Welcome to the Iowa Chapter blog!
Blogger - Pam Mackey Taylor
Senate seeks to restrict solar farm siting
January 30, 2023
A bill to restrict siting of solar farms is moving through the State Senate. The Sierra Club opposes this bill.
Legislator Seeks to Void US President’s Executive Orders
January 27, 2023
Legislation has been introduced that would allow a committee of Iowa legislators and the Iowa Attorney General to rule a United States president's executive order to be unconstitutional which would mean that the state of Iowa and other government...
MidAmerican Energy's secret planning studies to be made public
January 26, 2023
The Utilities Board ordered MidAmerican to make public 2 generation planning studies. “The public deserves to have the information relevant to MidAmerican’s decision and to determine whether its plan to keep relying on polluting and expensive coal...
Supreme Beef comes before Polk County Judge
January 22, 2023
On January 20, 2023, the appeal of the Nutrient Management Plan for Supreme Beef, filed by Sierra Club and Trout Unlimited, came before Judge Scott Rosenberg in the Polk County District Court. “We are trying to protect one of Iowa’s special places...
Tips on Attending Legislator Coffees, Constituent Meetings and Forums
January 13, 2023
At this time of the year, legislators often hold coffees, constituent meetings, or forums. This blog has tips on what to expect at these events. You may be able to ask your legislator a question at these events.
Fund I-Will with no changes in funding formulas
January 9, 2023
In 2010, 63 percent of Iowa voters gave overwhelming support to a constitutional amendment that would allow increased investment in Iowa’s parks, recreation and clean water through a 3/8 cent sales tax. All that is needed is for the sales tax to be...
Sierra Club Files Updated MidAm Coal Fleet Analysis in Wind PRIME
November 22, 2022
Joint testimony was filed today in MidAmerican’s Wind PRIME docket before the Iowa Utilities Board. MidAmerican’s Wind PRIME project, which would add 2,042 MW of wind and 50 MW of solar, relies on the company’s plans to continue operating 5 large...
Actions by Congress Driving Renewables Boom
October 13, 2022
On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law completing two years in Congress with the largest investments to date to address climate change. Together the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Creating Helpful...
Dirty Truth About Utility Climate Pledges
September 29, 2022
The Sierra Club released today the second edition of its ground-breaking report, The Dirty Truth About Utility Climate Pledges. The report finds that MidAmerican, Iowa's largest carbon polluter scores a ‘D’ on its coal-to-clean transition.