Rep. Loebsack receives the USA Wind Jobs Champion Award

Dear Friend,

I wanted to provide you with an update on my continued advocacy on behalf of Iowa’s renewable energy industry and in particular for the wind energy industry. Wind energy manufacturers in our state provide good paying jobs for thousands of Iowans and have made significant contributions to our state being the second largest producer of wind energy in the country.

This is why I was so pleased to recently be named a USA Wind Jobs Champion by the 2,400 member companies of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). The award recognizes work to create and sustain U.S. jobs in the wind energy industry and its manufacturing supply chain. I was pleased to accept this award instead for the hard-working employees of the wind energy manufacturing companies in Iowa.

To highlight the need to reauthorize the Production Tax Credit (PTC) for wind energy, I used the award as an opportunity to visit Siemens Wind in Fort Madison and Acciona Turbines in West Branch to talk about the importance of wind energy to Iowa with the employees there. I’ve been working to bring attention to the PTC and push the Majority in the House to bring up legislation to reauthorize it and a variety of other renewable energy support like for biodiesel. Unfortunately many wind manufacturers are already seeing orders drop off as a result of inaction on the PTC.

Support for the wind energy industry is going to be critical for our continued move away from imported fossil fuels and energy independence for the US. I’m happy Iowa is playing such a critical role in this new beginning for renewable energy which is continuing to provide more homegrown power for Iowa homes and businesses every day. I will continue to work to highlight the importance of wind energy for Iowa’s economy and jobs.

Sincerely,

Dave Loebsack
Iowa’s Second District