By Sen. Roger Stewart
Special to the Herald
July 31, 2006 09:53 am
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I was recently appointed by Senate Democratic Leader Mike Gronstal to an interim committee examining the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program and Weatherization Program. Keeping warm and keeping the lights on is a real struggle for many seniors and low income families. Heating and electric costs have skyrocketed, but federal assistance programs have not kept up. As a result, some of our most vulnerable citizens are at risk of having their utilities shut off.
Our job is to figure out how to do a better job with the resources we have to work with. We will review the program’s application and intake processes, the community action agencies’ assessment, and whether to involve the Department of Human Services in the administration of the programs.
Renewable fuel economy
Developing Iowa’s renewable energy industries means a stronger Iowa economy and more opportunities for young people seeking a prosperous future in our state.
I believe the Legislature should be a partner with Iowa workers, producers, and investors who are building our high tech, value-added energy economy.
This spring, for example, I helped pass the Iowa Renewable Fuels Standard, which is designed to increase the use of ethanol-blended motor fuel. That bipartisan legislation will save Iowa consumers nearly $50 million annually through the year 2020 by increasing the availability of E-85 and bio-diesel and creating up to 3,950 new jobs.
During this year’s session, we also expanded renewable energy tax credits and wind energy production tax credits. The energy produced by these incentives will replace 175,000 tons of coal that we would otherwise import each year.
Here are just four recent news items that indicate the growing importance of renewable energy:
1. The 25th Iowa ethanol plant just opened near Gowrie. With an annual payroll of $1.8 million, the plant will employ approximately 40 people at an average salary of $45,000. It will turn 21 million bushels of corn into 60 million gallons of ethanol and 178,000 tons of animal feed each year.
2. Mid-American Energy announced it will build 82 wind turbines in Pocahontas County, making Iowa the third-largest producer of wind energy in the United States, after California and Texas. By the end of this year, the company also will complete the construction of 66 wind turbines in Carroll and Crawford counties.
3. By 2010, General Motors, Daimler-Chrysler and Ford plan to double their annual production of vehicles capable of running on renewable fuels. Ford also is helping create a series of E85 fuel stations along a “Midwest Ethanol Corridor” from Chicago to Kansas City. The program’s initial phase involves conversion of gas pumps to E85 pumps in stations along Interstate 55 in Illinois and Missouri’s Interstate 70. (Why aren’t we doing the same in Iowa?)
4. The new outbreak of fighting between Israel and Lebanon, as well as the ongoing war in Iraq, reminds us of how dependent we are on foreign oil. The tension and uncertainty has led to record oil and gas prices.
The United States needs cheaper, cleaner, domestic sources of energy. Iowa can and should respond to our nation’s need.
I recently proposed several ideas to continue the progress on Iowa’s new renewable energy economy. They include investing in our public universities and community colleges so that Iowa continues to develop new technologies and Iowans can gain the skills necessary for jobs in our renewable energy industry. My proposals also include an “accountability commission” that will track exactly how state support for renewable energy industries is used and the results of that investment.
I know many of you share my interest in using Iowa’s agricultural might, windy weather, good schools and practical inventiveness to help meet the energy demands of the future. I’ve had numerous conversations on this subject with individuals and groups in our district. I appreciate the suggestions you’ve given me. Let’s keep working on it!
Push for accountability
The Legislature’s most important job is to make sure your tax dollars are spent wisely.
That’s why I support the bipartisan investigation by the Legislative Oversight Committee into the scandal at CIETC, a job-training agency in Des Moines. It’s also why I voted during the 2006 session to tighten accountability and oversight at CIETC and other agencies using taxpayer funds.
This legislative investigation is yielding results:
n Several of CIETC’s top executives have been fired.
n Most CIETC board members have resigned.
n An independent auditor is conducting a full-scale review of the agency’s use of public funds.
n The new board members voted to start dissolving CIETC. A new entity, possibly Des Moines Area Community College, is expected take over the agency’s job-training duties.
Dissolving CIETC will not end efforts to hold CIETC officials accountable for their misuse of taxpayer dollars. The FBI and Iowa’s Attorney General continue to investigate possible illegal activities by current and former CIETC employees and board members. Any ill-gained public money should be reclaimed and used for legitimate job-training purposes.
We must do everything that we can do restore public trust. We must ensure that Iowans receive top-quality job training in the future, with stringent oversight for the new job-training agency’s administrative and governing board.
Every Iowa tax dollar must be spent wisely and productively.
Roger Stewart, a Democrat from Preston, is a member of the Iowa Senate representing District 13.
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