31 Jan 2013

Governor Quinn Announces Illinois Ranked Fourth State Nationally in Green Building Survey

By Leslie Wertheimer

New Study Lauds Governor's Commitment to Sustainability Across Illinois

CHICAGO - January 30, 2013. Governor Quinn today announced that Illinois has become a national leader in "green building," according to a study released by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), which ranked the state fourth out of 50 states in new Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifications. The group cited the governor's commitment to making Illinois a healthier place to live, play, work and grow.

"Since the day I took office I have been committed to making sure Illinois is the most environmentally-friendly state in the country," Governor Quinn said. "I'm proud to have the U.S. Green Building Council recognize the success of our efforts to make sure sustainable practices are implemented in homes, schools and businesses throughout Illinois."

"Illinois has demonstrated its unwavering commitment to USGBC's vision of a sustainable-built environment within a generation," Jason Hartke, USGBC vice-president of Advocacy and Policy said. "I applaud the extraordinary leadership of those in Illinois - designers, architects, chapter advocates, public officials, everyday citizens - who are working to create the healthiest possible environment for people to work, live and play in."

The annual study ranks states based on the amount of LEED-certified space per capita. With 140 million square feet of LEED-certified space, Illinois certified 1.94 square feet per resident - behind only the states of Virginia, Colorado and Massachusetts.

Illinois certified 156 LEED projects in 2012, including the Chicago Center for Green Technology, Northern Illinois Food Bank in Geneva, Booker T. Washington Elementary School in Champaign, G&W Electric Company in Bolingbrook and Rush University Medical Center. The USGBC also lauded the KONE Centre in Moline, the first Illinois project to earn Platinum rating.

"We are so proud of our state's achievements in green building," Katie Kaluzny, interim executive director, USGBC Illinois Chapter said. "We look forward to continued partnerships with state and local leaders to advance sustainable building and communities across Illinois."

Throughout his career in public service, Governor Quinn has been an advocate for green building in Illinois. In 2009, Quinn fought for and signed Illinois' first capital construction plan in more than decade. The Illinois Jobs Now! plan requires all new state-funded building construction projects to seek a minimum LEED Silver certification, and all major renovations of existing state-owned facilities to seek LEED certification.

The Illinois Capital Development Board currently has nearly 50 projects slated to meet LEED certification, including projects at the University of Illinois and College of Lake County in Grayslake which are expected to earn the highest rating ("Platinum").

Governor Quinn has also signed numerous Executive Orders and statutes into law to ensure greater energy efficiency, use of renewable energy, and protection of Illinois' land, air and water resources. For more information about Governor Quinn's sustainability initiatives, please visit Green.Illinois.gov.

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29 Jan 2013

Pleasant Valley High School Wins Iowa High School Science Bowl and Spot in National Finals

By Joe Hand

Obama Administration Highlights Importance of Investing in Next Generation of Leaders in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Fields

Washington D.C. - Building on President Obama's efforts to help more students excel in math and science and his call for investments in a skilled American workforce, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Iowa Congressman Dave Loebsack announced today that Pleasant Valley High School from Bettendorf, IA, won the Iowa High School Science Bowl on Saturday. Pleasant Valley High School competed against 40 other teams from across the state in one of the nation's regional competitions of the 23rd Annual U.S. Department of Energy National Science Bowl, and is now eligible to compete in the National Finals in Washington, D.C., at the end of April. The National Science Bowl brings together thousands of middle and high school students from across the country to compete on a range of science disciplines including biology, chemistry, earth science, physics, astronomy, and math.

"Congratulations to the students at Pleasant Valley High School for their achievements in science, technology, engineering and math," said Energy Secretary Chu. "Providing opportunities like the National Science Bowl to challenge today's students is an essential part of keeping America competitive in a rapidly advancing world."

"Iowa is home to some of the most dedicated and brightest students, and I'm proud that Pleasant Valley High School students have once again demonstrated why Iowa is a leader in innovation," said Congressman Loebsack. "They demonstrated their knowledge of and the value of STEM learning, which will open up doors for them to secure good jobs and help make them our country's future leaders. I want to extend my congratulations to the team from Pleasant Valley High School and wish them luck in the National Science Bowl Finals."

