We must be the “coast-to-coast” anchor for clean energy and transportation innovations.
Wind Power in Iowa: By the Numbers
Iowa is a leading state in the wind energy industry, watch to find out why.
Kelsey Kremer, kkremer@dmreg.com
The United States now has rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement. This powerful climate change is advancing global solutions and opening opportunities in the Midwest.
Global climate change problems require global solutions to reduce pollution — it doesn't matter to the atmosphere if greenhouse gases are emitted in Iowa, Indiana, India or Indonesia. We are all in this together.
Innovative clean energy and clean transportation technologies are essential tools for global progress. The renewable energy equipment we manufacture in the Midwest creates jobs, saves money and reduces pollution. Exporting clean energy technologies to developing countries can help accelerate global solutions to climate change. This means thinking and acting both locally and globally.
Iowa wind power generates 40% of the state's electricity and is moving toward promoting a stable solar market. This investment in Iowa's environment increases the clean energy economy. This includes hundreds of manufacturing jobs to make turbine blades at TPI Components in Newton and innovative flexible solar panels at PowerFilm in Ames.
The Environmental Law & Policy Center's new supply chain report found 113 solar and wind supply chain businesses in Iowa, which create local jobs and new opportunities to export equipment and technical expertise. These builders, developers, installers and professional services businesses operate in every Iowa congressional district and most of the state's legislative districts.
These renewable energy businesses are growing throughout the Midwest. Center reports also identified 354 clean energy businesses in Wisconsin, 241 in Minnesota and 450 renewable energy supply chain businesses in Illinois.
That's in addition to new jobs created as Midwest automakers ramp up production of electric vehicles. Ford and GM are moving toward assembling only electric vehicles in the not-so-distant future. Ford is already investing $3.2 billion in its North American factories to build electric vehicles, creating hundreds of jobs. GM has moved forward with its Chevy Bolt and plans to hire 3,000 engineers and technicians to bring 20 new electric vehicles to market.
COMMENT: Here's how to get Americans interested in electric vehicles
The Midwest is ground zero in fighting climate change and accelerating smart solutions. Our region is the hub and manufacturing center of the country's transportation system. We need to be the “between the coasts” fulcrum for clean energy and transportation innovations that are good for the environment and the economy together.
Let's face it – our communities are facing the real challenges of climate change, including extreme weather, both heat waves and record cold, and devastating downpours.
Midwesterners are practical people who try to drive solutions. We take on tough challenges. We put in the work.
President Joe Biden prioritizes solutions to climate change, values sound science, and will restore “protection” to the US Environmental Protection Agency to help achieve healthier clean air and safe clean water for all.
Iowa and the Midwest should welcome the federal government returning to these much-needed shared responsibilities. Rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement creates positive business growth opportunities and useful climate change solutions for all of us.
Howard A. Learner is the executive director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center, the Midwest's leading public interest environmental legal advocacy and sustainability organization, with offices in Chicago, Des Moines and other cities.
