is equivalent to taking 700,000 cars and their emissions off the road. Barack Obama has a record of supporting Iowa’s wind industry, and he has a plan to strengthen it and create quality wind jobs throughout Iowa and the nation."
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