By Mark Moran, Public News Service - Iowa
The Center for Rural Affairs wants the Iowa Legislature to prioritize water quality and renewable energy in the new session.
One priority is more funding for the 27 Watershed Management Authorities in Iowa.
Kate Hansen, senior policy associate at the Center for Rural Affairs, said funding for the people who staff the authorities is critical, because they are working with locals who know the area best, and have insight into ways to protect Iowa's water.
"Quite literally, boots on the ground," Kate explained. "They're building those relationships with local landowners and farmers who are ready to implement new practices, but maybe don't know where to look, or don't know if there's even funding available for them."
The Center is also asking lawmakers to consider renewable energy's role in rural Iowa. There has been legislative resistance in the last few years, but Kate said the Center continues working to promote local cooperation.
"Decisions regarding land use are best made at the local level through a process in which the community and local leaders are involved," she said.
As the popularity of green energy grows across the country, many Iowa counties have not jumped on board.
Andy Johnson, executive director for Clean Energy Districts of Iowa, said opponents have limited where solar panels can be installed based on the amount of corn a farm can grow; the higher the potential crop yield, the less chance of solar being installed on the land.
"The point is, it's still a poison pill that would effectively ban solar from almost all farmland, because to build significant scale solar, you need to put together significant acreage," Andy contended. "And if any little piece is over the limit that they're talking about, that you need to put together a project, then it would effectively nix the whole project."
Andy added Iowa has the potential to become a leader in solar power production, much as it has done with wind power, but said the Legislature will need political muscle to overcome fossil-fuel industry opposition.
Click here to listen to the interview.
