By Joe Bolkcom and Mike Breitbach

Saving money on bills, creating jobs and boosting the economy: That's what's been happening across Iowa as our state has embraced wind power to become a national leader in a fast-growing slice of the energy sector. Now we have a chance to do it again, this time with solar power.

Clean local power is something all kinds of Iowans can agree on — families, farmers and businesspeople; rural residents and city dwellers; even Republicans and Democrats. In fact, state senators from both sides of the aisle have voted to expand Iowa's solar tax credit, sending a bill out of the Ways and Means Committee to the full Senate for consideration.

Of course, the private sector gets the lion's share of the credit for investing in Iowa's energy future. A few months ago, for example, MidAmerican Energy placed the biggest onshore wind turbine order in history, investing $1.9 billion and adding 1,050 megawatts of wind power in Iowa.

Compared to that, boosting the state's solar tax credit from $1.5 million to $4.5 million, as the bill we mentioned would do, might not seem too important. But the fact that one of Warren Buffett's companies said federal tax credits helped make sure its giant wind turbine deal got done tells you that public policy — tax breaks, incentives, streamlined regulations and the like — make a real difference in shaping our energy future.

Iowa's solar tax credit has been popular from the start, and solar power continues to gain momentum. This year, by the end of February, $685,000 worth of the $1.5 million in available credits had already been spoken for.

We are seeing a surge in solar energy installations, which is creating work for sales people, installers and maintenance technicians. New businesses are springing up to help businesses and individuals generate their own power at work or at home. And if the growth continues, it is reasonable to hope for new manufacturing jobs in Iowa, as well — just as we've seen happen with wind power.

Iowans know a good investment when they see one. And generating clean power locally saves water, cuts pollution, and keeps dollars circulating in our own communities.

Iowans recognize the growing potential to save money while generating power where they live and work. Lawmakers are realizing they can help. Together, we can build a brighter energy future for Iowa — and a stronger economy, as well.

THE AUTHORS:

JOE BOLKCOM, D-Iowa City, is Iowa Senate majority whip and the chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee. Contact: joe.bolkcom@legis.state.ia.us.

MIKE BREITBACH, R-Strawberry Point, is a member of the Iowa Senate Natural Resources and Environment Committee. Contact: michael.breitbach@legis.iowa.gov.