Friday, September 18, 2009
At a public hearing before the Iowa Utilities Board on September 18th, a broad coalition of Iowa citizens called for the Iowa Utilities Board to stand up to utility pressure on climate change. Through previously submitted written comments and personal testimony at a workshop, these citizens made the scientific, economic and personal case for why Congress should pass the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES).
Several of the groups submitted analyses that showed how Iowa will benefit from clean energy legislation through job growth and income in manufacturing, renewable energy and energy efficiency. Others showed that the moderate costs of the bill are miniscule compared to the threat of global climate change.
As ELPC Senior Attorney Rob Kelter said, “There is so much more at stake here than minor changes in electric rates. Clean energy can be a major driver of economic growth in Iowa, but we have to stand up to the utilities to make it happen.”
Read more at Iowapolitics.com
Friday, August 21, 2009
In an op-ed in the Des Moines Register, ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner writes about the historic developments and growing support that are making high-speed in the U.S. a reality.
He writes that we need cooperation and continued commitment across the region to bring the benefits of high-speed rail to the Midwest.
“ Working together, we can create a win-win-win for our region: good for jobs and our economy, good for the environment, and good for people and our communities. Let’s get on board together and advance smart Midwest high-speed rail development on a fast track.”
Read the full Op-Ed
Thursday, March 12, 2009
The opening of ELPC’s new office in Iowa created a stir in the media and focused attention to what Iowa can do to grow the green economy and help solve global warming. Reporters paid extra attention to Iowa’s unique opportunity to use federal stimulus funding to develop fast, convenient rail transportation between Chicago and Des Moines.
Read the text Howard Learner’s interview with Radio Iowa here
Watch WHO-TV’s coverage here
Read Howard Learner’s op-ed in the Des Moines Register here
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
On the day that ELPC celebrates the opening of its new Iowa office, Executive Director Howard Learner lays out a plan for Iowa’s future in an OpEd in the Des Moines Register. He points out that Iowa is well-positioned to be a leader in the growing green economy, specifically with three major opportunities in energy efficiency, wind power and high-speed rail development.
“Energy, environmental, employment, economic and national-security goals are converging. President Barack Obama and Congress are moving toward realigning our nation to accelerate clean-energy development to create new jobs and achieve significant greenhouse-gas pollution reductions. Clean-energy development is a win-win-win for job creation, economic growth and better environmental quality.”
Read the full OpEd.
Friday, March 6, 2009
In this editorial, the Des Moines register welcomed the decision by Interstate Power and Light to cancel plans for a new coal plant in Marshalltown, Iowa. The editorial rightly points out that coal is the leading cause of global warming pollution and spending huge amounts of money on a new plant would tie Iowa to a dirty and inceasingly expnsive source of energy.
The editors echoed ELPC’s call for the Iowa Utilities Board to require a strong efficiency plan from the utility Investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency will create jobs, save money, reduce pollution and eliminate the need for an expensive new coal plant.
Read the editorial here.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Join Us For Our Iowa Office Opening Reception
Please join us to celebrate the opening of our new Iowa office on March 11th, 5-7 pm. Our Des Moines office is located in the Historic Insurance Exchange Building at 505 Fifth Avenue on the 3rd Floor.
There will be a brief program featuring ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner and Jim Larew, representing Governor Chet Culver.
RSVP to Andrew Snow at asnow@elpc.org.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
ELPC’s Iowa Global Warming Campaign took the cue on the national Day of Service held on Martin Luther King’s birthday to help Des Moines families to weatherize their homes. Of course, the crew took along a video camera.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
After being devastated by flooding, some Iowa communities looked to ELPC and others to make sustainable design part of their recovery. ELPC sponsored and helped to organize a “green design” workshop on December 11th for three Iowa communities — Waverly, Chariton and Ottumwa — that were either damaged in this spring’s record flooding or want to plan to mitigated harms from future disasters. ELPC worked with the American Institute of Architects, and the Iowa chapters of the U.S. Green Building Council, the American Planning Association and the American Society of Landscape Architects, to convene this event.
The workshop also coincided with a Disaster Recovery Conference organized by the Iowa Department of Economic Development. More than 45 professionals, including architects, engineers, planners and officials from a number of State and Federal agencies volunteered their time to help these community officials map out a sustainable path forward after disaster has struck. Volunteers will continue to be available as resources for these communities as they move to implement re-building plans.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
ELPC is working on many fronts to increase the use of less-polluting, energy efficient, and renewable electricity generation. One goal is to reduce reliance on old, dirty, centralized power plants and advance “distributed generation” – literally shifting some generation of electricity to wind turbines, photovoltaic panels, combined heat & power (CHP) systems, and other clean and efficient resources that are distributed across the electric grid and are often sited at a customer’s home or small business.
