the best energy alternative is greater efficiency and conservation to eliminate waste, combined with more wind, solar power and other alternative energy

Nuclear and CTL are 'alternative' energy sources. It would have been better to say renewable energy.

...how many Iowans place conservation ahead of topics like abortion, immigration, taxes, the economy, security, the military, etc.?  They may think conservation is more important than coal, but how many are willin' to actually vote for a candidate based mostly on environmental issues?

'Cause if a candidate has an eco-friendly agenda, but doesn't line up with 'em on all that other stuff, chances are most people aren't just gonna vote for the green.

...sorry, felt that I needed to add this:

Nuclear and CTL are 'alternative' energy sources. It would have been better to say renewable energy.

With Iowa bein' a mostly rural state that's riding the ethanol craze, even the word "renewable" should be used carefully.

That would be the big one for Iowa.  we have seen a lot of pandering to Iowans on ethanol, while the rest of the country seems to realize ethanol is a huge boondoggle and a big mistake.

But dissing coal is a good sign.  

Would a renewable distributed smart grid, plugin hybrids, geo heat exchange heating/cooling,and biogas from farm waste be discussed during the coal moratorium?

Doubtful, not many people have heard of these.  

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