Periodic news items and alerts about global climate change justice, energy efficiency, energy conservation, and sustainable energy alternatives for congregations.
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Blessings!
Tim Kautza
Coordinator
Contents:
CENTRAL HAS FIRST LEED BUILDING
THE EMPEROR’S NEW ENERGY AT CEDAR RAPIDS
THE GREAT WARMING FILM COMING TO IOWA
ASK MUTUAL FUNDS TO PRESS COMPANIES TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE
LUTHER COLLEGE CONSIDERING WIND GENERATOR
HOGG TO OFFER ENERGY AMENDMENTS
SEVERAL ENERGY BILLS IN LEGISLATURE DEMAND ATTENTION
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CENTRAL HAS FIRST LEED BUILDING
The Vermeer Science Center, dedicated in 2003 at Central College, was the first building in Iowa to receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The science center features "smart" classrooms, laboratory equipment, computer labs, and ventilation, heating and cooling systems; solar powered water fountain, and an electronic educational kiosk that connects the user with information regarding the fountain, renewable energy, and facts about the building and its sustainable features. Central’s Director of Construction and Energy Management Mike Lubberden spearheaded the project and was named Iowa’s first LEED Accredited Professional. He’s also a great supporter of Iowa Interfaith Power & Light and is willing to give tours and discuss other energy efficiency and sustainable energy innovations at Central College. Contact Mike lubberdenm@central.edu or 641.628.5346.
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THE EMPEROR’S NEW ENERGY AT CEDAR RAPIDS
Kamyar Enshayan, UNI Center for Energy and Environmental Education and
community activist, will present "The Emperor's New Energy," 2:00 p.m., March 26 at Indian Creek Nature Center, Cedar Rapids. Participants will grapple with questions like… What are the questions ordinary citizens ought to ask of any proposed "new" energy source that is claimed to solve our energy problems? As oil supplies dwindle, marketers are selling all sorts of things as "renewable" energy. How do we sort through them? Dr. Enshayan, an agricultural engineer, has recently published a book about renewable energy options, "Living Within Our Means." Visit www.indiancreeknaturecenter.org or call 319.362.0664 to find Indian Creek.
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THE GREAT WARMING FILM COMING TO IOWA
Iowa Interfaith Climate and Energy Campaign (IICEC) announces they will be offering screenings of the film: "The Great Warming" around Iowa in April. "The Great Warming" is a feature length film about global warming. It is based on the book the "Storm Warning - Gambling with the Climate of our Planet" by Lydia Dotto and a three part TV series. The film is narrated by Keanu Reeves and Alanis Morrisette and includes interviews with the Rev. Richard Cizik of the National Association of Evangelicals among others. For more information about the film, go to www.thegreatwarming.com/index.html. Iowa screening dates and locations will be announced on the IICEC website www.ncrlc.com/IICEC.html and at the website for Iowa Interfaith Power & Light www.ncrlc.com/IIPandL-webpage.html when available. If you’re interested in organizing a viewing at your location, contact Tim Kautza, ncrlctk@mchsi.com or 515.270.2634.
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ASK MUTUAL FUNDS TO PRESS COMPANIES TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE
As global warming continues to pose mounting health and economic risks, investors have successfully persuaded a handful of corporations to reduce their heat-trapping emissions. The Union of Concerned scientists has organized a campaign to encourage major mutual fund companies such as Vanguard, Fidelity, and American Funds, to press companies in their portfolios to address global warming. You can urge these mutual funds to protect the health and economic well being of current and future generations by supporting meaningful action on global warming today. For more information or to send an electronic letter visit http://ucsaction.org/campaign/3_3_06_mutual_funds/w3ed5xu2r5b6n5n?
