Wind energy project would benefit area

In addition to leadership in the agricultural industry, Iowa now has an opportunity to be a leader in clean, renewable energy exports. Recently, Clean Line Energy Partners presented to the public a plan to build a transmission line through northern Linn County to help export energy generated from wind-rich northwest Iowa to consumers in Illinois and other eastern states.

During the last couple of years, growth in Iowa's wind industry has been stagnant. Wind farms are not being built in part because of a lack of transmission infrastructure to move that energy to consumers who need it.

Many years ago, as Iowa's agricultural industry grew, railroad lines and highways were built to transport our products to consumers who need them. Today, if we are to grow our wind energy industry, we must build the transmission infrastructure for exporting power.

Our community has already come to know the high-quality jobs associated with manufacturing components for the wind industry. I believe the Clean Line Energy project will positively impact our community by allowing our wind component manufacturers to create more jobs and continue to grow our local economy.

Barry Boyer

Cedar Rapids