March 18, 2024

Capitol Issues

Kelley to again push renewable energy, drug enforcement in 2015 Legislative session

The following is the first in a three part series of discussions over topics effecting Jasper County and Iowa citizens ahead of the 2015 Iowa Legislative Session. Today’s edition features excerpts from an interview between Reporter Mike Mendenhall and Iowa State House District 29 Rep. Dan Kelley (D-Newton). In the Dec. 26 edition see an interview with Iowa Senate District 15 Sentaor-elect Chaz Allen (D-Newton) and Jan. 2, District 28 Rep. Greg Heartsill (R-Melcher-Dallas).

NDN: Tell our readers about your recent trip to Washington D.C., and how it relates to your activities in the state legislature. Can you speak about the renewable energy initiatives you were working on in Washington?

Kelley:  I was on a trip sponsored by the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators. They arranged for me to be a part of a meeting with the White House and representatives from the (Obama) Administration involved in climate and energy to discuss what is needed in the states concerning support for renewable fuels and renewable energy from the Administration. I also met with Congressman (Dave) Loebsack's (D-IA) office, the congressman himself and met fellow state legislators from all over the country. I did have talks with those from the Dakotas concerning the (Dakota Access) pipeline as well.

NDN: You mentioned before our interview that you had met with some representatives from the electric car company Tesla Motors, trying to get their models on the road in Iowa. Can you tell us about your conversation with those folks? What do you think it will take to get Tesla and the necessary electronic infrastructure on Iowa roads?

Kelley: The east coast and west coast are far more advanced in terms of getting electric cars on the roads, and there are actually some regulations that are holding up that progress in the Midwest — Iowa is certainly included in that. I've been meeting and talking with representatives of both Tesla and General Motors to see if we can't find a way to eliminate these regulations so consumers have the freedom to purchase electric cars if they so choose in the state of Iowa. Currently, you have to go outside of the state — I believe the closest place to go to purchase a Tesla right now is Chicago — and then bring it back to Iowa. I want to put our dealers in a position where they can sell that product, and I want to put the consumer in a position where they can make that choice if they so choose.

NDN: You're preparing to start your third term in the Iowa House, and you've been a supporter of renewable energy since the beginning of your first term. What pieces of legislation do you see coming before the House this term that will benefit green jobs in Iowa? Can you also talk about your push for hydro-electric power?

Kelley: As a state legislator, one of the most valuable tools that I have is I can communicate with people in Washington —whether it be within the presidential administration or our congressional delegation. That is the purpose of my trip to Washington last week. I was encouraging support for the renewable fuel standard, as well as the further extension of the wind production tax credit. Renewable energy and renewable fuel jobs provide living wage jobs here in Jasper County, and in an effort to improve the quality of those jobs and the number of those jobs, we must continue policies that are already working. It's common sense to keep doing what works and that was my message to Washington, Congressman Loebsack, as well as members of the intergovernmental body that works to communication between state legislators and the White House.

I have a bill I’m putting together that will call for a study on the Mississippi River. There are 10 sites along the Mississippi River and the Iowa border which would be suitable for the production of hydroelectric power. If we were to find the power company that is willing to further invest in hydroelectric in the state of Iowa and go forward with some of these potential projects, we could produce 25 percent of Iowa’s energy needs from hydroelectric power. If we were to do that just with wind and hydro, we’d produce 50 percent of our energy needs for electric power.

There is great potential, just as we are to the point with wind where we can export that power and bring money back into Iowa, we can get to that point with hydroelectric power. I actually developed an interest and some knowledge in hydroelectric power through meeting members of the Manitoba legislature in Winnipeg. Manitoba is a major exporter of hydroelectric power. They export it to Minnesota, they export power to the Dakotas and that is a major part of their economy. When water flows and we don’t capture that energy, we’re wasting energy and we’re not taking advantage of jobs and we are further damaging our environment and our climate with the current method that produces greenhouse gas emissions.

NDN: The largest portion of the Iowa segment of the Dakota Access Pipeline is coming through Jasper County — 33.73 miles. Can you tell me how you feel about some of the tax incentives Jasper County could see such as property tax revenue? Does that alleviate some of your concerns about the pipeline?

Kelley: My concern with the Dakota Access Pipeline is that Jasper County homeowners, landowners and farmers who have been approached by Dakota Access — in terms of running the pipeline through their area — is that they are treated fairly and that they have proper legal representation before entering any contract.

I’m very clearly on the side of renewable energy jobs. I’m concerned that when oil from the Dakotas is moved through Iowa to Texas to a refinery then shipped to the gulf coast for Asian export, Iowans will not see a reduction in gas prices. This won’t help Jasper County families’ pocket books. But it will put our clean energy jobs at stake. I understand that the pipeline comes at a very high price.

We need to look for permanent solutions in Jasper County, in terms of our economy and funding of our local governments. We will do that through pursuing the permanent and quality jobs that will come from renewable energy. Projects like the Dakota Access pipeline puts those jobs in jeopardy. That is cause for concern.

NDN: What is your stance on allowable growth for education? Do you support giving schools a 2-year notice of allowable growth, and how do you feel the legislature has handled this in recent history?

Kelley: I support following the law, and the law states the legislature is supposed to set allowable growth within the first 30 days of convening our session. Every year I've been in the legislature I've voted consistently to require the majority party to bring allowable growth up for a vote within those 30 days. Each year I've been in the legislature they have refused. That is frustrating. It's more frustrating for local school boards, local administrators, teachers, students and families than it is for me. It's their education that's on the line, and it's very disappointing that the majority party doesn't put them first.

NDN: You've taken a tougher stance than some in your party on the legalization of marijuana. Can you tell me why you oppose full legalization of recreational marijuana when many other states have been taking that route? Do you think potential sales tax or any tax revenue from that product could benefit Iowa?

Kelley: I think there are high prices to pay for legalization. I don't support illegal drugs. There are no drugs I'd like to see become legal. I think the state of Iowa needs to focus on sparking our economy through support for agriculture, support for renewable energy and seeking employers from the coasts and other parts of the Midwest who may want to locate their jobs here where we have a quality work ethic and quality workers. I believe that efforts to legalize illegal drugs are misplaced efforts.

NDN: What about the medical use of marijuana? Can you explain your stance on that, and do you see any possible use for cannabis oil?

Kelley: The bill that came before the legislature last session is incredibly flawed. It does not accomplish its goal, and there are many of my fellow legislators who have come to me and told me that I made the right choice on the last night of the session when I chose to vote against the bill. The bill (required) a study from the University of Iowa that would determine whether cannabis oil actually helps medically or not. That study did not happen and it's highly unlikely to happen because our bill violated federal drug policy. It was the right vote, and I'm proud to have taken it.