Castro tours TPI, touts wind energy in Newton campaign stop

Democratic presidential hopeful Julian Castro stopped in Newton on the campaign trail Wednesday as he toured TPI Composites and spoke about his vision for becoming president.

Castro chose to have his speech at TPI to address climate change and the need for renewable energy.

“If we want to become a more prosperous America one of the ways that we are going to do that is to tackle the most existential threat that we face as a nation and a world I’m talking of course about the climate crisis,” Castro said.

One way Castro said he would combat the climate crisis if he became president was to sign an executive order to recommit the United States to the Paris Climate Accord which was met with widespread clapping from the audience. Castro then transitioned into clean energy.

“We don’t have to choose between protecting our planet and creating great jobs in the clean energy economy, we can do both of those things,” Castro said. “These industries create tremendous numbers of good paying jobs.”

TPI is Newton’s largest employer, and according to its website, they are the largest U.S.-based independent manufacturer of composite wind blades. With TPI being known for creating blades for the turbines, seen throughout Iowa and other states in the U.S., Castro used Newton to describe the possibilities for wind energy in the future if he became president.

“This community of Newton is a good example of what can happen ... I want the United States to take a page out of the book of what this community has seen. The wind energy industry can be a powerful provider of great opportunity,” Castro said.

With Castro’s plans for the green energy economy, one of his hopes is to make America the world’s leader in clean energy.

“America should lead the world in this industry so that can sell our green technology to the rest of the world like never before,” Castro said.

Also included in his plan, Castro mentioned $10 billion per year for renewable energy promotion and a $200 billion Green Infrastructure fund to invest in smart climate infrastructure like smart grids among others ideas.

“I have a vision for the future of this country that seeks to make opportunity possible for everybody,” Castro said.

There were plenty of people seated inside the TPI building to listen to what Castro had to say and among those were people from outside of Jasper County.

“I have been to every event he has done in Des Moines since he announced his candidacy,” Thomas Lecaque of Ankeny said.

There were also Jasper County natives who made the trip to TPI to listen to Castro talk about his push for the presidency.

“I’ve been very impressed with the few times I have seen him in the media,” John Ross of Rock Creek said.

Bev Ross of Rock Creek added, “He brings us hope and we are in such need of hope right now.”

According Castro’s website he grew up on the west side of San Antonio with his mother, Rosie, and his brother, Joaquin. Later he attended college and law school and went on to become a member of President Barack Obama’s cabinet.

While serving in Obama’s cabinet, Castro was the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development where he spent his time trying to expand the promise of opportunity to Americans throughout the country.

Contact Dustin Teays at 641-792-3121 ext. 6533 or dteays@newtondailynews.com