Although Iowa is meeting its current energy needs, the question of whether the state will be able to meet ISU graduates’ needs in the future hangs in the air.

New software programs may be a step in helping to solve a potential energy crisis.

Iowa’s future energy challenges and the software that could be used to meet them were discussed Wednesday night at a town hall meeting in the Scheman Building.

The meeting, sponsored by Alliant Energy, was used to introduce Energy ED, an interactive software program developed by Blue Spark LLC. The software is capable of assessing environmental and economic impacts of energy sources in Iowa over the next 15 years.

As users modify the system, they can see how average consumer electric bills and air pollutants rise and fall, depending on which form of energy they choose.

The simulation has a simple and easy interface to allow consumers with little education in programming to understand the program’s basic elements and consequences.

Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council, said current resources in Iowa are capable of meeting the state’s energy needs, but in the future the demand will outgrow the states’ resources.

“If growth patterns continue, the energy available to Iowans won’t cut it,” he said.

Deborah Jackson Still, president of Blue Spark LLC, said Energy ED is a good tool to get consumers aware of all the energy recourses available, and how to manage a state’s energy system.

Still said Energy ED was initially developed for the Power in Wisconsin 2002 Energy Conference.

“There was so much interest in this, we decided to take this national,” she said.

“Alliant Energy approached us to take this to Iowa to help educate the consumers.”

The principal developer of Energy ED, Paul Meier, was on hand to demonstrate the program.

He started by explaining the resources capable of generating energy, such as coal, nuclear and wind energy and hydroelectricity.

Meier went through several simulations to demonstrate the impacts of the use of the resources for the audience.

One complaint the audience had with Energy ED was it did not calculate environmental costs. Many in the crowd thought the program should also be able to show the effects of new energy plants on the land and wildlife in Iowa.

Blue Spark is taking Energy ED on tour across the state of Iowa, stopping in seven cities, including Mason City, Dubuque and Cedar Rapids.

Still said Energy ED will visit other states across America starting next summer.