This website is best viewed in a browser that supports web standards.

Skip to content or, if you would rather, Skip to navigation.

Listen Live
Donate
MARYVILLE

KXCV-KRNW


News Brief

April 3, 2025 |  By: Iowa News Service

Incentives on green fuel are in danger in Iowa

Iowa is the nation's leader in wind energy production. But one of the biggest factors in pursuing alternative energy now hangs in the balance. More than half of Iowa's electricity comes from wind power. The Iowa Environmental Council estimates the state saves at least 500 million dollars a year by using wind. Congress is considering repealing the technology-neutral electricity tax credit which puts incentives to use green fuel in danger. Energy Innovation's Dan O'Brien says a reduction in wind power wouldn't just hurt house holds, but Iowa farmers as well.

"In the Midwest, over 90 percent of wind turbines are cited on crop land because farmers use these renewables as often called drought proof cash crops so they bring in money for farmers even outside of harvest season when it does not rain enough and the cost of labor goes up.", says O'Brien. 

One report says repealing the energy tax credits would increase Iowan's household energy prices by as much as three percent as soon as next year, which could translate into an average annual hike of at least 460 dollars over a decade.

"and so if you don't have sources like solar, batteries, wind on the grid that can push down electricity prices that are supported by incentives like the tax credits, youll see buisness cost go up.", says O'Brien. 

Nationwide, overall energy costs increased 22 percent between 2018 and 2023.