A strong grid makes Iowa ‘powerful’

Iowa is at the forefront of renewable energy development, with a solid commitment to wind energy and a growing interest in solar power. The resources are here. Now, we need to commit to connecting those energy resources to the energy grid. By doing so, we support the growth of our state.

We have leveraged our homegrown renewable energy sources to diversify Iowa's energy portfolio. Over the past 20 years, Iowa has invested in the promise of renewables, and the return has been tenfold. A few highlights of the past year include the following:

• $60.4 million in property, state and local taxes.

• 13,000 megawatts of electricity generated from clean energy sources — enough to power 4.1 million homes (more than twice as many homes located in Iowa).

• 5,300 Iowans employed in the renewable energy sector.

• $72 million paid to landowners and farmers through renewable energy land lease agreements.

Renewable energy projects have not only created jobs and spurred economic growth, but it has also provided predictability and sustainability for communities across the state.

As we embrace an "all of the above" stance on energy, we must continue to invest in emerging technologies and introduce storage capabilities to bring the grid into the 21st century. Modernizing the grid strengthens our energy infrastructure, and in turn, strengthens our state. Diversifying the types and locations of energy generation gives us the flexibility to insulate ourselves from extreme weather conditions unsuitable for achieving maximum efficiency through wind and solar power without storage and greater connectivity.

And energy isn't the only industry impacted by the weather — farmers deal with floods, droughts, and derechos. But farmers can diversify, too, supplementing their traditional operations. They have the ability to produce two indispensable goods: crops and energy. Farmers can make the most out of all the natural resources at their doorstep by harvesting crops with wind and solar energy. Agrivoltaics — the merger between farmland and solar power — can provide farmers numerous benefits, such as reducing erosion, increasing groundwater recharge rates, and supplementing crops that rely on pollination.

If we don't make the most of all the resources available to us, we risk not having a reliable and resilient transmission system to support Iowa's farmers, families and businesses. New, more efficient technologies are developed daily, and we have the opportunity to implement the ones that work best for us.

Republican State Sen. Waylon Brown is chair of Senate Commerce Committee.