"I'm honored to receive this award.  In Iowa, wind produces 28 percent of the state's electricity, ranking third in the United States.  The industry supports thousands of jobs and generates billions of dollars in investment across Iowa and the nation.  It's a non-polluting, renewable resource.  Wind energy makes sense for America's future, and I'll continue to fight for it through my position in the U.S. Senate," Grassley said.

The Dr. Harold D. Prior "Friend of Iowa Wind Energy" award is an annual honor that recognizes outstanding leadership in moving the wind industry forward.

Grassley is the author of the wind energy tax credit enacted in 1992.  The incentive was designed to give wind energy the ability to compete against coal-fired and nuclear energy and helped to launch the wind energy industry.  In July, Grassley secured the inclusion of the wind energy tax credit in the tax extenders bill that passed through the Finance Committee.

The award was presented at the association's annual wind conference in Des Moines and accepted by Grassley's office on his behalf.

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