Big 12 showdowns The ISU men and women face top-ten Big 12 foes Wednesday see SPORTS on PAGE 8
WEDNESDAY
January 13, 2010, Volume 204 >> Number 78 >> 40 cents >> iowastatedaily.com >> An independent newspaper serving Iowa State since 1890
Sustainability
College of Design
Campus welcomes wind
Landscape program ranks high
Alternative energy electricity will save 9,000 coal per year
By Justine Scattarelli Daily Staff Writer
By Allison Suesse Daily Staff Writer January breezes may cause the wind chill factor to plummet, but thanks to wind energy technology, the gusts also result in decreased fossil fuel emissions. On Dec. 16, Iowa State began utilizing six megawatts of wind-generated electricity from a wind farm built by NextEra Energy Resources near Zearing. The six megawatts appropriate 10 percent of the university’s electricity needs. The wind power will also eliminate the need for an estimated 9,000 tons of coal per year. With this reduction in the amount of fossil fuels the university uses, Iowa State will be able to reduce its carbon footprint. David Miller, director of facilities and utilities, said that Iowa State decided to use wind energy as a result of the Board of Regents’ sustainability plan adopted about a year ago. The plan states that universities must use 15 percent renewable energy by 2015. With the implementation of wind energy, the university has 10 of the 15 percent covered. Merry Rankin, director of sustainability programs, agreed that this was a good opportunity for the university. “Any decrease in energy that comes from nonrenewable resources will certainly reduce our carbon footprint,” Rankin said. “In this case, reducing the need for coal.” Until Dec. 16, Iowa State produced 75 percent of its energy from the coal plant on campus. The remaining 25 percent was electricity purchased from the electricity wholesale market, noted Jeff Witt, assistant director of utilities. Using wind power will not result in a higher cost to Iowa State, but it will not necessarily save money either. “We can incorporate the wind with no increase in our utilities charges,” Witt said. However, wind power is not always the most reliable source of energy. Witt described the source as being variable, as the wind will not always blow at a constant rate. Therefore, Witt explained, sometimes it will cost more to power the university by wind, especially at night and in the early morning when the breeze is weaker. Sometimes it will cost less, especially in the afternoon when the wind is stronger and can produce more energy. Therefore, Iowa State is guaranteed only four of the six megawatts purchased on any given day, Miller said. Miller noted there is a potential to reduce the cost of electricity in January and February, the peak months for wind energy, but it still remains to be seen. The amount of wind produced will vary from day to day, and so will the cost, Miller explained. The wind farm is still being commissioned, and only half of the units — currently about 50 — are running. The units are still being tested to see if they are working properly. Miller said week by week, more units will begin running. He mentioned he is anxiously awaiting the results of using wind energy.
The College of Design’s architecture and landscape architecture programs placed within the top 20 programs in the nation according to DesignIntelligence Martin magazine’s annual report on the “Best Architecture and Design Schools.” DesignIntelligence is a publication aimed at practitioners of architecture, landscape architecture, interior design and industrial design. It is the only source that ranks only design schools. The publication bases the rankings on feedback from professionals and organizations that have hired recent graduates. Practitioners specify which schools they feel have best prepared students for professional practice. Iowa State’s architecture program tied for 18th place with University of Arizona,
see DESIGN on PAGE 12
Legislature
Governor’s speech focuses on education The university hopes to utilize 15 percent sustainable energy by 2015. File photo: Logan Gaedke/Iowa State Daily
How does wind energy work? The wind blows through a turbine that spins a shaft connected to an electrical generator, similar to one in an automobile. There are magnets in the unit, and when the shaft is spun, it creates a current that is connected to the power grid. – Information from Gene Takle The results will likely indicate wind energy will reduce the university’s fossil fuel emissions. Miller said he is expecting a six percent reduction in coal emissions. Though the benefits of using wind energy are positive, the university will not switch completely to
see WINDPOWER on PAGE 12
The City of Ames will also be utilizing wind power: City Council decided a year-and-a-half ago to begin using 30 megawatts of wind power. City Council made the decision to utilize the source to bolster the city’s green portfolio, said Donald Kom, director of Ames Electrical Services. The goal was to use 10 percent renewable energy sources by 2015. With the 30 megawatts of wind power, Ames electricity will be running on closer to 15–-17 percent renewable energy sources. In 2010, Ames has already exceeded its goal. Amesy will need to slightly increase the cost of power in order to run about 15 percent on wind energy, Kom noted.
