Wind energy fuels Iowa job creation

Did you know that Iowa currently ranks second in the nation in wind energy production, just behind the big state of Texas?

Our state had 3,670 megawatts (MW) of installed wind energy capacity at the end of the first quarter of 2010. According to a report from the American Wind Energy Association, about 7 percent of Iowa's power comes from wind. That's enough to power 900,000 homes.

Yet only about one percent of Iowa’s wind energy potential has been tapped so far. That means there is plenty of room to expand on our wind potential, even with more than 200 companies already operating in Iowa’s wind energy industry-- and thousands of jobs creating parts and providing services.

This success is the result of smart planning by Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature over the last several years. We’ve supported the production of wind energy through tax credits, favorable utility regulation and investments in local projects.

The growth of wind energy production has opened the door for new business opportunities and good jobs, including building the towers, turbines and blades; and servicing and repairing the structures after installation.

And the growth is expected to continue. Wind Utility Consulting recently estimated that there will be $5.7 billion in wind energy installations in the region surrounding Iowa each year for the next five years.

That’s great news for the Iowa economy and our environment.