Renewables industries will grow manufacturing, construction and engineering jobs by 2025 with national policy, new study finds

Washington, D.C., February 4, 2010 - The renewable energy industry in Iowa will support thousands of new jobs if the federal government passes a strong national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) this year, according a major new study announced today. A national policy requiring electrical utilities to get 25% of their power from renewable sources by 2025 would drive new jobs in the wind power industry in Iowa, with similar results across the U.S.

The "Job Impacts of a National Renewable Electricity Standard" study, conducted by independent firm Navigant Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: NCI) and released by the RES Alliance for Jobs, found that a 25% by 2025 national RES would result in an additional 8,350 renewable energy jobs in Iowa, part of 274,000 jobs nationwide, compared to continuing without a national policy. This is equal to 59,800 job-years of work for Iowans through 2025.

In addition, the study found that without stronger near-term targets than currently envisioned, Iowa industries like wind power will experience flat job growth and long-term stagnation.  The RES Alliance recommends raising near-term RES targets in federal legislation to 12% in 2014 and 20% in 2020.

"This new study supports that, with proper federal policies like a strong RES, the U.S. wind energy industry can create long lasting jobs over the next decade," said Steve Lockard, CEO of TPI Composites, which has a wind blade manufacturing facility in Newton, Iowa.  States like Iowa have a great opportunity to revitalize their manufacturing base as a result of this recommended policy."

With a 25% by 2025 RES, Iowa's wind energy industry would support an additional 8,000 jobs annually by 2025.

"If we don't create a stable environment for wind energy investment and turbine manufacturing in the U.S. we are literally giving away jobs to China and India," said Peter Duprey, CEO of Acciona, which has a manufacturing facility in West Branch, Iowa.  "The Renewable Electricity Standard is a stabilizer.  It's the difference between one shift and three at our West Branch plant.  It's the giant step forward that our industry needs for the jobs it promises to create."

China and the EU have national incentives for clean energy production, the report noted, and unless the U.S. creates a strong national policy of its own we will be at a major disadvantage.

"The report analysis clearly shows that an RES of 25 percent by 2025 results in significantly expanded job opportunities in renewable energy," said Lisa Frantzis, Managing Director for Renewable and Distributed Energy at Navigant Consulting, which conducted the study.  "Each renewable technology will support jobs in different regions across the country, with the bottom line being a marked increase in job opportunities nationwide."

The RES Alliance / Navigant Consulting study is the first to examine the job impacts in these five industries across states in both the near- and long-term.

More information, including downloadable job growth maps, is available at www.res-alliance.org.

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"We're doing everything we can to help Illinois residents make it through these tough economic times," said Governor Quinn. "The appliance rebate program is a good way to help consumers be more economical and environmentally responsible while also boosting Illinois' 'green job' creation."

The Illinois ENERGY STAR Appliance Rebate Program will provide consumers with a point-of-sale rebate on ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers, dishwashers, room air conditioners, and water heaters, as well as highly efficient heating and air conditioning systems.

Rebates on water heaters and heating and cooling equipment will be available beginning January 31. A 25 percent point-of-sale rebate will be available to purchasers of ENERGY STAR water heaters from participating retailers. HVAC customers will receive an instant rebate from participating contractors that are listed on the ComEd, AmerenIU, or Participating Energy Efficiency Contractor (PEEC) Network.

The second phase of the program, which will run from April 16 - 25, provides a flat 15 percent rebate to consumers who purchase energy efficient appliances at participating retail stores. Consumers who turn in their old appliances for recycling will also be eligible for an additional mail-in rebate of $50-$100.

"The average home spends about $2,200 a year on energy bills," said Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Director Warren Ribley. "By making small changes and incorporating more energy efficient practices in our daily routine, we can reduce the cost of our energy bills and reduce our impact on the environment. The appliance rebate program provides a three-fold benefit by also providing a much-needed boost to the economy."

The Illinois ENERGY STAR Appliance Rebate Program will be managed by the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) on behalf of DCEO. The state is also partnering with the Illinois Retail Merchants Association (IRMA) to enroll retailers in the program. Retailers interested in participating in the program can visit IRMA's website at www.HelpGreenIllinois.org.

ARRA grants will enable broadband mapping and planning

Des Moines, IA- Recently, Iowa received a match grant of approximately $2.2 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to support a comprehensive broadband mapping and planning initiative through the Connect Iowa program.

Connect Iowa (www.connectiowa.org) is a partnership between the Iowa Broadband Deployment Governance Board, the Iowa Utilities Board and Connected Nation to increase broadband Internet access throughout rural Iowa. The grant is comprised of $1.7 million for broadband data collection and mapping activities over a two-year period and almost $500,000 for broadband planning activities over a five-year period in Iowa, bringing the total grant award to approximately $2.2 million. The award provided through NTIA's State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program is a matching grant and part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The data collected from the Connect Iowa initiative will be displayed in the national broadband map, which will help inform policymakers and provide consumers with improved information on broadband Internet services available in the United States.

Robert Berntsen, Chair of the Iowa Utilities Board, noted the importance of the grant by stating, "The Iowa Broadband Map is the foundation upon which policy leaders and industry will build a plan to bring high-speed Internet access to the unserved and underserved parts of Iowa."

As part of the Connect Iowa initiative, Connected Nation will be implementing a brand new interactive mapping tool for viewing, analyzing and validating broadband data. Called BroadbandStat, the new interactive mapping platform is a multi-functional, user-friendly way for local leaders, policymakers, consumers and technology providers to devise a plan for the expansion and adoption of broadband. BroadbandStat was developed by Connected Nation in conjunction with ESRI, the world market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software.

BroadbandStat is unique because it allows a user to build and evaluate broadband expansion scenarios using a wealth of data, including education and population demographics, current broadband speeds and availability and research about the barriers to adoption. The tool also provides an instant feedback mechanism for consumers to validate broadband data electronically or via phone.

"We are pleased to be working with the Iowa Utilities Board and the Iowa Broadband Deployment Governance Board to help create a comprehensive broadband map in the state of Iowa," said Brian R. Mefford, Connected Nation's chief executive officer. "We applaud NTIA for working diligently to create a national broadband map and are honored to have been selected to help Iowa in its efforts to close the digital divide in the state."

As the organization that produced the nation's first accurate statewide broadband availability map in 2005, Connected Nation is a prominent voice for the nation's need for better broadband data. Connected Nation has worked closely with national leaders and provided numerous filings in support of a process for broadband data collection at the national level.

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Washington, DC - Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) announced today the city of Davenport will receive a $983,300 grant from the Department of Energy for energy efficiency and conservation projects.  This funding is from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program, which provides grants for projects that reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency across the country.  The grant was awarded as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

"I'm pleased to announce more than $983,000 to help create jobs and move Iowa towards a stronger energy-efficient future," Braley said.  "During these tough economic times, grants like this will play a critical role in putting Iowans back to work, creating good-paying jobs that can't be outsourced and moving our country away from our addiction to foreign oil."

Activities eligible for EECBG funding include energy audits and building retrofits in the residential and commercial sector, the development and implementation of advanced building codes and inspections, and the creation of financial incentive programs for energy efficiency improvements.

For more information on Stimulus projects in the First District, please click here.