On June 22, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed an Executive Order creating a Carbon Sequestration Task Force, which will coordinate efforts to study carbon sequestration and the opportunities it presents for further economic development in Iowa. Specific duties of the Task Force include: reviewing research on carbon sequestration and identifying future research and standards needs; identifying economic opportunities presented by carbon sequestration to Iowa’s agriculture economy and exploring how best to capitalize on them; identifying the role, if any, of state government in carbon markets and exploring the need for aligning carbon sequestration strategies with soil and water quality frameworks; and determining if Iowa should forma regional strategy for carbon sequestration with state partners.
“Because of our existing supply chain and emphasis on renewable fuel infrastructure, Iowa is in a strong position to capitalize on the growing nationwide demand for a more carbon free economy,” said Gov. Reynolds. “Iowa is a recognized leader in renewable fuel and food production, and this is another opportunity to lead and be innovative, invest in Iowa agriculture, and facilitate new sources of revenue for our agriculture and energy sectors. I am proud to bring together an impressive team of stakeholders that will help formulate smart, commonsense policy recommendations on this issue ahead of the 2022 legislative session.”
The Task Force was formed in response to a recommendation by the Governor’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board, and will be facilitated by the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s (IEDA) Energy Office, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Governor’s Office. IEDA plans to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) to hire a consultant team to support the work of the Task Force, and is also soliciting interest from individuals interested in serving on an Agriculture or Energy Work Group to support the Task Force. Additional information can be found here.