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IEC Launches Federal Funding Hub New website provides resources, deadlines, and other information related to the IIJA and IRA IEC has launched the Iowa Energy & Infrastructure Funding Hub, an online resource hosted at IAFederalFunding.org to help Iowans better understand and access federal support for clean energy and resiliency projects. Iowa’s communities, businesses, nonprofits, and individuals can utilize programs funded by the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act legislation. These federal investments will expand local projects and priorities intended to improve Iowa’s resiliency and increase economic and energy security. The Iowa Energy & Infrastructure Funding Hub provides information on key federal programs to assist Iowans across sectors. Some funding opportunities are available immediately, while additional tax credits, rebates, and grants will be available beginning in 2023. “This legislation brings transformative opportunities to the state and IEC is excited to provide valuable information to help Iowans take advantage of the available funding and benefits,” said Kristen Weaverling, energy communications coordinator with the Iowa Environmental Council. “It is an exciting time for Iowans to reduce energy costs in homes and buildings, install more clean energy, electrify transportation and build more livable, resilient communities.” The Iowa Energy & Infrastructure Funding Hub contains current information and will be regularly updated with federal program details and deadlines, resources, and news about the success of local projects backed by the federal legislation. |
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IEC and partners propose Wind PRIME alternative to save money, produce cleaner energy Last month, ELPC, IEC, and Sierra Club filed joint testimony in MidAmerican’s Wind PRIME docket before the Iowa Utilities Board. The 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 coal-burning power plants in Iowa. These coal plants make MidAmerican the single largest carbon polluter in the state. The testimony includes independent technical modeling analysis that shows a balanced, reliable portfolio that adds a mix of battery storage, solar, and some wind, while retiring all of MidAmerican’s Iowa coal plants by 2035, and delivers $120 million in cost savings relative to MidAmericans’s current plan, which focuses almost exclusively on new wind resources and continued coal burning. Read more about the analysis and the testimony filed with the IUB. |
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IEC welcomes new and returning board members; thanks outgoing board member for service IEC members voted in board elections last month. In 2023, the Council will welcome two new board members: at-large board member Amanda Drish and Paulina Mena, who will represent member organization Friends of Big Rock Park. Returning for another term are at-large board members Craig Miller and Kevin Techau, along with member organization representatives Kevin Griggs representing Practical Farmers of Iowa, Naura Heiman Godar representing the American Institute of Architects - Iowa Chapter, and Laura Sarcone representing Des Moines Water Works. IEC will say farewell to long-serving board member John Schmidt at the end of the year. John shared some memories of his time with IEC in a guest blog post. We thank him for his many years of dedicated service! |
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IEC's strategic plan:
What's at our Core IEC released our new strategic plan earlier this year. While many of the elements were familiar - legislative advocacy, clean water and renewable energy work - some of the projects were new directions or areas of focus our organization. Executive Director Brian Campbell took a deeper dive into the plan with a new blog post, highlighting IEC's core values and how these values inform both our longstanding work and new areas for the organization, such as corporate accountability campaigns, community-level activation, and projects to ensure Iowa capitalizes on federal-level action. You'll also learn about IEC's efforts to connect with Iowans across the state to deepen our relationships and knowledge. Read the post on IEC's blog. |
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Gift & Support IEC This Year There are many ways to gift thoughtfully and sustainably this holiday, including gifts from IEC! Choose from high-quality reusable insulated mugs and cups, to super soft t-shirts, to books and more. Make a gift starting at just $25 to support IEC's environmental work in Iowa, and get a great gift to give or enjoy. You can also support IEC with your regular holiday shopping. Choose IEC as your charity of choice with Amazon Smile for your Amazon purchases; select IEC as your charity for Wal-Mart's Round Up program when you make purchases in-store or online. Finally, a year-end donation to IEC is the best gift we could receive here at the Council! Your support makes it possible for us to continue our work to protect our water and land, grow renewable energy use, and fight climate change right here at home. Consider a year-end gift to IEC this year! |
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Upcoming Environmental Events |
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12/8 - Solar Energy Breakfasts: New Funding Options for Solar, Iowa City
12/15 - Our Woodland Legacy Symposium, Cedar Rapids
12/17 - Des Moines Ikes Indoor Flea Market and Auction, Des Moines
12/19 - Christmas Bird Count, Grimes
12/21 - Cozy Up with Clean Energy Savings, Guttenberg
1/5 - 1/6 - Harmful Algal Bloom Research Symposium, Online
1/12 - Solar Energy Breakfasts: Expanding Solar Access Through State Policies, Iowa City
1/16 - YMCA Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast: The Quest for Environmental Justice, Des Moines
1/17 - Winter Tree Identification, Des Moines
1/19 - 1/23 - PFI Annual Conference: On Common Ground, Ames
1/24 - Best Development Awards Ceremony, Des Moines
1/28 - Winter Workday at Perkins Prairie Preserve, Jefferson |
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IEC has been invited to lead a discussion on environmental justice following the keynote presentation by Dr. Robert Bullard at the 10th Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast on January 16, 2023. Join us - learn more and register to attend. |
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Organizational Member News |
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Resources look at carbon impact of conservation practices For farmers across the nation, implementing conservation practices into existing row-crop operations has played a key role in maintaining healthy agricultural soils. A series fact sheets recently released by the Center for Rural Affairs detail the carbon impact of those practices. Learn more about how cover crops can aid in carbon sequestration and view the fact sheets. |
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Grant for sustainable park maintenance now available Good Neighbor Iowa, part of CEEE at UNI, has launched a new initiative: the Parks for a Sustainable Future grant program. In this program, natural land management company Osborne Organics will work directly with local community land managers to transition two public green spaces to organic lawn care practices. Education and training is provided to community land managers to be able to transition further sites in the future. Learn more about the initiative. |
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Nominations open for 2022 Best Development Awards Know a great development project in Iowa that showcases the principles of smart growth and sustainability? Encourage them to apply for the 2022 Best Development Awards! There are 12 award categories that all help showcase development projects and programs in Iowa in a variety of categories including civic, transportation, residential and renewable energy. Nominations are due December 9 with awards presented in January. |
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