Take Action Issues News Donate Results Jobs About Us

Energy Program News

For Immediate Release:
2010-01-08

For More Information:
Contact Eric Nost
State Associate
(515) 243-5835

Iowa Companies to Receive Over $10 million in Clean Energy Tax Credits

President Obama announced today that the Department of Energy will issue $2.3 billion in clean energy manufacturing tax credits from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) – the vast majority of which will be used to spur more energy efficient buildings and wind, solar, and fuel cell power. 183 projects in 43 states will receive tax credits to help create tens of thousands of high quality jobs and increase domestic manufacturing of advanced clean energy technologies. Among the leading recipients in Iowa is TPI Composites in Newton, which will get 3.9 million dollars to expand its production of wind turbine blades. (Below is a full list of Iowa recipients.)

TPI's Newton plant, formerly a Maytag washing machine factory, is symbolic of clean energy’s potential to transform and revitalize Iowa’s manufacturing base and was the site of the President's 2009 Earth Day address. American Railcar Industries in Fort Dodge hopes to follow TPI’s lead and will receive 5.35 million dollars to transform a local rail car plant to produce 500 steel towers a year for large-scale commercial wind turbines.

Eric Nost, Environment Iowa state associate, released the following statement in response:

“Energy efficiency, wind, and solar power have the potential to revive the nation's economy, create millions of good jobs, and stop global warming. The President’s announcement today will help Iowa continue to lead the way toward a new, clean energy future.

“While the Administration’s actions and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are substantial first steps, Congress must follow the President’s lead and take immediate action. In order to create millions of jobs and heal our ailing economy, right now the Senate needs to pass comprehensive clean energy and global warming legislation.

“We thank Senator Harkin for investing in Iowa through the ARRA and urge him to work now to pass strong legislation that further encourages these kinds of clean energy projects and the jobs they create, makes us more energy independent, and cuts pollution fast enough to stave off the worst effects of global warming.”

Iowa's Recipients

Company Name	Tax Credit Amount	Product	City	Purpose
American Railcar Industries	$5,347,464	Wind Towers	Fort Dodge	American Railcar Industries will re-equip a rail car manufacturing plant for the production of 500 structural steel towers per year for large-scale commercial wind turbines.
Guardian Industries Corp	$900,000	Solar Mirrors	DeWitt	Guardian Industries will re-equip an existing manufacturing facility to produce bent solar mirrors. The project will modify and enhance the existing mirror line to enable the facility to mirror glass in a single throughput on the production line, while at the same time achieving a multi-layer specialized paint coating to protect and preserve the reflective layers of copper and silver. Preservation of these reflective layers is critical to the achievement of long service lives of highly reflective solar mirrors.
Siemens Energy Inc.	$3,450,900	Wind Blades	Fort Madison	Siemens Energy Inc. will build a new manufacturing plant for assembly of wind turbine nacelles and hubs for Siemens wind turbines. The resulting products will aid the domestic wind power industry.
TPI Composites, Inc.	$3,902,921	Wind Blades	Newton	TPI is expanding its manufacturing facility in order to fill the anticipated greater demand for composite wind turbine blades from its customer General Electric and GE's wind farm customers.

Adapted from: http://www.energy.gov/news2009/8503.htm

###

Environment Iowa is a state-wide, citizen-funded advocacy organization working for clean air, clean water, and open spaces. www.environmentiowa.org

[Next]