News Release | Environment Iowa

Senators Propose Comprehensive Bill To Get Off Oil

The week before Americans celebrate Independence Day, Senators Jeff Merkley, Tom Carper, Michael Bennett and Tom Udall have introduced the Oil Independence for a Stronger America Act.

News Release | Environment Iowa

Nuclear Power Regulators Find Faults in U.S. Nuclear Emergency Preparedness

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) held a public meeting today to release the 60-day findings of the NRC task force reviewing NRC processes and regulations in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear meltdowns.  The review found faults in plant preparedness systems and the regulations that prescribe the extent of those systems.  For example, the review highlighted the fact that ‘Severe Accident Management Systems’ are inconsistently implemented across the country.  The NRC has continued its licensing and re-licensing of nuclear reactors without any new protections against disasters.

Report | Environment Iowa

Building a Solar Future: Repowering America’s Homes, Businesses and Industry with Solar Energy

America 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.

Report | Environment Iowa

Plug-in Cars: Powering America Toward a Cleaner Future

America’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.

News Release | Environment Iowa

Plug-in Electric Cars Lower Global Warming Emissions, Oil Consumption and Unhealthy Air Pollution

Increasing 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, according to a new white paper released today by Environment Iowa.

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Guest column: Clean energy would be a boon to Iowa

It has been one year since the plug was pulled on Waterloo's proposed coal-fired power plant. Building the plant would have been disastrous. In addition to fiscal and public health disasters, it would have emitted large amounts of carbon dioxide - a major contributor to global warming.

News Release | Environment Iowa

New Report: Nuclear a Step Backwards in Effort Against Global Warming

Investment in nuclear power will actually set the U.S. back in the effort to reduce global warming pollution, according to a new report released today by Environment Iowa.

Report | Environment Iowa

Generating Failure: How Building Nuclear Power Plants Would Set America Back in the Race Against Global Warming

Far from being a solution to global warming, nuclear power will actually set America back in the race to reduce pollution. Nuclear power is too slow and too expensive to make enough of a difference in the next two decades. Moreover, nuclear power is not necessary to provide clean, carbon-free electricity for the long haul.

News Release | Environment Iowa

New Report: Iowa’s Power Sources Outdated, Under-regulated

Iowa is home to some of the nation's oldest and most polluting coal-fired power plants, according to a new analysis of government data released today by Environment Iowa.  Half a year after a proposal for a new coal plant in Marshalltown was canceled and over one year after a similar proposal for Waterloo was denied, a group of environmental groups are calling for tougher regulation on existing power plants.

Report | Environment Iowa

America's Biggest Polluters: Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Power Plants in 2007

The United States relies heavily on outdated technology and limited resources for most of its electricity needs. While the production of clean, renewable energy such as wind and solar power is growing, the vast majority of American electricity comes from burning fossil fuels—coal, oil, and natural gas—and from nuclear power.

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