Energy issues took center stage during the past year, when Congress passed landmark legislation in the form of a national energy bill - the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Electric cooperative leaders from Iowa and all over the country worked diligently with congressional leaders, focused on creating provisions in the new law that would have a positive impact on consumers.

Throughout the decade-long process of working to pass the Energy Policy Act, electric cooperatives were steadfast in their grassroots advocacy to protect the interests of the consumers we serve.

A significant portion of the energy bill deals with renewable energy though $14.6 billion in tax subsidies for energy projects during the next 10 years. Electric cooperatives now have access to a federal incentive to offset the expenses of developing renewable energy technologies. These incentives - called Clean Energy Bonds - are an innovative and fair way to give electric cooperatives a financing tool for renewable generation that is comparable to the tax credits that investor-owned utilities receive for developing energy sources such as wind, solar and biomass.

With this law, legislators clearly recognized the important differences between consumer-owned electric cooperatives and investor-owned utilities.

At the state level, Iowa's electric cooperatives fared well during the 81st session of the Iowa General Assembly. The even split between the Republican and Democratic parties in the Iowa Senate, at times presented many challenges to both the lawmakers and the lobbyists. In the end, however, they were able to accomplish their duties and achieve some positive movements forward for Iowa.

Legislation dealing with renewable energy was also an emphasis at the state level during the 2005 legislative session.

Iowa's electric cooperatives supported a renewable energy tax credit bill, proposed by the Iowa Farm Bureau and the Iowa Environmental Council. It established a tax credit program for utility companies entering into a power purchase agreement with a locally owned renewable energy facility. The tax credit is for energy purchased from a locally owned renewable energy facility, including wind, biogas, biomass, solar and methane anaerobic digestion sources.

Iowa's electric cooperatives - focused on the issues that impact our member-consumers.