Energy Bill has issues
Update: the Governor's energy act did not pass through the legislature this year.
The legislature is working on the Governor’s energy act. The Sierra Club has concerns about this legislation. By concentrating on economic development, the legislation fails to address keeping power reasonably priced for the consumer.
The bill does not emphasize energy efficiency and demand response programs, which can provide some of the cheapest energy sources.
Integrated resource planning – it is important for utilities to plan for future power generation to meet future needs. But the bill restricts how members of the public and the Utilities Commission can weigh in on the plans. Without careful consideration of future generation needs and the build out of power plants, the utilities could be left with assets that are not needed to supply power to Iowans. That would result in large costs to consumers.
The bill advocates for the Right of First Refusal for building transmission lines. Right of First Refusal allows new and expanded transmission lines to be built by companies already operating in the state, without a competitive bid from other companies that want to work in Iowa. That may not result in the least cost to the customer.
We oppose putting nuclear power plants in Iowa. Nuclear power is some of the most expensive power that is generated which would be paid for by consumers and subsidized by the taxpayers. It is not clean and it is not renewable. Mining for uranium leaves behind large piles of toxic waste. Uranium is not a renewable resource. Spent nuclear fuel is radioactive, and thus, harmful to people for thousands of years. There is no permanent repository for the spent fuel.
We oppose anaerobic digesters and the expansion of the confinement and open feedlot operations in the state. With poor water quality in rivers, streams, and lakes across the state, impaired waters due to manure and nitrates in the water, and beaches that are flagged as unsafe for swimming due to contamination resulting from manure, we should not be advocating for more and larger livestock operations. At this point, the governor's office indicated that they would be dropping the anaerobic digester piece in this bill.
Lower energy rates, public oversight, and the clean energy transition matters to all of us and our families.
What you can do
- Ask your Representative to oppose HF834 (formerly HSB123). To look up your House member, see www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/house and to find your legislators, see www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/find
- Ask the Senate Senator to oppose SF585 (formerly SSB1112). To look up your senate member, see www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/senate or to Find your legislator
