• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Outdoors / Group calls for mandatory reductions in energy use

Group calls for mandatory reductions in energy use

September 10, 2009 By Matt Kelley

Ted Grauer at podium, Eric Nost in background .

Ted Grauer at podium, Eric Nost in background .

An Iowa environmental organization is calling on Senators Tom Harkin and Chuck Grassley to back proposed changes to the Clean Energy Security Act, which passed the House in June. Eric Nost (rhymes with “lost”), with Environment Iowa, is asking Iowa’s U.S. Senators to support provisions that would include requiring utility companies to reduce their energy usage by 10% by providing incentives to help customers make their homes and businesses more energy efficient. Nost says a new national report shows the policy changes would provide a big boost to Iowa’s economy.

“By passing these policies, our Senators, in just over 10 years, would give 6,200 Iowans jobs and save the average Iowa family $282 per year on their energy bills,” Nost said. The report was released by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. The organization claims the efficiency provisions would also reduce carbon dioxide emissions nationwide by 480 million metric tons by 2020.

Ted Grauer, who owns an engineering design firm based in Van Meter, joined Nost at a press conference today in Des Moines. Grauer provided an example of how energy-efficiency incentives in the bill might help school districts in the state. His business is installing high efficiency lighting and a geo-thermal heating and cooling system in an elementary school in southeast Iowa. The changes will save the Central Lee School District about 33% on their annual energy bill. Grauer also explained how an expansion of the energy bill would create more jobs.

“There are about 15 guys (at the elementary school) drilling 200 feet deep wells for the geo-thermal. That’s a bunch of labor coming from the labor pool in Iowa. So, the more efficiency programs that would go into place, more people will be putting those projects in,” Grauer said. “We have the technology, but it takes manpower to install the technology.” According to the report, the legislation passed by the House would create 4,300 new jobs in Iowa and save the average household $211 per year.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Outdoors, Politics / Govt

Featured Stories

Governor signs Iowa Renewable Fuels Standard into law

Jury returns guilty verdict in shooting death of State Trooper

A haboob, a dust storm black out, hits northwest Iowa

Summit has easements for 20% of carbon pipeline route through Iowa

Morel mushroom hunters on hold without warmer conditions

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Iowa Special Olympics Summer games set to open in Ames

Radio Iowa/Baseball Coaches Association High School Poll 5/16/22

Iowa assistant coach Kirk Speraw to retire

Northern Iowa prepares for Missouri Valley Conference softball tournament

T.J. Otzelberger announces staff changes at Iowa State

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2022 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC