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Affordable, Reliable and Environmentally Responsible Energy the Focus of Discussion with Iowa Congressional Delegation in the Nation’s Capitol
More than 20 representatives from Iowa’s rural electric cooperatives have returned from Washington, D.C., after discussing energy and environmental issues with Iowa’s congressional delegation May 4-7.
The purpose of the trip, an annual gathering of electric cooperatives from across the country, is to ensure Iowa elected officials are fully aware of the thoughts and concerns of their constituents who are served by electric cooperatives in Iowa.
The three key issues that have the greatest impact on the 650,000 Iowans to whom the state’s electric cooperatives provide electricity are global climate change, Rural Utility Service funding, and fair and competitive rail service.
“If not addressed properly, these issues will jeopardize our ability to provide reliable and affordable electricity to the Iowans we serve,” said Marion Denger, president of the board of directors for the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives. “The result will be higher energy prices for those Iowans who least can afford yet another cost increase — the poor, those on fixed incomes, the elderly and the disabled.”
A one-page flier left with each of Iowa’s seven congressmen indicated support for the following legislative measures:
1. Tax incentives for advanced clean coal technologies. Iowa’s electric cooperatives encourage Congress to create a partnership between government and industry that focuses on clean coal technologies. Legislation that provides tax incentives for clean coal technologies, including carbon capture and sequestration will help electric cooperatives continue to provide affordable and reliable power while addressing concerns about global climate change.
2. Full funding of the Rural Utility Service program. Rural Utility Service is a proven loan program that helps electric cooperatives invest in system improvements to ensure reliable and affordable electric service for the people they serve.
3. Legislation that would ensure the nation’s railroads are subject to antitrust laws so electric cooperatives have access to fair and competitive transportation of coal for electric generation. That would help electric cooperatives continue to provide affordable and reliable electric service. Railroads, unlike other industries, are exempt from antitrust laws. Electric cooperatives also support a provision that enables the U.S. Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission to review rail mergers under antitrust law. It also is important that state attorneys general and private parties have the ability to file a lawsuit to halt anticompetitive railroad conduct.
“I believe the Iowa congressional delegation now has a better understanding of how legislation being discussed in Congress would effect the affordability and reliability of electricity in Iowa,” said Brian Kading, general manager and executive vice president of the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives.
The Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives represents the interests of and provides support to the electric cooperatives that provide power in each of Iowa’s 99 counties to approximately 650,000 people.
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