|  | IEC takes on CAFOs in new action throughout 2023 |
| | It's been quite a year for CAFOs at IEC in 2023. Last month we published The Cost of CAFOs: Impacts on Your Wallet and Your Health. The report analyzes never-before-seen data on the external costs paid by every Iowan for drinking water treatment, healthcare, economic development impacts, and other costs associated with CAFOs. This fascinating report is IEC's second animal feeding operation publication this year. In June, IEC and partner group ELPC released Animal Feeding Operations in Iowa's Floodplain: A Risk to Iowa's Waters, using data compiled by EWG. The report revealed that more than 50 AFOs were expanded in floodplains in Iowa after a 2003 law banning such construction, and nearly 3,000 AFOs were found within 1,000 feet of a floodplain zone. These reports were positioned alongside IEC's continued push for improved CAFO siting rules in Iowa. We had been working to strengthen DNR rule updates, but the Governor's January announcement of moratorium on rulemaking stymied those plans. We kept at it, and in June and September, IEC led a coalition of groups to submit comments on the DNR's updated CAFO siting rules. The DNR's updates included several protections IEC called for 2022, but did not go far enough, and we learned just last week that the draft approved by the EPC in late November was missing several key pieces we advocated for with the DNR. We have a lot more planned in 2024 to protect Iowa's land, water, and people from the damaging effects of concentrated animal feeding operations. We hope you'll help: read the reports and take action when you can, invite your friends and neighbors to connect with IEC, and make a gift to fund this work - and if you live in or around Cedar Rapids, join us next week for a live discussion and update! | | |
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| |  | Attend the IEC Annual Meeting: updates and celebrations Join IEC Board members and staff for the 2023 Annual Meeting at from 1:00 - 1:45 p.m. on Thursday, December 14 via Zoom. You'll receive updates on new and ongoing work around the state, get updates on IEC projects and plans, and have a chance to ask questions about issues important to you. Questions? Contact us anytime for more information at iecmail@iaenvironment.org. |
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 | New IEC videos explore how utilities work, set rates Ever wonder why you pay what you pay for your electric or gas? How do utilities generate the power we use? Iowa's electricity system is a monopoly, working largely in secret, leaving customers in the dark about how it all works and what factors determine our rates. View the first two videos in our new series that explains how how the energy sector works and what Iowans can do to push for fair, transparent utility rates. |
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 | IEC makes comments at 2023 Gulf Hypoxia Task Force meeting Water Program Director Alicia Vasto made the drive this week to Fayetteville, Arkansas, to comment live (above) at the 2023 Gulf Hypoxia Task Force public meeting, in addition to written comments we submitted in advance of the meeting. The annual meeting brings together states participating in the task force for updates and to hear public comments. Watch for a larger update on the meeting in next week's issue of Iowa Water Watch! | | |
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| | | Upcoming Environmental Events |
| 12/9 - Brrrrds, Ames
12/12 - Racism in the Water: Access for All in Outdoor Recreation, Virtual
12/12 - IEC's True Cost of CAFOs Live, Cedar Rapids
12/13 - Motor Vehicle Electrification in Iowa, Virtual
12/14 - IEC's 2023 Annual Meeting, Virtual
12/14 - Iowa Christmas Bird Counts begin, Various locations
12/20 - INHF Workday at Snyder Heritage Farm, Elkhart
12/30 - Kids Ice Fishing Clinic, Toddville
1/1 - First Day Hike, Across Iowa
1/11 - Solar Energy Discussion, Washington
1/11 - Coffee with Clean Up MidAm, Des Moines & Virtual
1/16 - Nitrate Pollution & Public Health, Virtual
1/18 - 1/20 - PFI 2024 Annual Conference, Des Moines
1/21 - QC Environmental Film Series: All That Breathes, Quad Cities
1/28 - QC Environmental Film Series: Last Paddle?, Quad Cities |
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| Organizational Member News |
|  | Innovative solar policy could help more Iowans save money In a recent guest column in the Des Moines Register, Todd Miller, co-founder of member organization 1 Source Solar and interim president of ISETA, highlights policy changes he's seen first that have made it harder for Iowans to access solar energy and shares ideas for making solar energy work for Iowans. Learn more about those ideas and how they could help lower rates but improve Iowa's energy generation systems. |
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 | Tallgrass Prairie Center highlights 2023 activities As Director Laura Jackson noted in TPC's recently released annual highlights publication, "This year was marked by drought, but also by a flood of opportunities. Events such as the rededication of Irvine Prairie and two national conferences pulled us even closer together as a team." The report beautifully showcases the work of the various programs of the Center, which is a member organization of IEC, and highlights what's to come. Enjoy the read! |
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 | Ever wanted to tour a recycling center? IEC Member Organization Waste Commission of Scott County released a new video tour of the county recycling facility for the public to better understand what happens to their materials after they put them in their blue cart. Did you know that the Scott County facility handles materials from up to 100 miles away? Do you know how they pull out glass and metals? It's a lot more complicated - and interesting! - than you'd expect. Watch now! |
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