Support needed for full wind energy potential

Wind energy plays an important role in growing the strength of Iowa's economy. Iowa's wind industry maintains 15 manufacturing facilities across the state, creating 6,000 to 7,000 quality jobs and infusing local economies with new investment dollars. New wind-energy projects create construction and regular maintenance jobs in the rural areas of our state, areas that often need these jobs the most.

Local vendors and suppliers of necessary materials, such as concrete, benefit greatly from the construction of wind-energy infrastructure. Iowa leads the nation in manufacturing parts for wind-energy projects. With wind energy the fastest-growing source of electricity production in the world, Iowa is positioned as an industry leader.

Proposed transmission projects such as Rock Island Clean Line, MidAmerican Energy and ITC Midwest positively impact Iowa communities through the jobs they create and the investment dollars they generate. The Clean Line project is estimated to create more than 5,000 construction jobs and more than 500 permanent jobs maintaining and operating the transmission line and the affiliated wind farms. These projects help ensure that Iowa continues to develop its vast potential in wind energy production.

Wind energy is here to stay in Iowa, but to reach our true potential, our full support must be given to developing transmission projects and new wind manufacturing.

Joshua Cantu

Cedar Rapids