Regulators and policymakers talk energy

A three-hour luncheon was no picnic today for state regulators, policymakers and leaders of power companies serving Iowa. The newest member of the Iowa utilities commission, Mark Lambert, told the gathering the latest version of the farm bill before the U-S senate contains 550-million dollars for energy resources.He says 18-million to help farmers become partners in big utility-size renewable energy projects, and 20-million for whole-farm and business energy audits. Lambert praised the federal government for supporting renewable energy, and pointed out the Hawkeye state’s a leader there.Lambert said the state no longer faces running out of electricity since the legislature passed a package of bills easing rules for new power plants.