Interconnection Standards
In order to accomplish this structural shift, state policies must be reformed. Statewide interconnection standards make it easier to connect solar panels, wind turbines and other clean energy systems to the electric grid. These standards streamline the interconnection process by including uniform engineering requirements, reasonable fees and timelines, standard application forms and legal agreements, and “expedited review” for small projects.
Net Metering
Net metering is a special metering and billing agreement between utilities and their customers which allows customers to sell excess electricity back to the grid and gives customers a financial incentive to invest in renewable sources of energy. When a net metering customer’s renewable generator is producing more power than the customer needs, the electric meter runs backward, generating credits. At the end of the billing period, the customer is only charged for the “net” power that they consume.
Model Net Metering and Interconnection Standards
ELPC’s “Model Net Metering and Interconnection Standards for Renewable Energy Systems” were developed with the input of industry experts and reflect recent best practices at the state level. Although the model contains both net metering and interconnection standards, these two parts can be used separately. To make it easier, the Net Metering Standards[pdf file] and Interconnection Standards[pdf file] are also available as two separate documents.
Promoting State Policy Changes
ELPC leads broad coalitions of clean energy advocates and entrepreneurs to promote distributed generation and the necessary state policy changes across the Midwest and Great Plains. ELPC’s advocacy and technical expertise has helped Illinois, Michigan and South Dakota finalize their interconnection standards, and has moved Iowa’s rules toward completion.
In addition to our leadership in Iowa, Illinois, Michigan and South Dakota, ELPC is providing key regional perspective and expertise to support similar projects across the region. We expect our current and future work to significantly reduce existing barriers to distributed generation, which will help diversify electricity generation, provide economic benefits, and encourage the development of efficient and clean sources of power in the Midwest and Great Plains.
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Friday, June 6, 2008
The State of Iowa is moving forward on Global Warming solutions – and the Iowa Global Warming Campaign is leading the charge. IGW is a visible (and audible!) presence in the state; on the airwaves of local radio and television stations, educating the public at major events, and engaging with elected officials at the state and federal levels. Our staff and volunteers have been very active in providing comment to the Iowa Climate Change Advisory Council. With thousands of supporters and dozens of active volunteers, we are poised to make a major impact on Global Warming legislation; and on solutions including energy efficiency, renewable energy standards, and transportation needs such as passenger rail service and clean cars.
Clean Water Enforcement
Iowans care about water quality, and ELPC is working with state partners such as the Iowa Environmental Council, the Sierra Club, and the Hawkeye Fly Fishing Association to protect Iowa’s rivers, lakes and streams from pollution. ELPC and our partners worked with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to implement federally-required “anti-degradation” procedures that will help keep clean water clean by requiring polluters to consider alternatives to water pollution before being issued a discharge permit. These new rules were approved by the Iowa legislature in February 2010.
ELPC is working in Iowa to increase the use of less-polluting, energy efficient, and renewable electricity generation. One goal is to reduce reliance on old, dirty, centralized power plants and advance “distributed generation” of clean energy – like wind turbines and solar panels.
In order to accomplish this structural shift, state policies must be reformed. ELPC has been working to persuade the Iowa Utilities Board to adopt statewide interconnection standards that streamline the process of connecting distributed resources to the utility grid. The lack of standardized rules can create a patchwork of fees, delays and requirements that is one of the most serious barriers to widespread investment in clean energy. The Board has tentatively agreed to move forward with standards based on “best practices” and has requested input from ELPC and others.
Increasing the efficiency of electricity and natural gas use is often the cheapest and easiest way to reduce global warming pollution and conserve natural resources. Iowa law requires Iowa utilities to develop and implement five-year “energy efficiency plans” that describe programs the utilities will use to help their customers save energy. ELPC is representing the Iowa Environmental Council and the Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club in proceedings before the Iowa Utilities Board to review and improve the utilities’ energy efficiency plans for 2009-2013. ELPC and the Iowa Global Warming Solutions campaign will also be working to implement renewable energy, energy efficiency and greenhouse gas pollution reduction policies across Iowa.
In an era of high gasoline prices, expressway congestion at all hours, airport capacity constraints, and a shrinking pool of rural transportation choices, the Midwest needs improved passenger rail service now more than ever. At ELPC’s urging, Amtrak has completed studies for service between Chicago and Iowa City via the Quad Cities, and work is ongoing to study the feasibility of an extension to Des Moines. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) have already written to Amtrak in support of this proposal. While Illinois and Iowa were unsuccessful in the first round of federal high-speed rail grants for this corridor, the State of Illinois has committed state funds to bring trains as far as the Quad Cities. ELPC is now working to build public and legislative support for the necessary funding.
