Iowa has the renewable resources to be the national leader in energy efficiency, said Iowa’s four gubernatorial candidates.

Green party candidate Rev. Jay Robinson, Gov. Tom Vilsack and Republican Party candidate Doug Gross met in the Scheman Building to discuss Iowa’s energy future on Monday night in a forum attended by about 100 people.

Vilsack said Iowa is in the top 10 states for wind production in the country. Iowa is in a “position to impact and affect issues” in regards to energy efficiency, Vilsack said.

Vilsack said Iowa spends $4 billion purchasing energy out of state, but Iowa possesses all renewable resources needed to meet its energy needs.

Gross said Iowa State and the University of Iowa could become national leaders in plant and animal research —all it would take is making that a budget priority.

All candidates addressed how U.S. oil dependency is affecting the potential war with Iraq. “[Iowa needs to] recognize it makes more sense to grow our fuel than to buy it from the Middle East,” Vilsack said.

Robinson said the current federal government is deaf to energy concerns because of Bush’s oil interest.

He said “[by] driving 20 mpg [miles per gallon] vehicles, we are contributing to deaths of Iraqi children and U.S. troops.”

Gross said it is important for Iowa and the United States to have independence from foreign oil. “We are even more dependent on imported oil [than in 1979],” he said.

When asked about his position on nuclear power, Robinson said it was the “biotechnology of the 1950s” and advocated plants be closed.

Vilsack would like to use $50 million of funds received from the tobacco settlement to stimulate meaningful discussions on renewable resources in Iowa.

Each candidate had visible support from the crowd. Briana Tully, freshman in pre-journalism and mass communication and environmental studies, professed her green preference with a sign she held while Robinson spoke. “[He had] wonderful views on renewable energy. [We need to] head in his direction as far as environmental policies [go].”

Libertarian Party candidate Clyde Cleveland spoke for about 10 minutes after the forum. He was not included because the event was arranged before he was on the ballot.

— Emily Sickelka contributed to this story.