(LE MARS, IA) Iowa is the 10th windiest state in the nation, which may leave you wanting a piece of the clean energy pie. Le Mars, Iowa, saw a meeting of energy experts Wednesday, discussing green energy options for the masses. The 2nd largest wind generator in the nation is reaping the benefits of going green. "Northwest Iowa is really kind of the hub of the wind industry," says Bill Menner, State Director of USDA Rural Development Iowa. The breezy business has grown over the past 8 years, and it's not only clean: it's creating jobs. "We have companies across the state that are building generators and towers and nacelles. It really kind of shows you how many jobs can be created, it's in the thousands," says Menner. For small businesses wanting to invest: location is key. Are you on suitable land? And will the value of the energy created be worth the cost? If you meet these requirements, there are agencies that will help pay the bill. "Now is certainly an ideal time, simply because of the incentives available to the builder of the system," says Bill Haman, Industrial Program Manager for the Iowa Energy Center. The green revolution isn't only helping small businesses, Spirit Lake schools have been harnessing the wind for years. "We have a wind turbine in the back yard, in fact we have two of them. So every time our students look out the window, they see a responsible use of wind energy," says Kari Webb, a science instructor for the Spirit Lake Community School District. If <b>...</b>
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