Agriculture
Iraq visit opens opportunities Middle Eastern trip allows development of collegiate relations By Bethany Pint Daily Staff Writer An invitation to visit Iraqi colleges of agriculture translated into an eyeopening experience for Gerald Miller and the potential Miller for a lasting relationship between Iowa State and Iraqi universities. Wendy Wintersteen, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, received the invitation in late September to make the trip but had to decline due to prior plans; Miller went in her place. Miller, associate dean of extension and outreach for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, took part in the trip with six other agriculture deans from around the U.S. in December. “We want to work with the best land grant universities, colleges of agriculture in the U.S., we want you to come on the ground in Iraq and see our situation so that we can start
this conversation and build these relationships, build the potential to send our students to your university,” Miller said regarding the invitation from the Department of Defense Task Force for Business and Stability Operations in Iraq. He said the trip was important because the Iraqi government approved funding for 10,000 scholarships for Iraqi students who want to obtain advanced degrees in foreign countries; more than 1,000 of those scholarships have been set aside for agricultural degrees. “What they want to do is send graduate students to the U.S. for training and masters and doctorate level (degrees) so they can rebuild their faculties in their colleges of agriculture in their country,” Miller said. “There’s a lot of passion to do that.” He said it was an honor for Iowa State to take part in the trip. “It reinforces our perception that our faculty and our programs are pretty doggone good,” Miller said. “It reinforces what we think and what we hear in this country but it also says internationally that we’re recognized as having a premier program here at Iowa State in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.” The group visited three Iraqi agricultural colleges in the course of their trip: The University of Baghdad College of Agriculture, the University
By Alexander Hutchins Daily Staff Writer Gov. Chet Culver promoted his previous work in cutting Iowa’s budget and forewarned of necessary upcoming cuts in his Condition of the State Address on Tuesday. Culver Culver opened his speech with the traditional salutations to the general assembly and immediately reminded everyone present of the shortened legislative session and
see GOVERMENT on PAGE 12
Student Government
Proposed bill strives to create Cyclone Cinema By Paige Godden Daily Staff Writer The Government of the Student Body plans to discuss leasing property at 2412 Lincoln Way to obtain space to house the Cyclone Cinema at Wednesday’s meeting. The proposed bill comes from members of the GSB and the Varsity Research Task Force. The groups have been working with the Memorial Union, Student Activity Center, City of Ames planners, Facilities Planning and Management, the department of environmental health and safety, university architects and the property owners in order to revamp what used to be the Varsity Theater into the Cyclone Cinema. The bill will be presented Wednesday night. GSB President Jon Turk said he expects the vote for the bill will be delayed four weeks. If the bill passes Feb. 2, GSB will begin leasing the building promptly and aims to have it open by August.
see GSB on PAGE 12 Gerald Miller talks with other deans from the U.S. during their visit to Iraq. They visited three Iraqi colleges in December. Courtesy photo: Sonny Ramaswamy
of Babylon College of Agriculture and the University of Anbar College of Agriculture. Miller said the college visits opened the group’s eyes to some of the problems Iraqi agriculture is facing: poor soil quality, limited dairy production and livestock genetics issues. When Iraqi students choose to attend school at Iowa State University or another land grant institution in the U.S., Miller said it would be “potentially a two-way exchange” of culture, ideas and techniques.
Wintersteen said the “two-way exchange” would help Iowa State by developing lasting relationships with students and faculty in the global arena. “We are hopeful that this will be an opportunity for us to help Iraq through being a partner in graduate education and it will be an opportunity for our faculty to work with these students,” she said. “We believe out of that will become opportunities to develop partnerships with faculty in Iraqi universities.”
Concert
Carilloneur plays MLK Day tribute In celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, ISU carilloneur Tin-Shi Tam will play a tribute concert from the Campanile today at 11:50 a.m. “Let Freedom Ring” will feature hymns and spirituals. Listeners can catch a live webcast of the entire 20-minute concert at www.music.iastate.edu/feeds/ carillon/.
— By Daily Staff