Applauding Iowa’s renewable energy leadership

When people think of Iowa, they think of cash crops like corn. It's what we're known for. They often overlook that Iowa also leads the nation in harvesting non-traditional crops: the sun and the wind. We produce and sell energy to neighboring states, making renewable energy another cash crop for Iowans.

On the heels of Earth Day, it’s worth noting that Iowa is a clean energy powerhouse and continues to pave the way through homegrown energy.

Bolstering our renewables industry will inspire growth in energy independence. In 2023, Iowa ranked 1st in the nation for its share of electricity produced from wind, solar, and energy storage plants. This achievement creates a domino effect across Iowa by strengthening our economy.

With so much growth comes extensive job creation. The industry powers 5,500 jobs and counting in Iowa. These are domestic jobs for hardworking Iowans, many who can maintain their roots in rural communities. With more wind and solar projects coming online, this means hundreds — if not thousands — of operators and construction workers are coming to build. Throughout the construction process, crews contribute to local economic activity at local restaurants, gas stations, hotels, and other businesses. In one county alone, this has resulted in more than $60 million generated in economic activity.

The contributions of renewable energy don’t end there. Schools, hospitals, fire stations, law enforcement, and community infrastructure often receive tax revenue from wind and solar farms. Clean energy projects lower the tax burden for residents to keep their communities thriving.

Renewable energy not only brings economic diversity to our communities, but it also diversifies our power grid. The energy provided by the wind and sun helps to protect Iowans from outages during severe weather. Iowa’s pursuit to diversify and strengthen the grid enables energy independence. Only then can we live up to the notion of being a production state; not a consumer state.

Speaking of production, Iowa farmers receive land lease payments from voluntarily hosting wind turbines and solar projects on their land — to the tune of $73.4 million in 2023. This additional source of income empowers them to uphold operations during volatile market conditions and unfavorable weather. When county supervisors allow renewable energy projects, landowners are given the freedom to choose if they want to participate in a clean energy project.

I encourage us all to take a moment to appreciate the abundance of natural resources — such as the sun and the wind — that provide us with the opportunity to make a living, power our state, and feed the world.

Chaz Allen is the executive director of the Iowa Utility Association.