Congressional candidates should support real solutions to American’s energy problems

By Alana Stmas (IPIRG) and Rob Sargent (U.S. PIRG).

This is being sent out to Editorial Boards Across the State Encouraging them to support candidates that want to improve our energy policies. Please pass this on to your local editorial board.

We hope you will consider an editorial calling for candidates to support the goals of Iowa PIRG’s New Energy Future Campaign by supporting policies that reduce our dependence on oil, harness clean, renewable, homegrown energy sources, save energy, and invest in energy-saving and renewable energy technologies.

With war in the Middle East, volatile oil and gas prices, and growing concern about global warming, America’s energy future will be a key issue in the Congressional elections in November. America’s dependence on fossil fuels poses challenges to America's environment, economic health, and national security. If we continue along the path of increasing energy use and increasing imports of energy from abroad, all of these challenges are likely to become more critical in the years to come.

This year we need leaders who support moving America beyond oil and toward a cleaner more secure energy future. When Candidate Braley and Candidate Whalen offer their plan for our energy future they should put our national security, our environment, our global climate, and our children’s futures above Big Oil and other powerful interests.

Iowa PIRG is asking all congressional candidates to commit to supporting policies that help the U.S. achieve four key goals:

• Reduce U.S. dependence on oil by saving one-third of the oil we use today (7M/barrels/day) by 2025;
• Harness clean, renewable, homegrown energy sources for at least one quarter of all energy needs by 2025;
• Save energy with high performance homes, buildings and appliances so that by 2025 we use 10 percent less energy than we do today; and
• Invest in a New Energy Future by tripling research and development funding for the energy-saving and renewable technologies we need to achieve these goals.

According to a recent analysis by Iowa PIRG, achieving these goals would have a tremendous impact on America’s environment, economy, and national security.

Reduce U.S. dependence on oil.
America has the technological know-how to dramatically reduce our dependence on oil. By building cars that go farther on a gallon of gas, giving Americans better transportation choices, and using clean, renewable fuels, we can slash our use of oil, improve our environment, safeguard our energy security and, in many cases, save money.

Among the steps we can take are increasing fuel economy standards for cars and trucks, setting goals for plant-based fuels like ethanol and biodiesel, and investing in expanded and improved public transit services. Using these and other tools we can cut America’s oil consumption by more than 7 million barrels a day – about one-third of America’s current oil use.

Harness clean, renewable, homegrown energy sources.
America has virtually limitless potential to take advantage of renewable energy to power our economy. The Great Plains has been called the “Saudi Arabia of wind” for its vast, high quality wind resource. Similarly, solar photovoltaic panels placed on just 7 percent of the area currently covered by cities and residences could generate all of America’s electricity.

By tapping our renewable energy potential, America can dramatically scale back its use of fossil fuels. According to a Iowa PIRG’s recent analysis, replacing nearly 25 percent of our energy with renewable sources by 2025 would allow us to save more than half of the natural gas per year in 2025 than is currently used in American homes, and 40 percent of all the coal America used in 2005.

Save Energy.
America has vast “strategic reserves” of energy efficiency. Virtually every part of the American economy has the potential to use energy more efficiently-- from the appliances in our kitchens, to the windows in our office buildings, and the motors in our factories.

Cutting our use of energy by 10 percent would require reducing the amount of energy we are projected to use in 2025 by 27 percent. Recent studies suggest that we could cut our use of electricity and natural gas by more than 20 percent using energy efficiency technologies that pay back their costs over time. We could get the rest of the way to our goal by investing in tomorrow’s technologies such as “zero-energy” homes that virtually eliminate the need for fossil fuels and “green” commercial buildings that slice demand for energy by 25 to 40 percent or more.

Invest in a New Energy Future. By committing $30 billion over the next 10 years to the New Energy for America Initiative, we could triple research and development funding for the energy-saving and renewable technologies we need to achieve these goals.

Spending $3 billion per year on federal clean energy research and development over the next decade would help us develop the next wave of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. Projects could include developing the next wave of improvements in vehicle technology, investigating ways to store the energy created by wind and solar power, and finding the best ways to effectively use biofuels.

Achieving the goal of a New Energy Future will not be an easy task, so we need leaders who are up to the challenge.  By supporting these goals, candidates will send a clear message to voters that they are committed to putting American innovation to work in order to break America’s dependence on oil and put our nation on a course toward a more economically and environmentally secure tomorrow.

The full text of the analysis and the New Energy Future goals are available at www.iowapirg.org.

For more information, please contact:
Alana Stamas, Iowa PIRG (515) 282-4193 (astamas@pirg.org) OR
Rob Sargent, U.S. PIRG Energy Program Director (617-747-4317) (rsargent@pirg.org)

Iowa Solar Tour Features Solar powered sites in Central & Eastern Iowa

By the IFU

When: Saturday, October 7th (unless specified otherwise)
Cost: Small cash donation
What you can do: Please spread the word and forward this email to friends of solar power

Iowa Renewable Energy Association (I-Renew) is excited to be a part of the American Solar Energy Society's National Solar Tour on Saturday, October 7th! 