The Department of Energy (DOE) created the National Science Bowl in 1991 to encourage students to excel in mathematics and science and to pursue careers in these fields. More than 200,000 students have participated in the National Science Bowl throughout its 22 year history, and it is the nation's largest science competition.

Over the next several months, more than 9,000 high school students and 5,000 middle school students will compete in 69 high school and 49 middle school regional Science Bowl tournaments.  Students, in teams of four or five, compete in a fast-paced Jeopardy-style format where they solve technical problems and answer questions in all branches of science and math.  Most teams are coached by teachers from the students' schools and spend several months preparing for the regional competitions.  Many states have one regional or statewide Science Bowl competition, while larger states, such as California and Texas, hold several regional competitions across their states.

Students from Pleasant Valley High School will be awarded an all-expense paid trip to the National Finals in Washington, D.C., which are scheduled for April 25-29, 2013. The regional tournaments, which host 15-50 teams, are sponsored by federal agencies, national laboratories, institutions of education, and non-profit organizations.

DOE's Office of Science manages the competition. More information about these events is available on the National Science Bowl website:  http://www.science.energy.gov/nsb/.

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29 Jan 2013

Google's free Wi-Fi network up and running in Council Bluffs

By Rick Martin

Additional grant of $50,000 expands access in Council Bluffs

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa ? Jan. 29, 2013 ? Google announced an additional $50,000 grant today to expand the free high-speed wireless Internet network for the city. Once completed, the free Wi-Fi network will be extended to cover the new River's Edge Park and the interior of City Hall. The Wi-Fi network currently provides free internet access to: Downtown Council Bluffs and 100 Broadway District, Mid America Center and Council Bluffs Recreational Complex. Once users agree to the terms of service, they may surf the internet freely.

"Google has been a wonderful corporate partner for our community and this project is just one of the ways Google continues to demonstrate their commitment to be part of our community," stated Council Bluffs Mayor Tom Hanafan. "We are very fortunate to have them in our city, and we look forward to continuing our partnership that will help make Council Bluffs a better place to live and work."

Google financed the construction of the initial Wi-Fi network through a $154,462 grant (Council Bluffs incurred no charges). The additional grant of $50,000 will finance the expansion efforts to be completed in 2013. The grant will purchase the network equipment and pay for three years of Internet service. After three years, the equipment will be owned and operated by the City of Council Bluffs.

Congressman Tom Latham (IA-3) stated, "Google has a history of making valuable investments in the Third District, and this grant will increase the access that the residents and businesses of Council Bluffs have to a service that is increasingly integral to our daily lives. Widespread Internet access is a crucial component of commerce and job growth in any modern city, and I thank Google for helping make Council Bluffs an even better place to do business."

"Google is a big advocate of the power of the Internet and we feel privileged to bring this free service to the businesses and residents of Council Bluffs," said Chris Russell, operations manager for Google's Council Bluffs data center. "We believe cutting edge technology and Internet access is crucial to developing business, creating jobs, and thriving in the 21st century. The free Wi-Fi network helps Council Bluffs' residents to do just that."

Wi-Fi is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices via nodes that are located throughout a certain area. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, smartphone, tablet, video game console or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point.

About Google Inc.

Google is a global technology leader focused on improving the ways people connect with information. Google's innovations in web search and advertising have made its website a top Internet property and its brand one of the most recognized in the world.

Google is a trademark of Google Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

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26 Jan 2013

Loebsack Praises "Future Leaders of Tomorrow"

By Rick Martin

Davenport students take part in phone call with astronauts aboard the International Space Station

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today after students from the Davenport School District participated in a telephone call with astronauts currently aboard the International Space Station.  The call was hosted at the Putnam Museum's National Geographic Giant Screen Theater in Davenport.  

 

"I am very proud that our students had such a fantastic opportunity to take what they have learned about in the classroom and interact with those who are experiencing it firsthand.  Iowa is home to some of the most dedicated and brightest students, and I'm grateful that NASA recognized this as well. The folks at the Putnam Museum again demonstrated why they are one of the leading museums for learning and opening our kids' eyes up to the opportunities ahead of them. The chance for our students to engage with NASA astronauts demonstrates the value of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) learning and the opportunities we can embrace to create the jobs of the future right here in Iowa."

