Des Moines Register, IA
05-24-07
Governor signs bills fostering renewable energy
The state will spend $100 million over four years to aid development.
By JASON CLAYWORTH
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
Ames, Ia. - It's official: Iowa will pump $100 million into boosting its renewable
fuel research and production.
Gov. Chet Culver signed legislation Wednesday that will allocate the money to
promote such things as wind power and ethanol-like improvements over the next
four years.
Culver called the bill historic legislation, telling a crowd of about 50 people at
Iowa State University "Our 21st century Iowa expedition starts now."
Said Culver, "This will begin the process of making our entire state a laboratory
so that we remain a cutting edge of all forms of renewable energy."
The legislation creates a new Office of Energy Independence. The office will
pursue new research investments with government and private businesses, as
well as help create an Iowa energy independence plan.
The goal is to wean Iowa from its dependence on foreign oil by 2025, Culver
said.
Iowa State University President Gregory Geoffroy praised the legislation
Culver signed.
"We are going to do for biomass what George Washington Carver did for the
peanut, and it won't be for peanuts," Geoffroy said.
He was referring to the internationally famous scientist, who was a student and
later a faculty member at what is now Iowa State. Carver is best known for
developing multiple uses for the peanut, including peanut butter.
The $100 million in the Iowa Power Fund will be spent over the next four years.
Culver said he plans to name the director of the Office of Energy Independence
and appoint seven of the 11 Power Fund board members around July 1.
The other four members of the board will be state officials, such as the director of
the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Culver predicted the fund would leverage "hundreds of millions, if not billions of
dollars" of additional investments in the state from private and federal sources.
The legislation consists of two bills. House File 918 essentially creates the
program; House File 927 allocates money for it.
Culver signed House File 918 at ISU's Food Sciences Building. He signed House
File 927 later at the Center for Energy and Environmental Education at the
University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls.
Larry Johnson, director of the ISU Center for Crop Utilization Research, called
the legislation a strong first step.
"This is a very significant investment, but it's a piece of the total investment that
is going to need to be made," Johnson said.
Sen. Bill Dotzler, a Waterloo Democrat who attended the bill signing in Ames,
said the Power Fund has added importance as the nation takes on energy
challenges.
"This Power Fund bill is something the people of Iowa dearly want," Dotzler said.
"They want us to look towards alternative forms of energy to help lead the way
and lead the country."