Environmental Law & Policy Center » Iowa http://elpc.org Protecting the Midwest's Environment and Natural Heritage Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:02:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 Wind Industry Executives Join ELPC at U.S. Capitol http://elpc.org/2012/01/25/wind-industry-executives-join-elpc-at-u-s-capitol http://elpc.org/2012/01/25/wind-industry-executives-join-elpc-at-u-s-capitol#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:39:47 +0000 Kcoleman http://elpc.org/2012/01/25/wind-industry-executives-join-elpc-at-u-s-capitol #ptcbriefing pic from the U.S. Capitol on Twitpic Today, wind industry executives joined ELPC at the U.S. Capitol to convey the urgency of extending the Production Tax Credit (PTC) for the wind industry. Their message: This vital tax credit means good-paying rural and urban jobs for real people, and it means investment and innovation for America’s future. Because of the long lead time to develop, manufacture and install wind power, executives urged Congress to act now in order to avoid halting development in 2013, which would permanently hamper the U.S. wind supply chain.

Read more comments on Twitter @ELPCenter #ptcbriefing

Fox Business News reported the story here.

]]> http://elpc.org/2012/01/25/wind-industry-executives-join-elpc-at-u-s-capitol/feed 0 Chicago Tribune Editorial by Howard Learner: Mercury Pollution Reduction Standards Protect Children’s Health and the Great Lakes http://elpc.org/2011/12/29/chicago-tribune-editoral-by-howard-learner-mercury-pollution-reduction-standards-protect-childrens-health-and-the-great-lakes http://elpc.org/2011/12/29/chicago-tribune-editoral-by-howard-learner-mercury-pollution-reduction-standards-protect-childrens-health-and-the-great-lakes#comments Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:35:33 +0000 Kcoleman http://elpc.org/2011/12/29/chicago-tribune-editoral-by-howard-learner-mercury-pollution-reduction-standards-protect-childrens-health-and-the-great-lakes In the Chicago Tribune’s lead editorial on Dec. 28th, ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner discusses why the EPA’s recently announced federal Mercury and Air Toxics Standard is good for public health, the environment and the economy. Illinois enacted strong state standards in 2006 and has proven that it’s possible to control pollution from coal plants. The new federal rules will level the playing field among coal plants in all states. Read the editorial.

]]> http://elpc.org/2011/12/29/chicago-tribune-editoral-by-howard-learner-mercury-pollution-reduction-standards-protect-childrens-health-and-the-great-lakes/feed 0 Webinar: Keeping Clean Energy On Track with the Production Tax Credit http://elpc.org/2011/12/13/webinar-keeping-clean-energy-on-track-with-the-production-tax-credit http://elpc.org/2011/12/13/webinar-keeping-clean-energy-on-track-with-the-production-tax-credit#comments Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:22:35 +0000 Kcoleman http://elpc.org/2011/12/13/webinar-keeping-clean-energy-on-track-with-the-production-tax-credit Free Webinar: Keeping Clean Energy On Track with the Production Tax Credit (PTC)

Equipped with the PTC, the wind energy industry has contributed impressively to U.S. economic development. During this free ELPC webinar, ELPC and wind industry executive Scott Viciana discussed the impact of the PTC and proposed legislation to extend it.  If you weren’t able to listen in to the live webinar, you can download the slides and listen to the audio for free.

]]> http://elpc.org/2011/12/13/webinar-keeping-clean-energy-on-track-with-the-production-tax-credit/feed 0 Video: Save Farm Energy Programs http://elpc.org/2011/10/27/video-save-farm-energy-programs http://elpc.org/2011/10/27/video-save-farm-energy-programs#comments Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:34:55 +0000 Kcoleman http://elpc.org/2011/10/27/video-save-farm-energy-programs Video: Save Farm Energy Programs

