Iowa Global Warming

In order to assist in his goal of building new environmental jobs in Iowa, Governor Chet Culver formed the Iowa Green Jobs Task Force last Thursday the 21. Culver stated that Iowa has made great strides in developing environmental jobs, but that a task force will assist in moving even further.

“In recent years, thanks to our efforts in bio-fuels and wind energy, we have created thousands of green-collar jobs for Iowans,” Culver said. “However, if we are to expand these industries, we must also have the workforce necessary to fill those positions.”

Because the task force is meant to assist in the growth of green industry, one of its duties will include applying for federal green initiative grants through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Members are expected to have completed a report by October 1.

Read more here.

DES MOINES — U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced Monday that Iowa will get $16 million for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, an amount that likely will grow to $40 million as the state ramps up its efforts.

Chu said officials will monitor the initial state spending before allocating the rest of the money, but that the funding — part of the federal stimulus package — needs to be spent quickly.

“I want to shove this money out the door as quickly as possible,” Chu said at a news conference with Gov. Chet Culver and U.S. Rep. Leonard Boswell, both Democrats.

Chu said Iowa is among the first states to receive the energy money. He planned to travel to Michigan later Monday to make a similar announcement.

Culver said Iowa has prepared a detailed plan for the projects and that he was confident the state would receive the remaining money from the Energy Department.

Read the rest of the story here.

Washington, D.C. — The wind power industry’s growth will slow sharply from last year’s levels under the usage mandates for renewable power being considered in Congress, industry officials say.

A bill approved by a House committee last month and another under consideration in the Senate would require utilities to get a certain percentage of their power from renewable sources starting in 2012, but the targets are well below what the wind power industry wanted.

The Senate version would start at 3 percent in 2012 while the House bill would begin at 6 percent, and both could be lowered through energy efficiency measures.

Iowa Gov. Chet Culver joined industry representatives Thursday in meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., to urge them to enact higher mandates. “The number does matter,” Culver said later.

Check out the rest of the DM Register story here.

After a brief train ride Saturday morning, Iowa Gov. Chet Culver promised spectators that he is on board with a proposal to extend passenger rail service from Chicago to Des Moines in the next couple of years.

Culver spoke to several dozen people at the old train depot on Fourth Street just south of Court Avenue after taking a half-hour train ride from the Valley Junction depot on a refurbished passenger train with an engine, sleeping car and dining car. Local dignitaries and transportation officials accompanied him on the trip.

“We need to modernize our infrastructure statewide,” Culver said. “We’re going to keep fighting; we’re going to get this rail line done in a couple of years.”

The event marked National Train Day and highlighted the need for expanded passenger rail service across the nation, Culver said.

Culver wants to extend service from Chicago to Dubuque, the Quad Cities and Iowa City, and then on to Des Moines, to eventually connect with Omaha.

Read the full story here

This is should be a good event, and attending is a great way to show support for rail service to Iowa! From the Governor’s office:

GOVERNOR’S TRAIN DAY SPECIAL WILL ROLL INTO DES MOINES SATURDAY
 
DES MOINES – Governor Chet Culver will mark National Train Day this Saturday by bringing the Governor’s Train Day Special from Valley Junction in West Des Moines into downtown Des Moines, where he will hold a public event with local leaders and transportation officials promoting the benefits of passenger rail to the state, and read a proclamation declaring National Train Day in Iowa.
 
“Restoring passenger rail service to some of Iowa’s largest cities has been one of my key priorities as governor,” said Governor Culver.  “I look forward to leading this special train into Des Moines on Saturday, and highlighting the economic benefits of passenger rail to our state.  I invite Iowans to come to downtown Des Moines Saturday and celebrate National Train Day in Iowa.”
 
National Train Day is designed to highlight the need for expanded passenger rail service across the country.  Iowa currently is served by two passenger trains – the California Zephyr and Southwest Chief – both of which serve southern Iowa.  Efforts have been taken in recent years to bring passenger rail service back to other portions of the state, with current proposals to bring service to Dubuque, the Quad Cities and Iowa City and longer term plans to bring service to other communities such as Des Moines and West Des Moines.
 
To help spur efforts, Governor Culver’s signature legislative accomplishment – the I-JOBS Initiative — includes $10 million for multi-modal transportation projects in Iowa, including $3 million for expanded passenger rail service in the state.  In addition, the Iowa Department of Transportation will be competing for federal passenger rail funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  All of these steps position Iowa to work with Illinois and Amtrak to bring new passenger rail lines to the state that connect more Iowa communities with Chicago.
 
The Governor’s Train Day Special is being provided thanks to the generous efforts of the Iowa Interstate Railroad, Ltd., and logistical support has been provided by the Greater Des Moines Partnership.  The Governor’s event will coincide with the Downtown Farmers Market, a popular summer event that features locally made goods and products.
 
Saturday, May 9, 2009
 
WHAT:                Governor Culver will celebrate National Train Day by leading the Governor’s Train Day Special for a special ceremony in Downtown Des Moines
 
WHERE:             Outside Des Moines Historic Depot
                             4th Street South of Court Avenue
                             Des Moines, IA
 
WHEN:                10:00am

What a day, again. I’m ready to ‘crash’ right now, but the effort expended over the past few days is worth it. Florida is the new college football champion – which wouldn’t be something I’d blog about, other than I was talking about it with Gov. Culver a couple of hours ago. Talking football with the Gov is fun, after all, he knows the sport. But more fun was talking about the future of renewable energy and passenger rail service in Iowa. He’s (obviously, and also thankfully!) a champion for wind energy, and is really positive about extending rail service in the Midwest rail network into Iowa. Nice – but he’ll still need support to get it done. As soon as there’s a need for your help I’ll let you know. Be ready!

The reason I’m so tired, though, is because we’ve continued to work on expanding our network and making new and exciting possibilities a reality – to the point that we’re opening a new office! Our staff and ‘volunteer stakeholders’ (what I like to think of as ‘our superstars’) have got so much going on that we’re moving into a new place right now. Which means we’ve needed a lot of new office gear. It’s a done deal now, the office is full and furnished. And I’m exhausted.

One last thing of note, though. As I write this, I’m watching IPTV political coverage about the economic recovery package. Listening to Pres-elect Obama, Speaker Pelosi, and now Senate Minority Leader McConnell (full disclosure – I went to the McConnell School of Political Leadership in college), there are a lot of opinions about how far to go to help the economy. Most are pretty encouraging. Overall, I think the incoming President has a good grip on how to keep the economy afloat while looking out for our future.

Iowans, especially, seem to ‘get it’ – spending tens of billions on things that don’t ensure the safety of our planet and country OR even ensure we stay competitive in the world’s developing new energy economy would be insanity. Iowans are still keeping it real.

As tough as things look, there’s an opportunity to spend money on not only saving jobs, but also keep us innovating and keep our children’s futures in mind. To do otherwise would be, well, crazy. But we’re going to need your help to make sure the folks we’ve elected to represent us understand… don’t be crazy – be proactive, and be looking out for our future. If not before, now is the time.

Andrew

Iowa Gov. Chet Culver said he urged President-elect Barack Obama on Tuesday to include money to expand Iowa’s electrical capacity in the new administration’s plan to jump-start the economy.

Culver was attending the National Governors Association meeting in Philadelphia. He said he prodded Obama, who has promised a massive jobs bill, to include public works provisions that go beyond road and bridge work.

“I particularly focused on the importance of getting our electric grid built out so that Iowa can really maximize our potential to be a net exporter of wind energy,” Culver told reporters in a conference call.

Read the full article here