Iowa Straw Poll to shine spotlight on the economic power of wind
From a news release issued by the American Wind Energy Association:
AMES, IOWA, Aug. 10 – As the nation’s eyes turn to the Hawkeye State for this weekend’s Iowa Straw Poll in the Republican presidential race, they will catch a glimpse of what wind power has already done for Iowans—from providing 20 percent of the state’s electricity to creating a new manufacturing sector—and what wind power can do for America.
Gov. Terry Branstad (R-Iowa) and other state officials will join the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) in sharing wind’s powerful message this week in Ames: wind works for Iowa, which has become a national leader since adopting the first renewable electricity standard in 1983.
What’s telling about Iowa is that these people who know wind power the best are big fans of the clean, renewable energy source. A full 81 percent of Iowa voters believe that the growth of the wind industry has been good for Iowa’s economy, according to a recent poll by GOP pollster Neil Newhouse. Further, Iowa voters chose wind, by a 3-to-1 margin, as their preferred energy source to power their state.
“With Iowa standing tall as the first state to produce 20 percent of its electricity with wind power, the Straw Poll is a terrific opportunity to share the power of wind to support local economies as well as generate clean energy,” said AWEA CEO Denise Bode. “Iowa is reaping the economic benefits of being a wind power leader because it had the foresight to plant a seed over 20 years ago with the implementation of strong, sound policy. Iowa is showing the nation how it can be done.”
