Environment Iowa fights for clean energy, no coal
Mileage standards undercut
As prices at the pump hit previously unimaginable highs this summer, Environment Iowa championed policies that would reduce America’s dependence on oil and chart a course for a cleaner, smarter energy future.
But President Bush dragged his feet on new mileage standards and pushed for offshore drilling as Senate Republicans blocked efforts that encourage investment in clean, renewable energy.
Investing in clean energy
In 2005, Congress passed tax credits for large-scale renewable energy producers, which have proven to be one of the most effective investments the federal government has made in clean energy. Unfortunately, the programs expire at the end of this year, and Senate Republicans blocked two renewal attempts this summer.
Environment Iowa applauds Sens. Grassley and Harkin for their hard work in the past on this legislation, which helped make Iowa number one in the nation in percentage of wind-generated electricity. However, we are very disappointed in Sen. Grassley’s three “no” votes, even though he authored the law in 1992.
We will continue to press Sen. Grassley until this bill, critical to Iowa’s blossoming wind industry, passes.
Gas mileage standards
In December 2007, Congress passed Environment Iowa-backed increases to gas mileage standards. The law requires the Bush administration’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to set “the highest gas mileage standard technologically and economically feasible.” In June, NHTSA Administrator Nicole Nason proposed the slowest and lowest standard allowed—35 mpg by 2020.
“Administrator Nason’s explanation is that people don’t want cars that get any better gas mileage,” said Energy Program Director Rob Sargent. “But the agency’s calculations are based on the fanciful notion that gas costs $2.32 a gallon and Americans aren’t concerned about our dependence on oil!”
Environment Iowa called on NHTSA to conduct public hearings to listen to citizens’ concerns about dependence on oil, global warming and the high price at the pump. In June, Washington, D.C., Energy Advocate Ben Schreiber delivered thousands of public comments to NHTSA.
Coal-fired power plants
Environment Iowa was disappointed that, with all the opportunities we have to invest in new energy technologies, the government decided instead to give the first round of green lights to two new coal-fired power plants. The coal companies are selling these plants as “green,” though they’d still emit massive amounts of carbon dioxide and toxic mercury.
America’s largest banks no longer invest in coal plants—they view them as bad investments—so we will continue to press the state to cancel these polluting white elephants, and advocate clean alternatives to coal power.
