(Wahpeton)– Dickinson county’s first Naturalist was back in the area Thursday for a local Earth Day celebration.
Rich Leopold is now the Executive Director of the Iowa Environmental Council…a position he’s held for the past six months. Leopold says the council represents more than 70 different conservation organizations across the state on various environmental issues. He says they have close contact with state lawmakers, the Governor’s office and the D-N-R rule making process.
Leopold says he’s pleased with what they were able to accomplish during the recently completed legislative session. He’s especially pleased with renewable energy initiatives that were passed that will assist larger wind energy projects in the state.
Leopold says failure to get an air quality bill signed into law and a reduction on conservation spending were among the disappointments the Environmental Council had with the past legislative session.
Leopold was the keynote speaker at an Earth Day event Thursday evening at Gull Point State Park.
