News - Environment Iowa

Most Recent News

Senate Blocks Extension of Clean Energy Program Critical to Iowa 6/11/2008

We thank Senator Tom Harkin for supporting the clean energy and a green economy today and are disappointed that Senator Chuck Grassley, who authored this legislation in 1992 chose not to support it today.

Funding for Iowaâ€™s Water Land and Wildlife Wins in Iowa House 4/09/2008

Des Moines, Iowa â€“ Today the Iowa House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed legislation to provide greatly increased funding to Iowaâ€™s waterways, land, wildlife and parks.

Energy Efficiency Policy Changes Would Save Iowans Millions 4/02/2008

Iowans could save millions of dollars per year, and reduce the need for new highly-polluting coal power plants if Iowa implemented a few simple policy changes on energy efficiency. Today the Environment Iowa Research and Policy Center released a report on energy efficiency which describes what Iowa could easily do to reduce waste in energy use and what policies the state should adopt to achieve those efficiencies.

Most Recent Reports

The Power of Efficiency: Opportunities to Save Money, Reduce Pollution and Expand the Economy in the Midwest 4/02/2008

Energy efficiency measures offer a cost effective and simple opportunity to solve the stateâ€™s biggest energy challenges. By reducing demand for electricity and natural gas, energy efficiency measures can prevent the need to build new power plants and ease pressure on limited fuel supplies, bringing a variety of benefits for the economy and for the environment of the Midwest.

Clean Energy For America: Why the 44th President Must Put America on the Clean Energy Path 12/28/2007

America has the technological know-how and the resources to move away from dependence on dirty and dangerous energy supplies. With the right goals and polices, the next president of the United States can provide America with the much needed leadership to achieve a clean energy future. This document explains why the next president must act immediately to address Americaâ€™s growing energy crisis, and lays out a reasonable yet ambitious course for meeting Americaâ€™s future energy needs with clean, renewable energy.

When it Rains, It Pours: Global Warming and the Rising Frequency of Extreme Precipitation in the United States 12/04/2007

Scientists expect that global warming will cause a variety of changes to precipitation patterns in the United States. Many areas will receive increased amounts of rain and snow over the course of a year; some areas will receive less. But scientists expect that, all across the country, the rainstorms and snowstorms that do occur will be more intense â€“ increasing the risk of flooding and other impacts.

Our Issues in the News

Critics push to improve Iowa matrix 9/08/2008

"...Iowa environmentalists say its time for the 5-year-old evaluation plan to get its own reconstruction."

Group Wants Clean Energy Pledges 12/29/2007

A national environmental group at a Des Moines event Friday called on presidential candidates to push for energy conservation, "green" alternative energy and a moratorium on new coal-fired power plants. Environment America, which has an Environment Iowa branch in Des Moines, said the next president must make clean energy a top priority. The group listed clean-energy priorities it plans to push in Iowa, site of next week's presidential caucuses, and the early primary states.

Half of plants break sewage laws 11/10/2007

More than half of the major Iowa industrial and municipal facilities violated their sewage permits in 2005 by discharging more pollution than allowed, Environment Iowa reported Thursday.