Repower Iowa with clean energy

Too much of our energy comes from dirty sources that harm our environment. But by tapping the power of the sun and wind, and using less energy in the first place, we can repower our lives with clean energy that doesn’t pollute and never runs out.

With more wind and solar, we can move to 100% clean energy

Iowa relies on coal to satisfy up to 85% of our energy needs. Coal is one of the dirtiest forms of energy production, releasing a host of dangerous pollutants — including mercury, soot, smog and carbon dioxide.

We are surrounded by clean energy options — the power of the sun, the movement of wind, the heat of the earth, even the energy leaking from drafty windows in our homes and businesses. By using energy more efficiently and tapping our vast renewable energy resources, we can move to 100% clean energy that doesn’t pollute and never runs out.

Here in Iowa, we have the wind, solar and biomass resources to produce enough power to meet 17 times our state’s electricity needs. Renewable energy will bring environmental benefits compared to fossil fuels — reducing soot, smog and global warming pollution.

Efficient buildings will spur energy savings

America’s homes are like cars that only get 10 miles to the gallon. Buildings consume 40% of America’s energy, and much of that energy is literally flying out the window rather than heating or cooling our homes and businesses. What’s worse, energy-wasting buildings are responsible for nearly half of our nation’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Millions of Americans are already weather-stripping doors and windows, insulating attics and making their homes more energy efficient and thus healthier, more comfortable and less costly to heat and cool.

If everyone makes these small changes, they can really add up — to 334 million fewer metric tons of global warming pollution emitted each year, the equivalent of taking 65.5 million cars off the road. The average family could save up to $400 on their utility bills.

Visit our guide, “Plug Into Clean Energy,” for tips on how to give your home an efficiency upgrade.


Clean Energy updates

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.

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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.

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Headline

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.

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