Come experience at least one of the many tours presented by I-Renew at the New Bohemian Project in Cedar Rapids, the Spatial Designs office in Mason City, the Consumers Energy office in Marshalltown and many other solar sites in Cedar Rapids, the Cedar Valley area, Muscatine and around the state!

On October 7th, solar powered and energy efficient homes and buildings in Iowa and throughout the nation will be open for free public tours. Find out how your neighbors are trimming their energy bills and increasing their energy security. Learn about energy efficiency, speak with homeowners and experts and learn how solar technology works, what it costs and why it makes
sense. For more information on tours in Iowa visit www.irenew.org. For tours nationwide visit www.nationalsolartour.org.

Visit "Real Places for Real People" and discover how you can make solar a part of your everyday energy needs.  For more information regarding the Iowa Solar Tour contact Matt Gibbs at 319-341-4372 or mattgibbs@irenew.org .  See you on the tour!

Details below:

What is the Solar Tour?
Solar powered and energy efficient homes and buildings in Iowa and throughout the nation will be open for public tours. Find out how your neighbors are trimming their energy bills and increasing their energy security. Learn about energy efficiency, speak with homeowners and experts and learn how solar technology works, what it costs and why it makes sense. For more information visit www.irenew.org.

Cedar Rapids Area
New Bohemian Solar Project - The solar array was installed in 2005 through a series of hands-on workshops and has three types of racks – single axis, dual axis, and fixed.  A kiosk keeps track of real time electric data from the solar array.  The tour is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kouba building located at 1012 3rd St. SE in Cedar Rapids.  A silent auction will be held on site along with smoothies!  Come by to visit!
 
Indian Creek Nature Center - The Nature Center's buildings are a model of efficiency and use a photovoltaic (PV) system to produce 40% of their electricity. Come see the efficiencies and PV system that have made the Nature Center a leader in energy conservation since 1993. The Indian Creek Nature Center is located at 6665 Otis Rd. SE in Cedar Rapids. The tour hours are from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
 
Solar Hot Water Heated Home - This single family home uses a solar hot water system to heat its water and residence by utilizing approximately 72 sq. feet of solar hot water hardware. Come see how such a small area can provide such a huge benefit!  This tour is located at 927 37th St. NE. The tour will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Prairiewoods in Hiawatha - The Prairiewoods buildings and grounds feature photovoltaic (PV) passive solar and solar hot water systems along with strawbale construction and an array of examples of energy efficient construction and design.  Tours are available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Prairwoods is located at 120 E. Boyson Road, Hiawatha, IA 52233.

Decorah
Off Grid Wind and Solar Powered Home - This timber-frame home was built in 1999 and runs completely off-grid. The home features a 16 PV panel 24 volt system which produces 1600 watts of electricity. It also has a 100 foot tower with Bergy wind-turbine that produces 1000 watts.  This tour will be open to the public from 8 a.m. to noon. Please call Barb Ettleson or Pat Brochette 563-382-1469 for directions.
 
Marshalltown
Consumers Energy - The Consumers Energy office building features two on-site wind turbines, a geothermal heating and cooling system, photovoltaic cells, daylighting and solar tube construction, and an interactive Green Touchscreen kiosk used to educate folks about alternative energy sources.  The tour is located at 2074 242nd Street in Marshalltown.  Tour hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Mason City Area
Spatial Designs Tour - This 3055sf office has two African 3.6 wind turbines, one air x turbine, 2800 watts PV, 10,000 gallon rainwater detention/irrigation pond, inverter and battery backup system, recycled milk jug decking on bridge over the pond, recycled VCT tile, grass demonstration roof area, variable speed HVAC system, under-floor heating, F5 rated tornado shelter/boardroom...etc. In the last 5 months we have only purchased $7 of power total.  The tour will be open from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.  The tour is located at 524 Village Green Dr. SW in Mason City.

Duncombe Community Center - It’s the first known solar powered community center and FEMA tornado shelter in the US.  Duncombe is located just east of Fort Dodge. Community Center is located on Clark St. in the S.W. corner of town.  For more information call Peg Royster, 515-543-5716. Tour is from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Building America House -. Building America is a US DoE project, and provides information geared primarily to production builders to build homes that are 60% more efficient than the typical house. The tour is scheduled for 2:00p.m. on Thursday, October 12th.  Meet at the house, located at 2238 180th St. in Fort Dodge, IA 50501 For more information contact Tracy Feldmann, 515-287-7021.

Cedar Valley Tours
Center for Energy & Environmental Education - The center is located south of the UNI Performing Arts Center on the corner of Jennings Dr. and S. Campus St.  Parking is available in the ITC south lot.
At the center you will tour the solar passive building and see a 900-watt photovoltaic installation, a solar boat, an electric car, and a video on solar, wind and wood power.  The center is open from 1 to 4 p.m.
 
