ICYMI: Trump Administration attacks Iowa’s wind industry day after Energy Secretary visit

This plan would result in lost jobs and renewable projects, and even higher energy bills for regular Iowans

Des Moines – Trump’s Energy Secretary Chris Wright visited Ames National Laboratory on Thursday. While there, with Iowa Republican elected officials applauding him, he told Iowans he supported harming Iowa energy with the Big Ugly’s bill repeal of clean energy tax credits.

The day after his visit, the Trump administration announced they would pursue stricter and more punitive enforcements for the wind and solar tax credits still being given out. Dealing a double blow to an industry that had already been stabbed once in the back by our Republican leadership.

Around three-fifths of Iowa’s electricity is generated by renewable sources, the vast majority of it coming from wind. Cutting energy credits will slow Iowa’s energy growth as demand is increasing and force planned renewable projects will be put on pause. This will lead to higher energy prices as demand increases while supply stays stagnant. 

“Iowa is a national leader in wind energy and should be a renewable energy powerhouse. Wind energy creates jobs, keeps our monthly electricity bills down, and we generate so much that we export it to other states,” said Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart. “Unfortunately, Donald Trump seems dead set on changing all that. And our Republican representatives are going to let him do that. His childlike aversion to wind turbines is going to cause real harm in our state, and our Republican representatives are allowing that to happen. Iowa Republicans aren’t willing to work for us because they aren’t willing to push back against Trump. Higher electricity bills are in our future, and, once again, Iowans will pay the price for our leaders’ failures.” 

###