]]> http://elpc.org/2011/10/27/video-save-farm-energy-programs/feed 0 ELPC is Working to Improve Solar Financing Options in Iowa http://elpc.org/2011/10/18/elpc-is-working-to-improve-solar-financing-options-in-iowa http://elpc.org/2011/10/18/elpc-is-working-to-improve-solar-financing-options-in-iowa#comments Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:17:32 +0000 Kcoleman http://elpc.org/2011/10/18/elpc-is-working-to-improve-solar-financing-options-in-iowa Public and nonprofit groups don’t pay taxes, so they can’t take advantage of tax incentives that make solar projects more affordable. The get around this problem, solar developers can retain ownership of a solar system they install on a client’s building. The developer collects the tax credits and the client agrees to pay the developer for the power generated by the solar panels. This arrangement has worked well in many states. But in Iowa, Alliant Energy blocked the City of Dubuque from entering into a similar agreement, stating that only a public utility can sell power in Iowa.

ELPC believes that Iowa law allows this kind of power purchase agreement, and is working with the utilities and state authorities to ensure that future projects aren’t held up by unclear regulations.

Read more in Midwest Energy News.

]]> http://elpc.org/2011/10/18/elpc-is-working-to-improve-solar-financing-options-in-iowa/feed 0 ELPC Defends Iowa’s Clean Water Standards http://elpc.org/2011/10/14/elpc-defends-iowas-clean-water-standards http://elpc.org/2011/10/14/elpc-defends-iowas-clean-water-standards#comments Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:34:22 +0000 Kcoleman http://elpc.org/2011/10/14/elpc-defends-iowas-clean-water-standards ELPC is defending Iowa’s clean water standards from a legal challenge by the farm bureau. The farm bureau attempted to subpoena private communications related to the clean water standards from the Iowa Environmental Council. ELPC argued that IEC’s first amendment rights protected them from this intrusive subpoena. On October 13, the judge ruled in our favor and agreed that IEC could not be forced to turn over private communication. As this case continues, ELPC will work to uphold clean water protections and protect the rights of our environmental colleagues in the Midwest. Read an earlier post about this case.

]]> http://elpc.org/2011/10/14/elpc-defends-iowas-clean-water-standards/feed 0 South Dakota Gov. Daugaard Calls for Wind Energy http://elpc.org/2011/09/09/south-dakota-sen-daugaard-calls-for-wind-energy http://elpc.org/2011/09/09/south-dakota-sen-daugaard-calls-for-wind-energy#comments Fri, 09 Sep 2011 19:16:28 +0000 Kcoleman http://elpc.org/2011/09/09/south-dakota-sen-daugaard-calls-for-wind-energy Gov. Dennis Daugaard was among 24 governors — including those from Midwest/Great Plains states Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and North Dakota — last month to sign a letter urging President Obama to ensure that tax credits for wind energy deployment are renewed next year.

South Dakota Wind Energy Association Executive Director Steve Wegman told the South Dakota Argus Leader that wind energy has poured more than $2 billion into the state since 2002.

ELPC’s Sioux Falls-based Policy Advocate Matt McLarty said, “If we want developers to invest billions of dollars in wind farms and create thousands of new jobs here, the federal government must create a stable, predictable tax climate that encourages long-term investment.”

Read the article in the Argus Leader.

]]> http://elpc.org/2011/09/09/south-dakota-sen-daugaard-calls-for-wind-energy/feed 0 National Ag Energy Leaders Explain Importance of Farm Bill Energy Title http://elpc.org/2011/07/19/national-ag-energy-leaders-explain-importance-of-farm-bill-energy-title http://elpc.org/2011/07/19/national-ag-energy-leaders-explain-importance-of-farm-bill-energy-title#comments Tue, 19 Jul 2011 22:13:04 +0000 Kcoleman http://elpc.org/2011/07/19/national-ag-energy-leaders-explain-importance-of-farm-bill-energy-title ELPC and the Environmental and Energy Study Institute brought together national and regional experts on agriculture and clean energy development to report from the field on the importance of the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and other parts of the Farm Bill Energy Title. Listen to the briefing.

