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Culver touts renewable energy plans in Osage

(Paid for by the Iowa Democratic Party)OSAGE, Iowa - Gov. Chet Culver called on legislators to approve his proposed $100 million Iowa Power Fund on Wednesday at a public meeting with community and business leaders in Osage.

In his first public address detailing the proposal, Culver outlined his plans to about 40 people at Fox River Mills, a manufacturer known for its energy efficiency and socks made with organic wool. Among other speakers at the event, billed as an Energy Roundtable, were representatives of an ethanol plant and a community wind farm.

The meeting was the first in a series of renewable energy summits the governor plans for this spring and summer to discuss his proposal, aimed at boosting Iowa's renewable energy industry.

Culver said Iowa should strive to be more than the nations leader in ethanol and biodiesel. He challenged the state to "be the leader in all forms of research and development related to renewable fuel."

The power fund would create financial incentives for companies to develop and commercialize new energy products within the state, he said.

The plan would also establish a new office of renewable energy whose director would coordinate existing renewable energy programs and spearhead efforts to raise federal and private funds to match state spending.

A new nine-member Power Fund Council would determine which projects should receive funding and advise the governor on the best investment options. The council would include representatives of the state Department of Economic Development, Department of Natural Resources and Iowa Utilities Board as well as others from the private sector, academia and nonprofit groups who have expertise in renewable energy.

Culver said he is interviewing candidates for the new office and council positions.

"There are a number of very talented, kind of high profile-investment types that are interested," he said.

Culver said he doesn't want to mix power fund objectives or decision-making with the Iowa Values Fund, which focuses on economic development.

"The research and development needs to be very separate from the specific job creation efforts," he said.

Some questioned separating the two efforts.

Rick Schwarck, chairman of Absolute Energy in Saint Ansgar, said he supports the proposal but wants research projects to work in tandem with economic advancement.

"Iowas a leader in the biofuels development, but not because research is done here but because the application is here, the corn is here," said Schwarck, whose company operates an ethanol plant.

Under Culver's plan, public groups as well as businesses could apply for funding if they have an energy efficiency plan like a wind farm, said Doug OBrien, the governor's senior adviser on renewable fuel and energy who also spoke at the forum.

But "a big part of it will be motivating people to use the technologies" that groups develop, OBrien said.

Culver said Iowas outlook should remain ambitious.