BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), “father” of the wind energy production tax credit and a longtime advocate for homegrown renewable energy, issued the following statement on wind energy becoming the leading source of electricity in Iowa.
“The proof is in the pudding. Harnessing wind power to generate more than 40 percent of the state’s electricity is a big milestone. Wind is a critical part of our nation’s all-of-the-above energy strategy. It creates thousands of jobs, supports economic development, boosts tax receipts, attracts investment in our state and puts extra money in farmers’ pockets. It delivers affordable energy for consumers that’s also safe for the environment and helps build American energy independence.
“During this pandemic, I’m especially grateful for our wind energy workers. They provide essential services to keep the lights on, homes heated and internet services up and running. Iowans have sown ingenuity, innovation and investment into the wind energy industry and today are reaping the benefits of pollution-free electricity.”
According to the American Wind Energy Association, in 2019 the wind industry employed over 9,000 Iowans and provided over $69 million in land lease payments. Those lease payments diversify income for Iowa farmers, and are particularly important as farm commodity prices decline during coronavirus-related market disruptions.
Grassley authored the Wind Energy Incentives Act of 1993, which established the first-ever wind energy production tax credit. His leadership paved the way for wind energy to power Iowan’s homes and businesses with pollution-free energy, shrink the carbon footprint and harvest an abundant, renewable, fossil-free resource.
As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee in 2003, Grassley spearheaded the effort to include an environmentally responsible energy package including nearly $15.5 billion in federal tax incentives to grow America’s renewable energy sector.
“U.S. wind power has grown significantly over the past decade and Iowa has been a key part of the industry’s expansion. Iowa made one the country’s earliest commitments to wind energy and residents have reaped benefits in rural economic development, new manufacturing jobs, and affordable, clean electricity as a result. Forward-thinking initiatives from Senator Grassley and other local leaders have allowed the Hawkeye state to harness the economic and clean air benefits of wind energy. This bipartisan policy leadership in supporting wind power is an example of success for the rest of the country. We are proud to say that wind is now the largest source of electricity in Iowa, providing reliable, low-cost, and zero-carbon power to communities throughout the state,” American Wind Energy Association CEO Tom Kiernan said.
Over his years advocating for wind and renewable energy, Grassley has received the Jobs Champion Award, the Dr. Harold D. Prior “Friend of Iowa Wind Energy” award, the U.S. Wind Champion Award, the Holmberg Lifetime Achievement Award and the Fueling Growth Award.
https://sciencing.com/electricity-move-wind-turbine-businesses-communities-buy-it-21904.html
Updated March 13, 2018
By Michael Owen, Ph.D.
Electricity produced in wind turbines is transported to the consumer via a series of transmission and distribution networks. Each component of the network changes the voltage of the electrical power to optimize its transition to the next part of the network. Due to the structure of these networks it is currently not possible to buy wind energy alone.
Turbine Basics
Wind turbines capture the kinetic energy in wind and convert it into electrical power. Large blades on the turbine rotor are connected to an electrical generator via a shaft and a series of gears. Wind blowing past the blades causes the shaft to rotate. In the generator, the rotating shaft causes a set of magnets to turn about a coil of wire to create an electric current due to electromagnetic induction.
Turbine to Transmission Grid
Electricity from the wind turbine generator travels to a transmission substation where it is converted into extremely high voltage, between 155,000 and 765,000 volts, for long distance transmission on the transmission grid. This grid comprises a series of power lines that connect the power sources to demand centers. According to the Energy Information Association, the United States has three major transmission grids: the Eastern, Western and Texas interconnects.
Grid to Consumer
Power substations at the demand centers convert the high voltage power from the transmission grid to a lower voltage power, typically in the region of 10,000 volts. From here it moves into a smaller distribution grid to which consumers are connected to this grid via another transformer. Here the distribution voltage is converted to the desired consumer voltage.
Buying Wind Energy
All sources of electricity feed power into the same grid. It is therefore impossible to know exactly where the power you are buying comes from. Many utilities now offer the option of purchasing “green energy” at a higher rate. The increased tariff subsidizes the development of renewable energy sources like wind power. According to Wind Energy America, by choosing to buy renewable energy you are telling the utility that you are concerned about the environment and are willing to pay more to protect it.
Erecting wind turbines have created jobs, but it also has eliminated jobs. For some reason the Senator didn’t mention that.
Yes, he also didn’t mention that wind turbines cause cancer. RINO!
The electricity generated is sent to what is called the Grid. The US is divided into separate areas called grids for the generation and transmission of electric power. All the grids are connected to ensure plenty of electricity is available to meet demand. Electric power is not “sent” to one specific area, just to the grid that services that area and others.
Not true. Alliant representatives tell crowds at meetings that the energy gets sent to Wisconsin. They’ve said many times, in many meetings, in many locations around the area.
Our windmill check is the only money coming in on our farm since Trump killed the export grain market. Wish I had more windmills.
Grow marijuana or grapes. corn is for losers
wonder how many wind mills are on Chuckies farm????
Oil/Gas is king! Windmills are pipe dreams of ole’ Dutchmen. You need a sea breeze to rock it properly. Stick to laying pipe Chuck.
Is the cost of removing the windmills when they are worn out in the rate base? Is a problem being created in the disposal of old wind mills that nobody is planning for right now?
They include a token figure, but it’s not even close to adequate, especially to take out the new, big ones. The concrete bases are 60 feet across and 15 feet deep, and when they take them out, the contract only requires them to remove the top 5 feet. If it were low-yield farmland, that would be all right, but they’re putting them on some of the best, most productive land in the midwest. They target older landowners, and won’t leave them alone until they sign contracts that have nearly a hundred pages.
Too bad Iowa doesn’t get to keep any of it. Alliant ships it all to Wisconsin. They’re destroying our best farmland, and we get none of the benefit.