Amidst the ongoing political debate on energy and climate, Iowa is embracing its potential for wind energy and other renewable energy sources. In fact, we are coupling our investments with valuable natural gas to heat homes, power industry, create jobs, and advance manufacturing.
Our energy success story is an important one – one that presidential contenders have learned from and can replicate across the country. Why? To lower emissions, lower costs, and provide Americans with ongoing reliable, secure energy.
Iowa is among the nation’s leaders in renewable power production, second only to Texas. Iowa also boasts the highest per-square-mile generation of homegrown wind energy, recently, achieving the remarkable feat of generating 64 percent of its electricity from wind. With renewable production increasing, power sector emissions are decreasing – down over 30 percent since 2005 according to the Energy Information Administration. Last year, that homegrown energy injected $68 million into the pockets of farmers, ranchers, and other private landowners, providing crucial support to numerous family enterprises.
Coupled with renewables, natural gas is critical to keeping Iowa’s economy moving. Approximately 58 percent of all natural gas used in Iowa fuels our state’s industry. It’s the core ingredient in fertilizer production, fueling our food production facilities, and providing reliable energy to power aerospace, defense and other manufacturing across our state. Additionally, about 60 percent of homes stay warm during our cold winters with natural gas.
Renewables and natural gas, working together? It’s a strategy that’s working here in Iowa and it can work across the country, too.
- Chaz Allen is the Executive Director of the Iowa Utility Association and a former Iowa state senator.