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25 Jan 2013

Local Students Excel at State Robotics Competition

By Rachel Chamberlain

"3, 2, 1 - LEGO!"  This enthusiastic phrase was on repeat last Saturday at Iowa's FIRST LEGO League (FLL) state competition held on the campus of Iowa State University in Ames, IA.  72 teams from around the state (including twelve from the Quad Cities) qualified to attend the event.  Each team of 9-14 year olds was armed with a LEGO Mindstorms NXT robot they designed, built, and programmed themselves.

 

The results are in, and the Quad Cities has reason to be proud!  Four of the twelve teams from our region received awards - BIG ONES!

 

Team "World Changers" (Trinity Lutheran, Davenport), brought home top honors with the Champion's award.  Not far behind was team "Technical Difficulties" (Rivermont Collegiate, Bettendorf), winner of the third place Champion's Award trophy.  Other big winners included team "Charged Up", (Rivermont Collegiate, Bettendorf) winning 1st place for Core Values, and the "Robodawgs" (Bettendorf Middle School) winning 1st place for their project.

Rivermont Collegiate's robotics coach, Rachel Chamberlain, praised the program, saying, "FIRST LEGO League provides a fun and creative platform for kids to learn basic engineering techniques.  Students work really hard during the four month season, but it's all done in a fun, hands-on way that allows them to make discoveries every day with their team mates.  It's a great way to learn!"  Rivermont Collegiate had five teams at the regional competition in Davenport last month, three of which qualified for the state competition, and two who brought home with big wins.

 

"I'm so proud of all the teams from the Quad Cities." Says Chamberlain, "FLL teaches 'Gracious Professionalism' and the kids all know it's not about what you win, but about what you discover along the way.  The trophies are neat (especially the ones made out of Legos), but what's even neater is the pride the kids feel when they talk about what they learned.  It's music to my ears to hear them encourage their peers to participate next year.  It's an experience they will never forget."

 

FIRST LEGO League is an international robotics competition for teams of two-ten students.  This year there were over 20,000 teams in more than 70 countries, including over 400 teams from the state of Iowa.  56 teams from the Quad Cities competed in the regional qualifier last December at the Putnam Museum in Davenport, IA, and twelve teams were selected to advance to the state competition at Iowa State University on Saturday, January 19, 2013.

 

During the four month FLL season, students work together with their team to build a robot that can accomplish predetermined missions on a common playing field to earn points.  Each team receives the same field with the same missions at the beginning of the season.  With a 2 1/2 minute time limit, teams must figure out how to make the best use of their robot's time to earn as many points as possible.  At the competition, teams go head-to-head in a race against the clock, and then add up points at the end with referees.  The robots are completely autonomous, meaning they are preprogrammed and not controlled by any sort of remote or handheld device.  The programming is done on the computer ahead of time, and then uploaded to the robots before the competition.

 

In addition to building and programming a robot, teams are tasked with creating an innovative solution to a real world problem to present in front of a panel of judges.  This year's theme was "Senior Solutions" - solving problems affecting senior citizens.  Students solicited the help of local experts when designing their inventions and shared their ideas with members of the community before the competition to get feedback and advice.

 

The third and final piece of the FIRST LEGO League competition was Core Values.  According to the First Lego League website, the FLL Core Values are the cornerstones of the FLL program. They are among the fundamental elements that distinguish FLL from other programs of its kind.  By embracing the Core Values, participants learn that friendly competition and mutual gain are not separate goals, and that helping one another is the foundation of teamwork.

 

Harrison Brown, a 5th grader at Rivermont Collegiate, was on team "Charged Up" (winner of the Core Values award).  "I'm proud that our team won the Core Values award." Says Brown, "This is actually a really important award. I feel like our team worked well together and had fun.  That's probably why we won.  If a team doesn't have strong Core Values, it would be hard for them to be successful because they wouldn't be able to work well together."

 

"The real life skills these kids learn through this program are priceless." Says Chamberlain, "We're not only teaching kids how to program and become future engineers, but we are teaching them how to problem solve, brainstorm, build presentations, and work on a team.  These skills are invaluable and will cross over into many different areas of their life and future careers."

