Des Moines Register
11-12-07
Set state goal to cut greenhouse gases
Iowa's new entities should work in concert.
Newly created arms of state government have begun work in recent months to
propel development of a clean-energy economy in Iowa.
State employees and appointed volunteers are pursuing objectives set by the
2007 Legislature: to promote production and use of renewable energy, to reduce
dependence on foreign sources of energy, to enhance energy efficiency and to
reduce use of fossil fuels and the resulting emission of greenhouse gases, such
as carbon dioxide.
But Iowa will waste some of the effort and dollars invested in pursuing these
individual objectives unless it sets a common goal that unifies them all: a clear
target for reducing global-warming gases. Specifically, each new entity should
adopt the goal of reducing greenhouse-gas emissions in Iowa 80 percent by
2050. Then, in its 2008 session, the Legislature should make the goal law.
Aggressive goal critical
The new Iowa Climate Change Advisory Council started the ball rolling last
month by voting to develop a scenario for the state to reduce greenhouse-gas
emissions by 80 percent, in addition to developing the 50 percent-reduction
scenario that the law creating the council requires.
The vote wasn't unanimous and may signal discord to come. Members
representing electrical-energy and farm interests, powerful lobbies in Iowa, voted
no.
The higher goal is critical. It reflects the best science available on what's needed
to avert cataclysmic damage, as reflected in the observations of scientists around
the world who make up the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
The 80 percent reduction goal also should be adopted by the Office of Energy
Independence and the Iowa Power Fund Board.
Stave off dirty options
The cabinet-level Office of Energy Independence is charged with developing an
Iowa energy-independence plan containing strategies to "provide for achieving
energy independence from foreign sources of energy by the year 2025."
The bill doesn't define energy independence. Roya Stanley, the office's
director, told an audience at the Biobased Industry Outlook Conference at
Iowa State University last week that it doesn't mean creating an island. It means
creating options that allow Iowa collectively to control its energy decisions,
instead of having those decisions dictated by others, she said.
That sounds right. Energy is a global market. Iowa for the foreseeable future will
import some of its energy from other states and nations. But the more renewableenergy resources that Iowa can generate within its borders, the better. And the
more diversity of energy sources that Iowa can tap, the better. Then if
circumstances disrupt supplies from one source, Iowa will have other options.
The law creating the office specifies that the energy-independence plan should
identify cost-effective options for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. But it also
defines "foreign" sources of energy as those outside the United States, Canada
or Mexico. So without a specific greenhouse-gas reduction goal, the office
theoretically could embrace dirty options such as coal without carbon
sequestration or oil from Canadian tar sands.
Position Iowa for future
Likewise, the law creating the four-year, $100 million Iowa Power Fund and its
governing board sets reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions as one of its goals,
as well as furthering research, development, production and use of biofuels and
other renewable-energy sources. It makes little sense to commit public dollars to
support development of biofuels products or technology unless they or projected
successor products can reduce global-warming emissions.
More than a third of states have set greenhouse-gas reduction goals. Most are
for 75 percent or greater reductions.
At some point, much-needed federal legislation and international agreements will
likely require carbon reductions. Wait now, and Iowa will have to scramble later
to comply with rules handed down by others. Act now, and its experiences can
help shape those rules.
Adopting a clear, science-based target would keep Iowa positioned as a cleanenergy leader - and able to reap the rewards of new products, technologies and
jobs.