Obama in Iowa April 22

Windfarm in Iowa

Update 4-22: See Obama's speech here. 

Obama's speech is at 12:55 pm 
Obama's back from Trinidad and Tobago and on Earth Day he'll be in Newton, Iowa talking energy.

Obama will visit Newton on Wednesday — Earth Day — and will talk about energy, a White House spokesperson told The Des Moines Register this afternoon.

More details will be forthcoming, the spokesperson said.

“It’s quite an honor for him to be in Iowa, and especially Newton,” said Rep. Paul Bell, D-Newton.

Bell suspects Obama knows Iowa is a leading state in wind energy.

“Just hearing Iowa is now number two, overtaking California in wind energy production, it’s probably a good fit that he’s coming to one of the leading states in the nation in wind on Earth Day," Bell said.

Since losing Maytag, Newton has “become very much a player in wind energy.” Bell said. Read the rest at the Des Moines Register

He'll probably be talking a lot about wind power, according to state senator Dennis Black:

Black, who is serving as Chair of the Iowa Legislature’s new Environment and Energy Committee, said it’s a “natural” fit for Obama to visit Newton with the addition of TPI and Trinity Towers, which both produce parts for wind towers and have created hundreds of jobs in the community.

“Iowa is No. 2 in the nation in wind energy production,” Black said. “My absolute goal in the legislature is to keep us in no less than that position. It will be difficult to overcome Texas, because they are quite a distance ahead of us. But, we overtook California, so perhaps even Texas someday!”

Black said he will continue to promote Newton and the state of Iowa so that further growth in the wind energy industry can occur in the area. He said Obama’s visit will highlight the advantages to doing business in the Hawkeye state.

“This emerging industry is and can continue to be ours. Government will not become an impediment to this industry under my watch in the Senate,” Black said. “In fact, with burgeoning demand for wind energy hardware, the city and state will do everything under its power to be a committed partner in business expansion for Trinity, TPI and future wind energy industries that will someday headquarter in our community.”
Newton Daily News

Newtoners are excited:

Leland Smith, a Newton history buff, said Obama’s trip is the first of a sitting president since President Harry Truman came through town on a whistle stop tour. Smith said it’s possible President Dwight Eisenhower also made a trip during his presidency but he was unclear if he had or not.

“It’s a great honor for Newton to be recognized by a sitting president,” Smith said. “What an honor it is that the president would choose Newton out of all the 50 states and all the communities. It speaks well for our community, our state and our people.”

Iowa governor Chet Culver just announced Trinity Structural Towers Inc. is bringing 140 jobs to Iowa:

Today, Governor Chet Culver, Newton city officials and Trinity Structural Towers, Inc. (TSTI) announced plans to build a world-class wind turbine production facility in Newton, creating 140 new, high-quality, green-collar jobs. Production could start as early as the beginning of next year.

“Today is a great day for Newton, for Iowa and for proponents of clean, renewable energy,” said Governor Chet Culver. “I am pleased to join our friends at Trinity and Newton to announce plans to bring 140 new, green-collar jobs to Iowa. As Governor, my goal is to take full advantage of Iowa’s natural resources, along with our incredible manufacturing base and workforce, to make Iowa the renewable energy capital of the nation. This announcement in Newton is proof that Iowa’s leadership in wind energy continues to grow, Iowa's economy is strong and our brightest days are ahead.”