What's New
Environment Iowa’s new research highlights the economic and
environmental benefits of clean energy policies. Our new report,
Redirecting Iowa’s Energy, shows how investments in more renewable
energy and investments in improved energy efficiency programs will
create jobs, boost wages, cut pollution, and save consumers money on
their energy bills. To achieve these economic and environmental
benefits, Iowa policymakers should adopt clean energy policies,
including a renewable energy standard to ensure that 20 percent of Iowa’s
electricity comes from renewable sources by year 2020.
How You Can Help
Click here to call your state senator and representative today and ask them to support a 20 percent by 2020 renewable energy standard.
Brief Summary
Iowa relies on burning coal to satisfy up to 85% of our energy
needs. Coal isamong one of the dirtiest forms of energy production,
releasing a host of dangerous pollutants:
- Mercury pollutes our waterways and makes fish unsafe to eat;
- Soot and smog make the air unsafe to breath;
- Carbon dioxide is the leading global warming pollutant.
Despite the dangers from burning coal, more new coal-fired power plants are being proposed across Iowa.
Iowa also imports all of the coal it burns, so the profits from this form of electricity production leave the state.
Rather than burn more outdated, dirty coal, Iowa should instead harness
our abundant forms of clean, renewable energy sources, such as wind and
solar. We estimate that Iowa has the technical potential to meet much
more than our current electricity needs from renewable energy alone—up
to 17 times more. Renewable energy will bring environmental benefits
compared to fossil fuels, reducing soot, smog, and global warming
pollution.
According to our recent report, Redirecting Iowa’s Energy, clean energy
will also bring jobs and economic development. A renewable energy
standard and increased investments in improved efficiency programs
would:
- Create an average of 3,000 new jobs annually between now and 2020;
- Increase total wages an average of $42 million per year between now and 2020;
- Save consumers over $1 billion on energy costs cumulatively between now and 2020.
To realize these economic, environmental, and consumer benefits,
Environment Iowa is calling on Iowa policymakers to start by adopting a
20% by 2020 renewable energy standard.
