(Globe Gazette) DES MOINES — U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced on Monday that Iowa will receive $16 million in federal stimulus dollars to fund energy efficiency and renewable-energy projects.
Iowa was one of the first states to receive dollars from an energy program for states funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The program encourages states to invest in energy savings, increase the use of renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Money given to Iowa from the program is expected to eventually total $40.5 million.
Gov. Chet Culver said the money will be used to expand the efforts of the Iowa Power Fund and the state’s Office of Energy Independence.
The Iowa Power Fund, created in 2007, has helped Iowa invest in and attract research and development in renewable energy and energy efficiency, Culver said.
Iowa’s 2,056 windmills have nearly 2,900 megawatts of wind energy capacity, Culver said, making the state second only to Texas in wind generation.
"We are well on the way to making Iowa the alternative energy capital of the United States," the governor said.
Culver said the power fund also has helped leverage federal dollars.
“This makes Iowa’s energy projects more competitive and accelerates Iowa’s leadership in the new energy economy,” Culver said.
The federal money will go to the public and private sectors, with a large part going to energy-efficiency projects. Dollars also will go to demonstrate renewable energy technologies in Iowa.
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The wind energy sector continues to be a focus for Priority One as well. This past spring, Priority One attend wind energy conferences in Chicago and Germany to meet with new and existing clients who have an interest in expanding their wind component manufacturing business.