Obama to Talk Clean Energy in Iowa

As the House Energy & Commerce Committee continues hearings today on the Waxman-Markey draft climate legislation, President Obama is traveling to Iowa, the nation’s No. 2 wind energy producer:

Heather Zichal, a top aide on Obama’s energy team, said the president would urge Congress to pass a bill that commits $15 billion annually for 10 years to the renewable-energy industry.


“Go back to this plant in 10 years and, once we get this comprehensive energy and climate legislation through, they will see a dramatic rise in the number of employees,” said Zichal, deputy assistant to the president in the Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy. “We’re not suggesting we would completely fill this hole, but we’re making dramatic improvements and steps in the Obama administration to get there.”

You can read our summary of the opening statements at Tuesday’s E & C hearings here.