Wind Power Brings Jobs To Iowa

[Dan Moadus]

I was going to ask my standard question of Dennis (how much is this costing us) but I see that it's answered in the article.  $100 million.

[irishbobcat]

DES MOINES, Iowa - It appears Iowa is literally generating jobs out of thin air. A new report from the Environmental Law and Policy Center says the state is quickly becoming a hotbed for the production of the components needed to produce wind energy. The report notes at least 79 companies in Iowa doing wind energy business.

According to ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner, Iowa's wind industry now supports more than 2,300 manufacturing jobs.

"What we are seeing is, getting the policies right is good for jobs, good for economic development, and good for Iowa's environment."

Learner says the policies that have helped in Iowa include a $100 million Iowa Power Fund through the Office of Energy Independence, tax incentives, excellent multi-modal transportation system planning, investments in education and skilled labor training.

He says Iowa has become a national leader in harnessing the wind to produce electricity, second only to Texas.

"Second-leading state in the country in terms of the amount of electricity generated by wind power. There are 80 wind installations that have more than 2,500 wind turbines."

The report, "The Wind Energy Supply Chain in Iowa," is online at http://elpc.org/iowawind.