Prioritize clean power development in 2024

At the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, we are thrilled that Iowa leads the nation with 60% of electricity coming from renewable sources to power our members' businesses. In 2024, we hope that clean energy continues to be a priority.

Our organization sees a growing trend of companies seeking to relocate that require 100% renewable energy sources to power their businesses and attract a younger workforce. With the proper foresight and planning, we’re ready to meet those requirements.

Cedar Rapids was one of the first cities in the nation to implement a Community Climate Action Plan, and Linn County is on the cutting edge of sustainability with its Sustainability Program. Our region leads the state in solar energy production, with even more installations projected in the next five years. This continued growth makes our communities stronger and our economy more robust.

We’re long encouraged elected officials to adopt policies, rules and regulations that encourage the production of renewable, alternative energy resources, and biomanufacturing such as ethanol, nuclear, hydrogen, solar and wind. When our members and area companies want to develop or expand, we encourage them to keep sustainability and renewable energy in mind. Iowa's renewable energy resources, like wind, solar, and battery storage, ensure reliability for customers and provides income for communities. The 13,278 MW of operating renewable energy in Iowa generates $61.5 million annually in tax revenue for our local communities – funding that goes towards community development projects, emergency services, and our local school districts.

Smart sustainability practices are crucial to business attraction. Companies and organizations on a path to power their business with 100% renewable energy sources often elect Iowa to help achieve their goals. As a result, Iowa has attracted $25 billion in capital investment.

These investments create jobs up and down the supply chain in construction, manufacturing, and transportation, not to mention adding to the growing number of Iowans directly employed by the renewable energy industry itself. Companies are increasingly looking to attract a younger, skilled, and local workforce – needs that bolster the economy in more ways than one. With wind techs and solar installers being part of the fastest-growing careers in the United States, these jobs are stable and in demand.

As we begin a new year, sustainable clean energy is necessary for long-term success. Here in Cedar Rapids, we have first-hand experience managing devastating weather events – significant floods in 2008 and 2016 and a derecho in 2020 – leading our community to plan ahead and put our future first. And it starts with renewable energy.

Ron Corbett is vice president of economic development at the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance.