(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa legislature has sent the governor a compromise bill on solar energy. Last year, utilities sought permission to charge new fees to customers with solar panels on their homes or businesses. The bill now calls for studying the value of solar power starting in 2027 and establishes some alternative billing methods. Representative Gary Carlson, a Republican from Muscatine, says the compromise was developed by representatives of the state’s electric utilities, pork producers and the solar industry. “It’s gratifying to see that the groups came together and have come with a solution that’s good not only for the growth of the solar industry and utilities, but for Iowans,” Carlson says.

Last year Republican Senator Michael Breitbach, of Strawberry Point, was the lead advocate for charging new fees to customers who tap into the electric power grid when their solar panels aren’t producing power. Breitbach says this year’s deal gives some certainty to solar customers. “It also gives us a pathway forward on how the determination will be on the value of solar,” he says. Senator Eric Giddens, a Democrat from Cedar Falls, says solar power helps reduce reliance on fossil fuels for electricity. “It will strengthen the solar industry in this state, make distributed solar installations more affordable for homeowners, businesses and farmers,” he says.

The bill passed the House unanimously Tuesday and the Senate passed it 48-to-zero, Wednesday afternoon.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa Congresswoman Cindy Axne says she’ll support a multi-billion-dollar spending package to respond to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Axne, a Democrat from West Des Moines, is among the members of Congress who signed a letter to House and Senate leaders, urging passage of the bill. She expressed hope the legislation can be finalized before the end of the week. “They’re working on a vaccine for it,” Axne says, “but that’s sometime down the road. We hope to pass a funding package to help fight the greater impact of coronavirus getting deeper into our country.”

Axne says one of her biggest concerns is that any vaccine developed will be affordable to the public. “We’re absolutely looking to ensure that the funding doesn’t get pulled from other accounts, but is strictly used for this, that the vaccines are affordable and available to every single person that needs it,” she says. “We are looking at hopefully giving things like interest-free loans being made available to small businesses impacted by the outbreak.”

Under the plan, Axne says state and local governments would be reimbursed for costs incurred, while also assisting the federal response. She expressed concern over the funding bill’s delay and questioned whether the federal government is as prepared as it should be to handle COVID-19, especially with spending cuts made by the Trump Administration. “We have a lot of positions within the CDC that were left unfilled, unfortunately,” she says. “We certainly have gaps within the system that this administration decided not to fill in positions, and not to support as much with the resources that were needed. I have faith that we have incredibly smart scientists in this country and we’re going to be able to get this figured out.”

To avoid spreading the virus, Axne says to avoid close contact with people who are sick, stay home when you are sick, avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth as much as possible, and wash your hands.

DES MOINES, Iowa (The Des Moines Register) — A public information advocate says the appointment of an Iowa Human Services Department spokesman to the state public records board will make it easier for the department to deny access to information. Matt Highland was named Wednesday to the Iowa Public Information Board, which enforces open records laws.

Randy Evans is director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, and he told The Des Moines Register the appointment could mute cases beyond just those involving the human services department. The governor’s office says Highland is “a perfect candidate” for the board. Highland says he would excuse himself from department-related complaints.