Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.
A recently introduced bill could have far-reaching impact on the U.S. sugar industry, including American Crystal Sugar, a farmer-owned cooperative that locked out 1,300 Midwest workers on Aug. 1.
The chairman for Herman Cain’s Iowa effort says the campaign “relied more on the word of farmers than Washington regulators” in deciding to run an ad containing claims the Environmental Protection Agency says are false.
The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.
U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Waterloo) is calling for an extension of the renewable energy production tax credit, joining U.S. Reps. Dave Reichert (R-Wash.) and Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) in introducing a bill to keep the credit through 2016.
The wind energy industry employs about 3,000 people in Iowa and accounts for 20 percent of all electricity generated in the state, according to the Iowa Wind Energy Association.
Bruce Braley
“Investments in Iowa’s wind energy industry have created thousands of jobs and made Iowa a world leader in clean energy technology,” Braley said. “Extending the renewable energy production tax credit will keep the economic momentum going. Wind energy is still a widely untapped resource in Iowa – and that means there’s still untapped potential for business investment and job creation.”
GOP candidates for president offered very different assessments of the tax credit during a forum Tuesday morning in Pella. The tax credit is due to expire at the end of 2012.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry, U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Penn.) called for ending the wind energy tax incentive.
But former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) took a different tack, calling for long-term renewals of such programs.
Braley introduced similar legislation to extend the renewable energy production tax credit in 2008 and 2009.
“Wind energy is good for the economy, good for the environment, and good for farmers,” he said. “Our bipartisan bill will promote job-creating wind energy projects and provide incentives to expand wind energy production.”
Do you know where to vote on Election Day? Do you know what to bring with you? Get comprehensive voter information for your state here.
Sign up for our email newsletter