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LUTHER COLLEGE CONSIDERING WIND GENERATOR
In the future when a student at Luther College turns on a light switch, the electricity to power that light could be coming from a wind generator on college property. A grassroots initiative among professors and students at Luther College is studying the possibility of erecting a commercial-scale wind turbine on college property. The plans have advanced to the point that the college is looking for an investment group to pay for the estimated $2.5 to $3.5 million in costs. For more information, contact Associate Professor of Religion Jim Martin-Schramm marschja@luther.edu or (563) 387-1251. For the complete story, visit www.decorahnews.com/2-20windpower.html
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HOGG TO OFFER ENERGY AMENDMENTS
Representative Rob Hogg intends to offer an energy conservation amendment H-8063 (see below) to HF2521 (the administration and regulation committee). This amendment would amend the $3 million appropriation to the Department of Administrative Services for utilities for the Capitol Complex by stating that the Legislature intends to cut these costs through energy conservation practices, setting a goal of a 10% reduction in energy use, and using any left over money to expand public education, training, volunteer recruitment, and energy conservation improvements through the Iowa Weatherization Challenge of the Iowa Utilities Board. For more information about the Iowa Weatherization Challenge, please visit www.ncrlc.com/IIPandL-webpage.html
House Amendment 8063
PAG LIN
1 1 Amend House File 2521 as follows:
1 2 #1. Page 1, by striking lines 17 through 21 and
1 3 inserting the following: <It is the intent of the
1 4 general assembly that the department shall reduce
1 5 utility costs through energy conservation practices.
1 6 The goal of the general assembly is to reduce energy
1 7 use by ten percent to save money, conserve energy
1 8 resources, and reduce pollution. Notwithstanding
1 9 section 8.33, any appropriated funds not expended for
1 10 utility costs shall not revert to the general fund of
1 11 the state at the end of the fiscal year but shall be
1 12 appropriated to the utilities division of the
1 13 department of commerce for public education, training,
1 14 volunteer recruitment, and specific energy
1 15 conservation improvements in support of the goals of
1 16 the Iowa weatherization challenge of the Iowa
1 17 utilities board.>
1 18
1 19
1 20
1 21 HOGG of Linn
Rep. Hogg is also expected to offer an amendment (as yet unnumbered) to the economic development budget (HF2459) to provide $2 million in competitive grants through Iowa State University for advanced renewable energy research, development, and commercialization. These grants would fund research of cellulose-based fuels (making renewable fuels from non-food crops), biodiesel, and other advanced renewable energy conversion systems and processes.
If you wish to support either of these amendments, call your House member via the House Switchboard, 515-281-3221, or email them using the email addresses from the Legislative website www.legis.state.ia.us/aspx/Legislators/LegislatorInfo.aspx. If nothing else, this may be a great opportunity to have a conversation about energy conservation and new sustainable energy research.
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SEVERAL ENERGY BILLS IN LEGISLATURE DEMAND ATTENTION
March 3 was the final date for House bills to be reported out of House committees and Senate bills out of Senate committees. Here are the sustainable energy-related bills that made it through "the funnel." The descriptions below include Iowa Environmental Council’s view of the bills and an indication of each bills status as of last week. We suggest you refer to Iowa’s Sustainable Energy Charter when judging the bills, particularly the principles and values section and the recommendations. Visit www.ncrlc.com/IICEC-webpages/iicec-web02.html
We are grateful to the Iowa Environmental Council for making this information available to us.
House File 606, House File 2141, Senate File 2063, ENERGY EFFICIENT APPLIANCES.
The Iowa Environmental Council is monitoring this bill
House Ways and Means subcommittee – Kaufmann, Tomenga, Huser. Senate Ways and Means subcommittee - Stewart, Zaun, Danielson, Zieman.
House File 2274, METHANE CREDIT.
The Iowa Environmental Council is monitoring this bill
Creates an income tax credit of 25% of the cost of the installation of methane gas conversion equipment to livestock producers. House Ways and Means Committee.
House File 2489, RENEWABLE ENERGY CREDIT ELIGIBILITY.
The Iowa Environmental Council is tentatively opposing this bill
Requires Renewable Energy Credit applicants to have financing before applying and requires a purchase power or similar agreement within ninety days. House Commerce subcommittee – May, Watts, Soderberg, Jacoby, Pettengill.
House File 2559 (formerly House File 2422), E-85 CONTRACTS.
The Iowa Environmental Council is monitoring this bill
Requires E-85 delivery contracts to provide for delivery of set amounts at set times or alternatively allow franchisees to buy from another source if the fuel is not available. The franchisee must provide public notice when doing so. Requires franchisee to indemnify franchiser against liability claims from using E-85 gas from another source. Prevents franchiser from terminating contracts because of purchase from another source. Passed the House Agriculture Committee.
House Study Bill 587, E-85 & BIODIESEL.
The Iowa Environmental Council is monitoring this bill
Adopts standards for renewable fuels, including biodiesel blends, with a standard of at least 2% biodiesel, and ethanol blends, with a standard of at least 10%. Requires a renewable fuel producer to be accredited in order to sell biodiesel. Establishes penalties for violations of these provisions. Creates a program to loan money to service stations for sales of E-85 or biodiesel. Makes the loans interest-free. Requires the station owner to enter into a cost-sharing agreement with the DNR. Appropriates money from the Healthy Iowans Tobacco Trust to the DNR to administer the renewable fuels program. Creates a credit for sales of E-85 of 3 to 5 cents, depending on the level of E-85 sales. Amended and passed House Agriculture Committee.
Senate File 2092, FLEX FUEL & HYBRID CAR EXEMPTION.
The Iowa Environmental Council is monitoring this bill
Exempts the sale of E-85 cars and hybrid cars from the vehicle use tax, if the vehicle is less than 8,000 pounds. Senate Ways and Means subcommittee – Miller, Stewart, Dotzler, McKibben.
Senate File 2129, BIODIESEL & ETHANOL
The Iowa Environmental Council is monitoring this bill
Establishes standards for biodiesel requiring biodiesel blends to be at least 2% biodiesel by volume & prohibit false advertising. Passed Senate Agriculture Committee.
Senate File 2130, ETHANOL FUEL MANDATE.
The Iowa Environmental Council is monitoring this bill
Requires gasoline sold to be at least 10% ethanol by January 2007. Defines gas with less than 10% ethanol as high emission. Creates exceptions for racecars, aircraft, diesel fueled vehicles, snowmobiles, atvs, antique cars and boats. Requires high emission gas to be premium grade. Allows only one pump of restricted use fuel. Creates an income tax credit for selling E-85 fuel of 10 cents per gallon from 2007 to 2012. Passed Senate Agriculture Committee.
Senate File 2184, ALTERNATIVE FUELS SALES.
The Iowa Environmental Council is monitoring this bill
Establishes thresholds for the sale of ethanol at service stations and penalties for the failure to meet the threshold. Creates a tax credit for the sale of E-85 fuel. Senate Agriculture subcommittee – Johnson, Rielly, Fraise, Gaskill, Hahn, Ragan.
Senate File 2206, ALTERNATE ENERGY.
The Iowa Environmental Council is tentatively supporting this bill
Requires the Department of Economic Development to establish a Clean Energy Assistance program. Appropriates $5 million, including wind energy and green buildings tax credits, creates an energy center at Iowa State University, raises that alternative energy standard for utilities to 10% by 2020, creates a climate advisory council and requires state buildings to be energy efficient. Senate Commerce subcommittee – Bolkcom, McKinley, McCoy, Zaun.
Senate File 2212, ENERGY EQUIPMENT LOANS.
The Iowa Environmental Council is tentatively supporting this bill
Requires the Iowa Finance Authority to establish an energy-efficient equipment no-interest loan program for low-income housing to install energy-efficient equipment. Appropriates $5 million from the Tobacco Trust for the program. Senate Commerce subcommittee – Bolkcom, Zaun, McCoy, Zieman.
Senate File 2325 (formerly Senate File 2133), RENEWABLE ENERGY CREDITS.
The Iowa Environmental Council is supporting this bill
Extends the eligibility of renewable energy facilities for a tax credit to facilities that start by January 1, 2012. Increases tax credits for wind energy to a maximum of 180 megawatts of nameplate generating capacity and increases non-wind alternative energy facilities to 20 megawatts of nameplate capacity. Amended and passed Senate Natural Resources Committee. Adds refuse conversion for heating purposes and makes such systems eligible for tax credits. Individuals on last year’s list of those waiting for energy tax credits must provide documentations that the project is still viable. Prohibits one entity from receiving more than 10% of the available energy credits. Requests a study on energy transmission systems.
Senate Study Bill 3228, RENEWABLE FUEL STANDARDS.
The Iowa Environmental Council is monitoring this bill
Adds definitions for biodiesel, biodiesel blended fuel, ethanol, & ethanol blended gasoline. Requires biodiesel to be at least 1% biodiesel. Passed Senate Agriculture Committee.
Senate Study Bill 3229, ENERGY PERFORMANCE CONTRACTS.
The Iowa Environmental Council is monitoring this bill
Allows corporations, to enter into energy performance-based contracts for energy conservation with qualified providers. Requires savings to be specified. Passed Senate Natural Resources Committee. Another work in progress. There is opposition to the current bill.
Senate Study Bill 3231, SOLID WASTE COMBUSTION.
The Iowa Environmental Council is monitoring this bill
Places combustion with energy recovery as a higher preference above other approved techniques of solid waste management. Passed Senate Natural Resources Committee.
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