Speakers included:

  • Bruce Knight, Dairy Advisor for Strategic Conservation Solutions, LLC and former Chief of Natural Resources Conservation Service at the USDA under President Bush
  • Bennie Hutchins, Principal, Ag Energy Resources, Mississippi
  • Bill Midcap, Farmer and Rural Development Specialist, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, Colorado
  • Andy Olsen, ELPC Senior Policy Advocate

REAP incentivizes a broad range of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies for all agricultural sectors across the country.  The program has helped thousands of rural producers and businesses slash energy costs and earn new income with energy efficiency and renewable energy.  Dairy and poultry producers, rural electric cooperatives, and other rural producers and small businesses throughout the country are successfully using REAP. The Energy Title is helping to accelerate advanced biofuels and bioproducts production, chiefly through the Biorefinery Assistance Program and the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP).

To learn more, visit ELPC’s dedicated website, FarmEnergy.org.

You can also listen to today’s briefing on BarnMedia.

]]> http://elpc.org/2011/07/19/national-ag-energy-leaders-explain-importance-of-farm-bill-energy-title/feed 0 New National Air Pollution Standards Will Create a Healthier Nation and a Stronger Economy http://elpc.org/2011/07/07/new-national-air-pollution-standards-will-create-a-healthier-nation-and-a-stronger-economy http://elpc.org/2011/07/07/new-national-air-pollution-standards-will-create-a-healthier-nation-and-a-stronger-economy#comments Thu, 07 Jul 2011 16:49:38 +0000 jgeiger http://elpc.org/2011/07/07/new-national-air-pollution-standards-will-create-a-healthier-nation-and-a-stronger-economy Statement by Howard A. Learner, Executive Director,
Environmental Law & Policy Center

“Preventing just one death is heroic, and EPA’s new pollution reduction standards do even better by preventing tens of thousands of premature deaths and heart attacks and avoiding hundreds of thousands of illnesses.

Reducing soot and smog can alleviate asthma and help people’s health in ways that make good economic sense.  The EPA’s Cross State Pollution Rule will generate up to $290 billion in annual health and welfare benefits, which greatly exceeds the pollution clean-up costs.

These long overdue clean air standards will create new jobs as utilities hire skilled workers to install modern pollution control equipment and replace the oldest, most highly polluting coal plants with cleaner new energy sources.

Today, we celebrate the beginning of a healthier nation and a stronger economy by reducing air pollution that has been both harming our health and draining our wallets.”

Read US EPA’s final cross-state air pollution rule here: http://www.epa.gov/crossstaterule/

Download ELPC’s mercury report here.

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The Environmental Law & Policy Center is the Midwest’s leading environmental legal advocacy and eco-business innovation organization. www.ELPC.org

]]> http://elpc.org/2011/07/07/new-national-air-pollution-standards-will-create-a-healthier-nation-and-a-stronger-economy/feed 0 Senators Introduce Resolution to Uphold the Clean Air Act http://elpc.org/2011/03/31/senators-introduce-resolution-to-uphold-the-clean-air-act http://elpc.org/2011/03/31/senators-introduce-resolution-to-uphold-the-clean-air-act#comments Thu, 31 Mar 2011 21:53:59 +0000 Kcoleman http://elpc.org/2011/03/31/senators-introduce-resolution-to-uphold-the-clean-air-act Senators Durbin (IL), Franken (MN), Harkin (IA) and Johnson (SD) along with 30 of their colleagues have introduced a Senate resolution recognizing past, present, and future public health and economic benefits of cleaner air due to the successful implementation of the Clean Air Act.

The resolution recognizes that, among other benefits, the Clean Air Act has saved hundreds of thousands of lives and is estimated to provide up to $40 of health and economic benefits to Americans for every dollar invested.

The resolution comes at a time when some members of Congress are attempting to weaken the clean air act and restrict its ability to protect public health and the environment. The Senate is expected to vote soon on up to four amendments that would strip the Environmental Protection Agency of its authority to reduce carbon pollution under the Clean Air Act. ELPC commends this resolution and opposes efforts to weaken the Clean Air Act.

Take action to protect the clean air act here. Read the Senate resolution here.

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