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Most Recent NewsIowa Consumers Forced to Make Risky Investment in Nuclear 3/10/2010The Iowa Legislature has approved and Congress is considering risky investments in new nuclear reactors. Nuclear power is a not a proven solution to the nation's environmental and economic crises. Energy efficiency and wind and solar energy work and create jobs when we need them - now. Plug-in Electric Cars Lower Global Warming Emissions, Oil Consumption and Unhealthy Air Pollution 1/21/2010Increasing America’s use of plug-in electric and plug-in hybrid cars would dramatically reduce emissions that cause global warming and air pollution and would curb dependence on oil. There are already several projects underway in Iowa to build an infrastructure for plug-ins. Iowa Companies to Receive Over $10 million in Clean Energy Tax Credits 1/08/2010President Obama announced today that the Department of Energy will issue $2.3 billion in clean energy manufacturing tax credits from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) – the vast majority of which will be used to spur more energy efficient buildings and wind, solar, and fuel cell power. 183 projects in 43 states will receive tax credits to help create tens of thousands of high quality jobs and increase domestic manufacturing of advanced clean energy technologies. Among the leading recipients in Iowa is TPI Composites in Newton, which will get 3.9 million dollars to expand its production of wind turbine blades. Most Recent ReportsBuilding a Solar Future: Repowering America’s Homes, Businesses and Industry with Solar Energy 3/09/2010America has virtually limitless potential to tap the energy of the sun. Solar energy is clean, safe, proven and available everywhere, and the price of many solar energy technologies is declining rapidly. By adopting solar energy on a broad scale, the nation can address our biggest energy challenges – our dependence on fossil fuels and the need to address global warming – while also boosting our economy. Plug-in Cars: Powering America Toward a Cleaner Future 1/21/2010America’s current fleet of gasoline-powered cars and trucks leaves us dependent on oil, contributes to air pollution problems that threaten our health, and produces large amounts of global warming pollution. “Plug-in” cars are emerging as an effective way to lower global warming emissions, oil use, and smog. A plug-in car is one that can be recharged from the electric grid. Plug-in cars come in two types: plug-in hybrids that are paired with small gasoline engines, and fully electric vehicles that consume no gasoline at all. Environment Iowa Congressional Scorecard 2009 12/30/2009Environment Iowa scored seven votes in the Senate ranging from an economic recovery bill with investments in public transit and energy efficiency to legislation saving the nation's coasts from offshore drilling. In the House of Representatives, Environment Iowa scored 15 votes including funding to make schools more energy efficient and legislation protecting the Great Lakes. Senator Harkin and Representative Boswell were the only members of Congress from Iowa to receive a perfect score. With the help of these congressmen the 111th Congress has made significant progress in several key areas. In June, the House passed a landmark bill to promote clean energy and limit global warming pollution. Our Issues in the NewsGuest column: Clean energy would be a boon to Iowa 1/14/2010Environment Iowa's analysis of investments in nuclear power concluded nuclear power is a wasteful, ineffective approach to the problem. It is a failing strategy that will actually set us back in the struggle to deal with a changing climate. Instead of building new nuclear reactors and instead of building more coal-fired power plants, we need to transition to clean energy. Iowa stands to benefit immensely in doing so. Environmental group grades Iowa congressional delegation 12/30/2009An environmental group has released a report outlining how Iowa’s Congressional delegation voted over the last year-and-a-half on bills designed to cut global warming and air and water pollution. Environment Iowa reviewed 15 votes in the House and seven votes in the Senate. Guest column: Nuclear power not solution to global warming 12/13/2009The Iowa Climate Change Advisory Council recently released its findings outlining the disastrous effects that rising global warming pollution will have on Iowa’s climate. Perhaps most alarming is the prediction that peak water flow in Iowa’s waterways will increase 50 percent by 2050, increasing flow and threatening Iowa’s cities and fields with more frequent and intense flooding. Clearly, swift action needs to be taken, both to anticipate the reality of our changing climate patterns and to prevent the worst effects of global warming. While smart, sensible solutions like energy efficiency, wind and solar are ready-to-go, proven ways to reduce our pollution, the nuclear energy industry has been quietly pushing for huge federal subsidies as part of a national clean energy and climate strategy and billing itself as the critical “solution to global warming.” The reality, though, is that nuclear power could barely make a dent in our global warming pollution in the next 20 years. |