Senator Harkin Applauds Iowa Clean Energy Project Funding

Harkin: "The American people want energy independence and Iowa is poised to deliver it."

June 22, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today applauded Energy Secretary Steven Chu’s decision to grant more than $16 million in federal dollars to the state of Iowa to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

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Using funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Iowa's Office of Energy Independence will award grants for training and information projects designed to increase Iowa's capacity for energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements. The announcement was made by Energy Secretary Chu at a meeting held this morning in Des Moines.

“The American people want energy independence and Iowa is poised to deliver it,” Harkin said of the grant. “Iowa has led the way with technologies like ethanol and wind power, and this funding will help us continue to push the forefront of clean alternative energy for America.”

Iowa is currently the second largest producer of wind power in the country, and has long been ahead of the curve on the development and use of biofuels.

“This grant helps move the football down the field, and I want to commend Secretary Chu for making it happen,” Harkin said of the funding. “Clean, domestic energy creates new “green collar jobs” while increasing our energy security and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We are Americans, and we value independence above all. This funding helps move us closer to that goal.”

Moving America to a clean, domestic energy future is one of Senator Harkin’s leading policy priorities. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and a senior member of the Senate Appropriations panel, Harkin has delivered millions for the research and promotion of clean energy initiatives in Iowa. For more information, go to http://harkin.senate.gov/pr/issue.cfm?issue=energy.

Source: Senator Tom Harkin