The Iowa Climate Change Advisory Council has completed its report on recommendations for reducing greenhouse gases in the state and action on that report is now up to the Iowa Legislature. Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives spokesman, Alan Urlis, says his organization has some concerns about the report.
Urlis says the process that developed the report didn’t allow for the adequate examination of the costs and feasibility of the recommendations. He says in many cases the members had less than 24 hours to review the documents before voting on the language. The report contains many recommendations that could impact the electric industry, and Urlis says that’s why the association raises the issue.
Urlis says, "Going forward with energy policy development without knowing the true cost and feasibility really can place Iowans in a position where they may face higher electric bills, and that’s really the crux of our concerns." Urlis says the association hopes lawmakers realize the issues they point out.
Urlis says they feel some assurance that since the report is being reviewed by the governor and legislature that they will realize the methods for developing the report are "flawed" and more work needs to be done. Urlis says the Iowa Electric Cooperatives Association likes the overall idea of the report.
He says the association supports the overall objective of reducing greenhouse gases, and says the coops are already using energy reduction and efficiency programs that save electricity and money for its customers. The report contains 56 recommendations for helping reduce greenhouse gases in the state.