Governor seeks to plug in a deal on electric plants

Governor Tom Vilsack is offering a new deal on a bill that would make it easier for utilities to build power plants in Iowa. Vilsack, who’s a democrat, will give up his request for guarantees for certain efficiency and conservation programs if Republican legislators give up the part of the bill that sets the rates for the purchase of that new power. Vilsack says he hopes this will move the issue forward and allow them to resolve other concerns within the bill.Vilsack says those are controversial parts of the bill that can be decided later.Legislators return to Des Moines on June 19th for a two-day special session.Some Republicans say utilities won’t commit to building new power plants in Iowa until they see the full picture, rather than Vilsack’s half-loaf. Vilsack spoke with reporters from Washington, D-C, where he’s meeting with other democrat Governors.