Iowa, long known for its prodigious corn crops, is now becoming known as a major producer of ethanol and a leader in the production of alternative fuels. Iowa’s leadership does not stop there. On May 23, 2007, Iowa Governor Chet Culver signed legislation establishing the Office of Energy Independence, and received generous program funding from the state legislature: $100 million over a four year period – money that will be used largely for the research and development of alternative energy technologies.The new bill, Iowa Power Fund (HF 918), has state officials hopeful Iowa will become not only energy independent, but a net exporter of energy. Continuing the momentum, on November 15, 2007, the governor joined a group of other Midwestern states by signing the Midwestern Regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord.