Task force releases recommendations on energy savings

A task force appointed by the Governor is calling on Iowans to conserve energy, and for more production of alternative energy, like wind turbines and biomass. The group’s calling for a 10 percent reduction in energy consumption by 2010. David Hurd, retired C-E-O of Principal Financial, was co-chair of the task force. He says individual businesses has adopted energy reduction goals.There were 14 task force members, including out-going Cedar Rapids Mayor Lee Clancey, who was co-chair.Governor Tom Vilsack was on hand for the release of the task force report. He says the report lays out some significant and difficult challenges.Vilsack will order an energy audit of state-owned buildings to try to reduce the state’s energy consumption.The task force also calls for a 10-fold increase in the amount of alternative energy generated in Iowa by the end of the decade. That’d spur development of wind farms, ethanol production and the burning of switchgrass.The task force also recommends updating aging transmission lines, a process it says must be coordinated on a regional and national basis.Vilsack has not endorsed the task force call for new state subsidies for utilities.