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Wednesday, April 15, 2009                                                   

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Rep. Tyler Olson, 515-281-0817

HOUSE APPROVES WIND ENERGY PACKAGE

Des Moines, Iowa –The Iowa House of Representatives today approved a wind energy package designed to create more jobs and encourage more renewable energy production.  The bills approved today will expand wind energy production and renewable energy tax credits, create wind innovation zones, and encourage more renewable energy research in Iowa.

“The wind energy package approved today will create good-paying jobs in communities across Iowa and keep Iowa a world leader in renewable energy,” said State Representative Tyler Olson of Cedar Rapids. 

Senate File 456 expands existing state tax credits for wind energy projects of all sizes, including farms, schools, and hospitals.  Wind Innovation Zones were created in House File 810 to help local communities streamline regulations to help individuals launch small wind projects. House File 817 expands tax credits to increase research of renewable energy generation components.

A report released this week by the Iowa Policy Project found that Iowa’s wind power generation has tripled since 2006 and 15% of the electricity generated in Iowa comes from wind.

“Our efforts over the last two years have seen great results jobs created in the construction and installation of wind turbines. These bills are the next step in our renewable energy efforts and will make wind energy production a reality for small Iowa producers,” said Olson.

The bills now go the Senate.

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