 

Although teams don't know details yet about next year's challenge, they do know the theme - "Nature's Fury".  The 2013 season officially kicks off on August 27, 2013.

 

For more information about First Lego League, visit www.firstlegoleague.org.  For more information about this year's championship at Iowa State University, visit www.isek.iastate.edu/fll.

 

-END-
18 Jan 2013

Governor Quinn Announces Gigabit Internet Partnership with City of Evanston and Northwestern University

By Leslie Wertheimer

Strategic $1 Million State Investment Will Help Northwestern University and Area Businesses to Build Innovation Corridor, Create Jobs

EVANSTON - January 18, 2013. Governor Pat Quinn was joined today by leaders from the city of Evanston and Northwestern University to announce a $1 million state investment to help the city become an Illinois Gigabit Community, bringing ultra-high speed Internet to one of the nation's top universities and the surrounding area, home to more than 160 start-ups. This gigabit service will be crucial to developing an economic innovation corridor that will attract entrepreneurs who create jobs as they grow the next generation of world-changing companies.

Announced during Governor Quinn's 2012 State of the State Address, this investment advances the governor's efforts to encourage world-class broadband infrastructure across Illinois.

"To compete in the 21st century economy, we must have technology infrastructure that is second to none," Governor Quinn said. "Internet service that's 100 times faster than what we have today will help businesses, universities and governments to revolutionize our communities and make them stronger today and in the future."

The governor's strategic investment of $1 million will help connect fiber optic gigabit Internet service from downtown Chicago to Northwestern University, which will then place more than 400 access points in locations throughout campus and in surrounding Evanston.

This will enhance the research capabilities of Northwestern University and the ability of the city of Evanston to offer the kind of ultra-high speed Internet service that technology businesses need to start-up and grow. In addition, the capability will boost the city's efforts to create an innovation corridor that will utilize proximity to Northwestern University's extensive academic resources and robust public transportation.

"Evanston is home to over 160 technology start-ups housed in various scattered locations with limited synergistic relationships or facilities.  The awarding of this Gigabit Community Challenge Grant Award will build a direct link between technology start-up companies, Northwestern University, the city of Evanston and private investors via gigabit fiber connections. The researchers on Northwestern University's campus, workers in technology start-up companies and entrepreneurs will be able to access faster data speeds leading to greater discoveries and commercial applications," said Evanston Alderman Melissa Wynne (3rd Ward). "This award will be a catalyst allowing the city of Evanston and the state of Illinois to keep great thinkers, innovators, entrepreneurs and growing technology companies here in Illinois through a critical public-private-non-profit partnership."

"Northwestern is grateful for the opportunity provided by Governor Quinn and the state of Illinois and for the prize awarded to our community via the Illinois Gigabit Communities Challenge," said Sean Reynolds, Northwestern University's vice president for Information Technology and chief information officer.  "This support will allow the University to again partner with the city of Evanston to enhance our mutual and collective competitiveness through the advancement of technology - in this case, by advancing networking capacity to the University and the city of Evanston and the interconnection between them.  We are excited about the potential for increased reach and interactions for researchers, startup companies and other commercial and public entities throughout the city of Evanston, the Chicago area, the state and the wider connected world."

coLab Evanston is just one of many small and growing businesses that will reap enormous benefits from ultra-high speed gigabit Internet service. The company provides shared working space for companies and individual entrepreneurs who are often looking to take ideas and grow them into larger enterprises. The company acts as an incubator for innovation and provides its clients with the resources to be successful.

"At coLab, we're committed to helping professionals by giving them the tools they need to be productive and innovative," said Eric Harper, co-founder of coLab Evanston. "Gigabit will be a key benefit we offer as we strive to create an environment where ideas can turn into reality."

The city of Evanston is also collaborating with Urban Communications, Inc. to expand broadband availability to residential and small business entities throughout the city. In addition to traditional Internet, the company plans to provide other IP-based services such as VoIP, video conferencing, web hosting, disaster recovery and email.

"This project will help Urban Communications extend the benefits of gigabit Internet service to residents and businesses all over Evanston who are always searching for better technology services at a better value," said Edmund G. Urban III, CEO of Urban Communications. "We're proud to be partnering with the city of Evanston to make our community a better place to live and work."

