Environmental Responsibility
While co-ops are continually monitoring the availability of new technologies and considering how to integrate renewable sources into the power mix, affordability and reliability for their members play key roles in balancing this delicate blend.
In Iowa, one of the most commonly discussed renewable energy sources is wind. There are two distinct approaches to tapping the power of wind. First, co-ops are purchasing wholesale wind energy from large-scale wind farms to broaden their overall energy supply. Several rural electric cooperative members also have benefited by leasing a portion of their land to wind farms.
The second approach is when a windmill is located on an individual's property to provide power to one residence or location. In this case, the home or business is still connected to REC lines to access electricity from the system and the wind turbine.
In the area of solar energy, photovoltaics show promise for worldwide acceptance and application. Photovoltaics generate electricity from the sun, are relatively simple in design, need very little maintenance and are environmentally benign. Examples of current uses include generating power for on- and offshore traffic control systems, crop irrigation systems, radio relay stations, and remote locations such as cabins and villages.
As a key energy source for Iowa's agricultural industry, rural electric cooperatives also are actively participating in the development and use of biomass-based energy. Biomass typically refers to organic material such as crops, crop waste, trees, wood waste and animal waste that can be converted to fuels and chemicals. Producing fuels and chemicals from biomass is not a completely new concept. Cellulose, ethanol, methanol, vegetable oils and a host of other biomass-based chemicals have been in use since the 1800s to make products like paint, glue, adhesives, synthetic cloth and solvents.
When it comes to working together to protect the environment, you can count on Iowa's electric cooperatives to operate in a responsible manner today and in the future.