Create Jobs With Wind Energy – Sioux Falls Argus Leader
Monday, February 8, 2010
South Dakota should put more wind power into the sails of the state’s economy and job creation. South Dakota has the nation’s fourth-best wind power potential but only the 20th highest amount of wind power operating – 313 megawatts. By contrast, Iowa ranks 10th in wind power potential, but is second-highest in operating wind power capacity – 3,670 megawatts.
That tenfold difference in wind power development amounts to about $7 billion of economic investment, thousands of jobs, and cleaner air. What accounts for this huge difference? Smart public policies and prioritization by leading public officials.
First, early on, Iowa enacted a state renewable energy standard, which required utilities to purchase designated amounts of wind power. Iowa has since ratcheted up its renewable energy policies in various ways. By contrast, South Dakota finally enacted a more voluntary renewable energy standard mechanism in 2007. It’s beginning to have an impact, but South Dakota is playing catch-up and needs to ratchet it up.
Second, proposed federal renewable energy legislation would enable South Dakota to benefit from an expanded national market to sell its robust wind power resources. Indeed, South Dakota is around the top of the winners’ list if any of the federal renewable energy standard amendments being championed by Sens. Dorgan (North Dakota), Klobuchar (Minnesota) and Udall (Colorado) are signed into law.
Iowa Gov. Culver has written to his state’s congressional delegation urging their support, and Sens. Harkin and Grassley are indicating they’re on board. Here, however, Gov. Rounds and Sen. Thune have not yet expressed strong support for this key federal renewable energy legislation. It’s time to step up – for the good of South Dakota’s economy and job creation, as well as for everyone’s better health and the environment.
Third, Iowa’s governors have targeted the wind power sector as a leading industrial growth opportunity. The state’s Department of Economic Development has aggressively recruited and used its economic tools to bring several new manufacturing plants to Iowa in addition to the 40-plus wind farms. For example, Trinity Structural Towers is manufacturing wind power towers and creating new green jobs at a former Maytag appliance plant in Newton, Iowa.
Rounds has prioritized the ill-fated Big Stone II coal plant and the proposed Hyperion oil refinery for which the economic viability is a big question mark.
The new South Dakota Wind Energy Association can help to shift these priorities for the future. The Public Utilities Commission should help advance more strategic wind power development approaches – both for large wind projects and for smaller community-sized and on-farm systems.
Wind power is the fastest growing energy resource in the world. Many states and countries are competing hard to gain leadership in the growing clean energy technology market. Smart policies and targeted priorities can make a difference for South Dakota’s ability to capture the clean energy jobs of the future in the growing clean tech economy.
It’s time for South Dakota’s next governor and the full congressional delegation to prioritize and actively seize policy opportunities to spur progress.
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