Governor Quinn has led major efforts to improve Illinois' technology infrastructure and worked to expand broadband deployment in all areas of the state. As part of the Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program, the Broadband Deployment Fund was used in 2010 and 2011 to jumpstart more than 4,000 miles of new fiber optic cable construction and more than $300 million in private and federal investments in Illinois. The governor previously announced gigabit investments in Aurora's public and private K-12 schools, higher education and healthcare institutions, commercial corridors and community anchors in underserved areas, and major non-profit organizations across the city as well as communities across Chicago including Hyde Park, Kenwood, Woodlawn, Washington Park, South Shore, Greater Grand Crossing, Grand Boulevard, Douglas and Oakland.

For more information on Illinois Gigabit, visit Gigabit.Illinois.gov.

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15 Jan 2013

Northwest Carpet One Floor & Home Introduces Free Digital Magazine for iPad

By Douglas Patch

Davenport, IA - Northwest Carpet One Floor & Home is offering a new digital magazine to its customers. The magazine entitled Beautiful Design. Made Simple. features inspiration, tips and advice to make creating a beautiful home just a little bit easier. The magazine is free and can be downloaded from the Apple App Store.

Each quarter Beautiful Design.Made Simple.. will feature new ideas and inspiration. Northwest Carpet One Floor & Home's goal is to provide their customers with design tips and trends before, during, and after they purchase flooring..

"Design is ever changing and so is your home," said Douglas Patch, of Northwest Carpet One Floor & Home "Even if you've finished your flooring project, this magazine can help you plan your next project or make updates to other parts of your home."

The premier issue of Beautiful Design. Made Simple. features information and ways to incorporate Benjamin Moore's 2013 color trends, Simple tips on updating a room, inspiration and design advice from professionals Tracy Bross and Glen Peloso, carpet care tips, flooring trends and a plethora of inspiring images for the entire home.

To download this free magazine visit http://www.beautifuldesignmadesimple.com or search for Beautiful Design. Made Simple. in your App Store.

About Northwest Carpet One Floor & Home
Northwest Carpet One Floor & Home is a locally owned flooring retailer serving the Davenport area. They are part of North America's leading floor covering co-op. Their showroom is known for carrying a broad selection of beautiful carpet, wood, laminate, ceramic, vinyl, and area rugs including exclusive brands like Bigelow and Lees. They offer a unique customer experience with the exclusive SelectAFloor merchandising system that simplifies the shopping experience and The Beautiful GuaranteeTM, which guarantees that the customer will be 100% happy with their floor. Northwest Carpet One Floor & Home is also the home of the exclusive Healthier Living Installation system. For more information visit NORTHWESTCARPETONEDAVENPORT.COM.

08 Jan 2013

Are You Running Your Business on Obsolete Technology?

By Rick Martin
Midland Communications Advises Customers on the Dangers of Operating on a Manufacturer Discontinued Phone System

DAVENPORT, IA - January 8, 2013 - The world of unified communications is centered on the idea of leveraging powerful technologies and applications to boost productivity. When individual employees have superior tools they are able to do more with less and increase bottom-line profitability. However, many businesses are becoming increasingly familiar with the concept of planned obsolescence, which is a policy of planning or designing a product with a limited useful life, so it will become obsolete, unfashionable or no longer functional after a certain period of time. Phone systems and data networks are beginning to show signs of planned obsolescence and business owners are beginning to reexamine their communications infrastructure. Small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) need to take a close look at their phone systems to evaluate when obsolescence will strike and what steps they can take to avoid this.
Many of the existing phone systems that businesses are currently running have been discontinued and no longer supported by the manufacturer. This basically means that the technology has run its course, stopped being manufactured and is becoming exceedingly difficult to service. In other words, if a business is running its communications infrastructure on obsolete technology, when it breaks down there won't be anyone to help fix it. This is a giant risk that business owners are taking when their customer relationships are on the line. An outdated phone system will ultimately crash. Businesses cannot afford to go down and cut off all contact with their customers.
"Here at Midland Communications, we are educating companies on the risks associated with manufacturer discontinued phone systems as well as their options for new technology," stated Jason Smith, Vice President of Midland Communications. "This is an exciting time in our industry because with the advent of SIP (session initiation protocol) many companies can easily cost justify the adoption of today's technology. Plus, these businesses will benefit from applications and features designed to increase their profitability, enhance their employees' productivity, and give them a competitive advantage, something their outdated phone system cannot do."

