[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 42 (Wednesday, March 12, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E363]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING CORN BELT POWER COOPERATIVE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LATHAM

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 12, 2008

  Mr. LATHAM. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Corn Belt 
Power Cooperative of Humboldt, Iowa, on the occasion of their 60th 
anniversary.
  Before 1947, electric cooperatives were unable to keep up with 
farmers' additional need of electricity to power their homes and farms, 
and power companies in the cities were wary of selling electricity to 
rural Iowa. As a result of the increased demand, two smaller power 
cooperatives merged to create a partnership that could build a larger 
coal-fired generation, thus forming Corn Belt Power.
  In the early years, Corn Belt Power was a source for electric lights, 
storing and preparing food in rural homes, pumping water, and bringing 
ease to daily farm chores. Today Corn Belt Power is a source of power 
for sophisticated livestock systems and computers, heat pumps and 
efficient heating and cooling systems for homes. Corn Belt Power has 
withstood many ups and downs, including the energy crisis in the 1970s, 
the farm crisis of the 1980s, and our need for energy efficiency today.
  Corn Belt Power Cooperative of Humboldt is dedicated to benefiting 
rural Iowa and the agricultural community, and for this I offer them my 
utmost congratulations and thanks. It is an honor to represent the 
employees of Corn Belt Power, the board of directors, and President 
Donald Feldman in the U.S. Congress, and I wish them continued success 
in serving the people of rural Iowa.

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