The American Wind Energy Association announced it has hired Jeff Danielson to lead state policy advocacy efforts across the Midwestern and Plains states. Danielson, who resigned from the Iowa Senate on Feb. 14, had served for 15 years as a senator representing Hudson, Cedar Falls and Waterloo in Black Hawk County. In his new role as AWEA’s Central Region director, Danielson will “advocate for pro-growth policies to help wind power expand and meet strong consumer demand for clean energy,” the organization said in a release. In addition to serving in the Legislature, Danielson worked as both a career professional firefighter with the city of Cedar Falls and an adjunct professor of public policy at the University of Northern Iowa. “I’m proud to announce an exciting new chapter in my career, even as two wonderful chapters of public service come to a close,” Danielson said. “Above all, I’d like to thank the citizens of Cedar Valley for allowing me to serve them for so many years in the state senate and the Cedar Falls Fire Department.”