ABOUT MIDLAND COMMUNICATIONS
Midland Communications began more than 60 years ago in 1946 as the Worldwide Marketing Arm of Victor-Animagraph Projectors. In 1977 a communications division was formed due to a partnership with NEC America. Today, As a distributor of NEC America, for 33 years, Midland Communications has a customer base of more than 3,000 satisfied customers that include general businesses, government agencies, Universities, colleges, hospitals, and hotels.
Midland provides a wide range of communication services including VOIP, PBX and key systems, Wide Area and Local Area networking, computers, Computer integration, voice mail, CCIS, and video conferencing and paging systems. Our philosophy is simple, provide quality products at a fair price, backed by an average emergency response time of twenty minutes, and the best service in the industry. For more information on Midland Communications, call (563) 326-1237 or visit www.midlandcom.com.


# # #
27 Dec 2012

Rock Island Library Programs Provide Tech Help After the Holidays

By Lisa Lockheart

Did a new eReader, tablet or smartphone end up under your tree this year? If so, the Rock Island Public Library wants to help you learn how to use them to checkout free eBooks and audiobooks.

The library will kick off 2013 with a free "Getting Started with Downloading eBooks" program at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, January 2, at the Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street, Rock Island. The same program will be repeated at 5:30 pm on Tuesday, Jan. 15 at the Rock Island Southwest Branch Library, 9010 Ridgewood Road. Getting Started with Downloading eBooks will show participants how to use the OverDrive service to checkout free eBooks and eAudiobooks for a wide variety of devices, including eReaders, Kindle readers and tablets, Apple devices, and smartphones. Each session starts with a short demo, followed by time for one-on-one practice or help. No registration is required.

And if a new laptop or personal computer was on your gift list this year, the library will also offer a free "Getting Started with Computers" session at 1:30 pm on Tuesday, Jan. 29, at the Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street. The class offers free help for users who are either completely new to computers or for those who want to get more comfortable using one. Registration is required for this class only. To sign up, call 309-732-7341.

 

For more events at the Rock Island Public Library, pick up a winter program brochure or monthly events calendar at any Rock Island Library, check the library calendar or news sections at www.rockislandlibrary.org, or sign up for news by email. For questions, please call 309-732-7323 (READ.)

 

Additional Rock Island Library Tech Classes for 2013:

Getting Started with Email

Thursday, February 21st, 2013, 2:30 pm Main Library

Whether you need an email account or just don't use yours very often, this class will help you become more comfortable. Registration is required: Call 309-732-7341.

 

Getting Started with Computers

Thursday, March 14th, 2013, 11:30 am Main Library

Whether you've never touched a computer before or just want to learn some new things, this class will help you get more comfortable.  Registration is required: Call 309-732-7341

 

Getting Started with Email

Tuesday, March 26th, 2013, 10:30 am Main Library

Whether you need an email account or just don't use yours very often, this class will help you become more comfortable. Registration is required: Call 309-732-7341.

 

Getting Started with Library Databases

Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013, 3:00 pm Main Library

Learn how to use some of the Library's online databases to learn a new language, research your family history, and find magazine articles or books online. Registration required: Call 309-732-7341.

17 Dec 2012

Lt. Gov. Reynolds Leads Bipartisan Group of Lieutenant Governors in Support of Wind PTC

By Office of the Governor of Iowa

(DES MOINES) - Iowa Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today released a letter sent by a bipartisan coalition of lieutenant governors from eight states to congressional leaders supporting the Wind Production Tax Credit (PTC). Reynolds brought together the lieutenant governors of Colorado, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Rhode Island and Washington in support of an extension to the wind PTC.

 

The full letter can be found here.

 

"The wind energy industry is not only a source of renewable energy, but it is also a vital component of the Iowa and American economy," said Reynolds. "Over 6,000 Iowans are able to trace their employment to the wind industry. I am proud that my colleagues joined me to urge Congress to pass the Wind PTC extension allowing our states and the wind industry to continue harnessing American energy, creating jobs and expanding economic development in the process."

 

Lt. Gov. Joseph Garcia (D-Colo.), Lt. Gov. Yvonne Prettner Solon (D-Minn.), Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy ( R-Neb.),Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb (R-Okla.), Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts (D-R.I.),  Lt. Gov. Matt Michels (R-S.D.) and Lt. Gov. Brad Owen (D-Wash.) joined Reynolds in signing on to the letter addressed to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Senate Democrat Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

 

Without action from Congress, the Wind PTC will expire at the end of December.

 

In the letter the lieutenant governors state, "Without the PTC extensions, the U.S. economy will lose tens of thousands of jobs and the opportunity to leverage $10 billion of private investment." The letter continues, "Businesses in our states need the certainty of a PTC extension to encourage new capital investments, maintain their competitive edge of wind energy technologies, and create high paying jobs."

 

The letter concludes by pointing out the PTC enjoys bipartisan support from members of Congress, states and the private sector. Every member of the Iowa congressional delegation supports an extension of the wind PTC and Lt. Gov. Reynolds' letter is the latest action Iowa leaders have taken to show support for an extension.

 

The full text of the letter is as follows:

 

 

December 14, 2012

 

 

The Honorable Harry Reid

Majority Leader

U.S. Senate

Washington, D.C. 20510

 

The Honorable John Boehner

Speaker of the House

U.S. House of Representatives

Washington, D.C. 20515

 

The Honorable Mitch McConnell

Minority Leader

U.S. Senate

Washington, D.C. 20510

 

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi

Minority Leader

U.S. House of Representatives

Washington, D.C. 20515

 


 

Dear Majority Leader Reid, Senator McConnell, Speaker Boehner, and Representative Pelosi:

 

We urge you to pass legislation that extends the wind energy production tax credit (PTC) scheduled to expire at the end of this month.

 

The United States enjoys some of the best wind resources in the world.  The PTC has helped enable a fledgling wind industry to develop technological advances that are creating jobs, building state manufacturing bases, lowering energy costs, and promoting American energy independence.  Today, nearly 500 wind manufacturing facilities are located in 43 states.  America's wind energy industry has generated nearly $20 billion in private investment annually in each of the last five years.  The growth in the wind energy industry has been matched with significant gains in efficiency; however, more time is needed for the industry to mature.

 

Uncertainty regarding the PTC's continuance has already reduced wind turbine orders, halted projects, and resulted in thousands of wind industry layoffs across the country.  Without a PTC extension, the US economy will lose tens of thousands of jobs and the opportunity to leverage $10 billion of private investment.  The effects of instable Federal policy can already be seen.  In just two examples, Siemens laid off 407 workers at its blade manufacturing facility in Fort Madison, Iowa, and Oregon-based Iberdrola Renewables laid off 50 of its employees and canceled several US projects.  Businesses in our states need the certainty of a PTC extension to encourage new capital investments, maintain their competitive edge of wind energy technologies, and create high-paying jobs.  We are concerned about the impact of these layoffs and manufacturing reductions on the families affected and on our state economies.

 

The PTC has enjoyed bipartisan support from Members of Congress, states, and private businesses because it is a successful tax policy that reaps economic and energy rewards.  We encourage you to quickly pass a wind production tax credit extension to help fuel high-tech jobs and domestic energy production.

 

Sincerely,

Kim Reynolds                                                            Joseph A. Garcia

Lieutenant Governor, State of Iowa                           Lieutenant Governor, State of Colorado

 

Rick Sheehy                                                                  Matt Michels

Lieutenant Governor, State of Nebraska                       Lieutenant Governor, State of South Dakota

 

Elizabeth H. Roberts                                                            Brad Owen

Lieutenant Governor, State of Rhode Island                        Lieutenant Governor, State of Washington

 

Yvonne Prettner Solon                                                  Todd Lamb

Lieutenant Governor, State of Minnesota                      Lieutenant Governor, State of Oklahoma

 

###

 

For more information, please visit www.ltgovernor.iowa.gov.

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