Prairie Lakes Church - Prairie Lakes Church is located at 1907 Viking Road in Cedar Falls, just north of the Target Distribution Center.  Prairie Lakes is a 55,000 sq. ft. insulated concrete form (ICF) building with geothermal heating and cooling. ICF forms were provided by Midwest ICF.  The architect and facilities manager will provide a tour and answer any questions.  The church tour is from 10a.m. to noon.
 
Solar Heated & Hot-water Home -  Jack and Carol Yates’ home is located at 519 Chateau Ct. near 4th St. and Hudson Rd. in Cedar Falls.  The home features thirty evacuated solar tubes that collect heat. The collected heat is used to warm water for domestic use like taking showers and doing dishes. Tubes buried in the floor of the house are also heated and warm the house during the fall and winter months. The home tour is from 1 to 4 p.m.
 
United Concrete, Inc. Insulated Concrete Forms - Insulated concrete forms are cost effective and highly efficient to keep your home dry and comfortable year round while paying lower utility bills. What’s not to love? United Concrete Inc. in Elk Run Heights and on Airline Highway is showcasing an ICF Reward Wall Systems townhouse development and a commercial building.
 
Terra-Dome Earth Shelter Home - Brian and Amy Unruh’s Terra-Dome home is located at 849 Latham Place in Cedar Falls.  This beautiful, unique home has sheltered the family for 26 years. Ask them about their utility bills!  The home tour is from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
 
Vertical ICF Home - Victor Schrage’s home is located at 5013 Mercedes Blvd. in Waterloo.  This 1,745 sq. ft. ranch style home was built with a vertical oriented, TF system of insulated concrete form that is energy-efficient, cost effective and environmental friendly.  The home tour is from 1:30-3:30 p.m.
 
EKHO RIDGE Development - This townhouse development is located at 2110 Cord Ridge in Waterloo.  When completed in 2008, it will feature 87 units.  The townhouses are built with Reward Wall Systems ICF blocks. The townhouse tour is from 1-4 p.m.
 
Basic Materials, Corp. Quarry Maintenance Shop - The shop is located at 6900 Dubuque Rd. in Raymond. The 9,100 sq. ft. building is made of steel-reinforced concrete for superior strength. It’s both energy efficient and environmental friendly.  The shop tour is from 8 a.m. to noon.

Muscatine
Muscatine Solar Tour Schedule of Events
For More Information: Contact John R. Root, Energy Services Advisor, Muscatine Power and Water 262-3354, jroot@mpw.org

Tour Description: Here’s your chance to learn about Energy Efficiency, Wind/Solar Power and Geo Exchange Technology.  

10 am to 11am Solar Powered Entrance Sign – Muscatine Community College -- 152 Colorado St. Muscatine, IA

11 am to 12 noon 2.2 KW Solar array – Allsteel office complex 2210 2nd Ave, Muscatine, IA There will be a sign directing you around back to the array.

Noon to 2 pm 1 KW Solar Array and Electric Race Cars Muscatine High School 2705 Cedar Street, Muscatine, IA. Andrew Bennett, (563) 299-8932, drew_042@hotmail.com .  Students will be at Muscatine High School from 12:00 to 

2:00 p.m. to talk about their cars and the 1KW solar  array.  The cars were designed, built and tested by the students and they will answer any questions about the program. The team installed the 1KW array themselves and will talk about the current output.

2 pm to 3 pm Energy Efficiency, Wind Energy, Geo Exchange Technology, Build Your Own Solar Oven Workshop and Tour Muscatine County Environmental Learning Center 3000 Cedar St.

3 PM to 5 PM 2.2 KW Solar Array Muscatine Power and Water 3205 Cedar St.
How to Take this Tour: Stop at any or all the locations during the specified times.
 
Des Moines
Sarah Susanka “Not So Big House” Presentation
Sarah Susanka is an architect and best selling author of the “Not So Big House” books and will talk about energy efficient homes that have less square footage but fit our needs better.  This presentation will be taking place on Wednesday, October 4th at the Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines.  Please visit www.icosc.com < http://www.icosc.com/ >  for more information or contact Lynnae Hentzen at 515-309-3266 or lynnae@icosc.com .
 

All tours will take place on October 7th and are free of charge unless otherwise noted.  Donations are encouraged.  Please visit www.irenew.org < http://www.irenew.org/ >  for more information on the Iowa Solar Tour, including contact information for individual tours or contact Matt Gibbs at 319-341-4372 or mattgibbs@irenew.org .  For a list of all national tours visit www.nationalsolartour.org < http://www.nationalsolartour.org/ > .

__._,_.___

__,_._,___
Iowa Farmers Union
PO Box 8988
528 Billy Sunday Rd
Ames, IA  50014
800-775-5227iafu@isunet.net
www.iafu.org