Through December 6, Iowa school districts can apply for a reimbursement match of $38,000 to replace a 1993 or older school bus that is still in regular use and wouldn’t otherwise be replaced with a new 2011 school bus with an EPA-certified bus engine.

In additional, school districts can get full reimbursement for the purchase and installation of up to 20 diesel oxidation catalysts and closed crankcase ventilation systems for their bus fleet.

The main goal of these efforts is to reduce childhood exposure to harmful diesel exhaust. More information is available at www.iowadnr.gov/Environment/AirQuality/BEEPSchoolBusEmissGrants.aspx.

Governor Branstad, it is time to tell us where you stand on passenger rail and Iowa’s transportation future. Iowans are calling on you to recognize this opportunity and step forward to make it happen.

In October, Iowa was awarded $230 million in federal funds to establish passenger rail service between Chicago and Iowa City via the Quad Cities. The route is part of a long-term effort to connect Iowa City to Des Moines, and then connect to the national passenger rail system at Omaha.

Unfortunately, House Republicans want to reject this federal investment of nearly a quarter of a billion dollars in Iowa railroads, Iowa jobs and the Iowa economy.

State investment helped create the nation’s second largest wind industry in Iowa.

Let’s build on that success by investing in “small solar” and “small wind.” This innovative idea will grow our Main Street businesses and create Iowa jobs that can’t be outsourced.

The 2011 session started this week with optimism about the future of our state and a renewed commitment to helping Iowans recover from the lingering national recession.

On Monday morning, I was sworn in for a four-year term alongside Republican and Democratic Senators from all across Iowa.

I know that every legislator feels a strong sense of responsibility and challenge. Iowans are looking to us to help improve the economy and create much-needed jobs. Until Iowa has fully recovered from the national recession, that will be my number one priority.

With the New Year comes a new legislative session. The 2011 session begins on January 10, and I’ve got some New Year resolutions that I’ll be working to keep every day at the Iowa Statehouse.

My top resolution is creating good-paying jobs for Iowans. Iowa’s unemployment numbers are low compared to most other states, but that’s not good enough. We can do a whole lot more to put hard-working Iowans back on the job.

Des Moines Area Community College is in the process of expanding their efforts to reduce energy use on all their campuses.

The Iowa Office of Energy Independence awarded DMACC a State Energy Program grant for $44,000 through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Combined with matching funds of $88,000, the total project will cost $132,000.

Indigo Dawn, of Des Moines, was recently awarded $225,000 through the Iowa Power Fund to team with experts in the design, energy and building industries to transform a brick masonry building in downtown Des Moines into an integrated renovation and prototypical site that achieves a 75% improvement in energy efficiency.

Since its creation, the Iowa Power Fund has helped to attract renewable energy companies to out state, to create good jobs, and to make Iowa a leader in value-added agriculture. The Power Fund has invested more than $47 million directly in 37 competitive projects, leveraging more than $295 million in energy research and development, early stage commercialization and education.

The Power Fund Community Grants program is making a difference in Iowa’s communities, helping community members better understand how to identify and implement energy improvements. Cities, counties and non-profit organizations can apply for up to $50,000 to support local programs.

Recently, the Office of Energy Independence awarded $26,900 to The Energy Group in Des Moines to develop and disseminate a tool that identifies and quantifies the potential for energy savings and economic savings if outdoor lighting systems are replaced with LED technologies. In addition, the City of Des Moines will receive $30,000 to work with local businesses in implementing sustainability practices. Each business will create a customized action plan for business improvements and track the resulting energy savings.

I want to thank Iowans who participated in the 2010 elections. We had a large turnout at the polls, which makes for a strong democracy.

Voters clearly voiced their discontent with the lingering national recession. That’s the message I’ll be taking to the Iowa Statehouse when I return for the 2011 legislative session.

Through October 15, Iowa school districts can apply for a reimbursement match of $38,000 to replace a 1993 or older school bus that is still in regular use and wouldn’t otherwise be replaced with a new 2010 school bus with an EPA-certified bus engine.

In additional, school districts can get a 100 percent reimbursement for the purchase and installation of a combination of 20 diesel oxidation catalysts (DOCs) and/or closed crankcase ventilation systems (CCVs) equipment for their bus fleet.

More information is available at iowadnr.gov.

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.

Iowa has become a world leader in renewable energy, and we’re continuing our efforts to maintain our position.

In 2007, the Legislature created a $100 million Iowa Power Fund to provide financial assistance for business, research and programs that will create good jobs, help our local communities compete and thrive in today’s economy, and set our state on the road to energy independence.

Over the past few years, the Power Fund has accelerated research and development, technology innovation and the economic competitiveness of new energy projects, including right here in central Iowa.

• AmeriCorps Green Corps Program: $450,000 for energy efficient rebuilding of areas of Iowa that were affected with natural disasters in the summer of 2008.
• Hybrid Power Centers: $325,000 to develop a hybrid power plant that would combust both coal and biomass in a single integrated system.
• Iowa Environmental Council: $20,000 to for presentations on renewable energy and energy efficiency technology solutions and how they impact the environment and the economy. The Iowa Power Fund is a valuable initiative that is:
• Helping local businesses expand renewable energy, alternative fuel and clean energy technologies.
• Increasing opportunities for our communities and family farmers as they produce more Iowa-grown energy.
• Attracting investments that will keep Iowa’s energy economy booming.
• Strengthening national security by reducing our dependence on foreign oil.

For more information on the Iowa Power Fund and how it’s ensuring our state’s energy future, visit the Iowa Office of Energy Independence Web site at www.energy.iowa.gov/Power_Fund.

During the 2009 session, I'll focus on strengthening Iowa's economy and helping Iowans rebuild their communities after last summer's floods and tornadoes.

Due to the national recession, thousands of Iowans are struggling to make ends meet. I'm looking for ways to provide more economic security for families through good-paying jobs, energy independence and a world-class education for our kids.