Clean Energy
Congressman Braley sits atop a wind turbine in Northeast Iowa.
Clean Energy
Ending our dependence on foreign oil and promoting Iowa renewable energy is critical to our national security and economic growth. Iowa is already a national leader in wind energy and biofuels production, but our state has the potential to become a world leader in the research, development, and production of renewable energy.
The first bill I introduced after being elected to Congress was the New Era Act of 2007—a law that created a grant program for Iowa’s community colleges to offer renewable energy workforce training programs.
Investing in clean energy job training is an important step to preparing Iowa's workforce for the 21st Century economy. This bill is an important step toward equipping our state's workforce with the skills they need to fill clean energy production and manufacturing jobs that are being created throughout Iowa and the Midwest.
For years, I’ve worked in Congress to shift the United States’ energy focus from the Middle East to the Midwest -- so we can invest more in renewable energy like wind and biofuels and create the good-paying jobs of the future.
Working for Wind
Wind energy is a major growth industry in Iowa. Iowa is first in the nation in per-capita wind energy production, and second nationally in total annual wind energy production in megawatt-hours. According to the Iowa Wind Energy Association, the Iowa wind energy industry already employs over 3,000 full-time workers. That number could grow with a more certain investment climate for the wind energy.
That’s why in November of 2011, I introduced the American Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit Extension Act. This bill will extend the wind energy production tax credit for another four years. Without Congressional action, the existing wind energy production tax credit will expire at the end of 2012.
Working for Biofuels
I am a strong supporter of maintaining the renewable fuels standard (RFS) and extending the biodiesel tax credit. I have signed on to legislation that would extend the biodiesel tax credit through the end of 2014. Production of biofuels supports thousands of jobs in Iowa. We can’t afford the job-killing effects of letting this tax credit expire, especially in this economy.
Most Americans fill up their cars with gas a few times a week, but they have no idea where that gas is coming from. So, in June of 2011, I introduced a bill that would require "country of origin labeling" (COOL) at gas pumps. This bill would give American consumers more information at the pump and the choice to vote with their wallets. By arming consumers with more information, The COOL for Fuels Act would help create more jobs here in America by encouraging consumption of American-made fuels and alternatives.
Also, earlier this year I introduced the Clean Energy Jobs Act, a bill to end tax breaks for big oil companies, who clearly don’t need them while they’re raking in record profits. This bill will use the savings from these tax breaks to invest in renewable energy, creating jobs in Iowa, boosting the renewable fuels industry and paying down the national deficit. Ending oil industry tax breaks will save about $43 billion over the next ten years.