Upon invitation from Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), former Iowa governor and former U.S. ambassador to China Terry Branstad testified today at a hearing on climate change.
“Former Governor Branstad and I worked together during his time as Iowa’s governor to advocate for renewable and alternative energy solutions. And now, Iowa gets 60 percent of its energy from wind and leads the nation in ethanol production. We also opposed destructive federal policies, which would have driven up costs and meddled in the lives of hardworking farmers and businessmen,” Grassley said in his opening remarks.
Branstad highlighted Iowa’s responsible leadership in promoting renewable energy sources and empowering the agriculture sector in ways that promote economic gains in the state.
“As Iowa’s former Governor, it is clear to me how agriculture can be a significant boon to our economy and can have an enormously positive impact on climate change. America’s agricultural leadership gives our farmers a competitive advantage in the global marketplace and the opportunity to lead the world in food and energy marketplaces,” Branstad said in his opening statement.
He also warned that further reliance on China to implement a domestic “clean energy” agenda will not be a successful strategy.
“China is the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter, and its water and air quality are extremely poor. The actions that the Chinese government have taken against the people in Hong Kong and the continued mistreatment of the Uyghurs is unconscionable,” Branstad said in his prepared remarks.
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