Public input being gathered for Iowa Energy Plan

CEDAR RAPIDS - Public input is being sought for what officials with a handful of state agencies hope will become Iowa's first comprehensive plan on energy.

Brian Selinger, energy team leader at Iowa Economic Development Authority, said, when completed, the Iowa Energy Plan will not set regulations or laws, but rather act as a list of recommendations and guidelines for affordable, predictable, sustainable and reliable energy in the state.

'It's really kind of a blueprint,” Selinger said, adding that the plan will be the first comprehensive energy plan for the state.

'We're one of only a dozen states or so that's not currently working from a plan,” he said.

The plan - which will be focused around economic development and energy careers, Iowa's energy resources, transportation and infrastructure and energy efficiency and conservation - is expected to be completed in November.

But first it must be developed, so officials are in the midst of collecting input from stakeholders, business owners and the public during six public forums.

A Linn County forum will be held from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at Kirkwood Community College's training and outreach center, 3375 Armar Drive in Marion.

Forums, which include have been held in Storm Lake, Council Bluffs and Ames and two more are planned for Ottumwa and Dubuque.

Selinger said one common theme he's noticed so far at forums has been a desire for a variety of energy sources within Iowa.

'I think if nothing else the one common thing we've heard is they want a diverse plan, they want a diverse mix of energy,” he said. 'Not all of our eggs into one basket.”

The Iowa Energy Plan's leadership team consists of Iowa Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds and officials with the Iowa Partnership for Economic Progress board, the Iowa Economic Development Authority and the Iowa Department of Transportation.

Tina Hoffman, communications director with Iowa Economic Development Authority, noted that the Iowa Energy Plan will provide guidelines focused on energy, the environment and economic development, but not set specific mandates.

'This really is a starting point,” she said. 'There definitely will be, we assume, things in the plan that industry groups will take on, there might be things that legislatively need to be addressed.”