|  | IEC Calls on Department of Natural Resources to Increase Air Quality Monitoring Stations |
| Too much of Iowa’s asthma-causing pollution is going unmonitored by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), especially in areas with susceptible populations, according to data from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. IEC submitted comments to the Iowa DNR urging increases and changes in the DNR’s air monitoring stations, especially for large communities suffering from increased asthma rates. IEC’s comments to the DNR highlight how Iowa’s current monitoring system found more than 150 violations of ozone and fine particulate matter limits in 2023, even with inadequate air monitoring stations. Therefore, greater monitoring and enforcement is critical for public health. Currently, Iowa’s Air Monitoring Network, operated by the Iowa DNR, is not designed to capture data from many of the areas with the highest concentrations of pollutants and asthma rates in Iowa, such as areas near coal plants. A recent health report exploring the relationship between coal plant communities and asthma rates found that Woodbury County, home to two coal plants, has the highest asthma rates in Iowa. However, Sioux City’s air quality monitors are not placed in a location near the coal plants emitting asthma-causing pollutants. “We have known for years that air quality monitoring in Iowa is spotty and insufficient, and this is borne out by what we see in reports on pulmonary and other diseases tied to air pollution, which reflect that air quality in several areas in Iowa is at best poor and at worst life-threatening, and it is children and others in frontline communities who are hurt the most,” said Karin Stein, Iowa Coordinator for Moms Clean Air Force. “We urgently need more complete monitoring from the Iowa DNR in order to better understand the impact of pollution on our communities.” Click here to read IEC’s full comment letter. |
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| |  | New Wind Turbine Blade Recycler Opens in Fairfax From 150-foot wind turbine blades to slivers of fiberglass half a toothpick in size, a new recycling center in Fairfax aims to reduce waste to the landfill and develop products that can be used to strengthen construction materials. REGEN Fiber, owned by Alliant Energy subsidiary Travero, hosted a grand opening in June to explain the process for recycling decommissioned wind turbine blades. The plant captures shredded materials and dust, which can be added to concrete, mortar or asphalt to improve performance. Early studies show the fibers strengthen concrete and reduce cracking and shrinking, said Jeff Woods, business development director for Travero. Read more from the Gazette |
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 | Linn County Monitoring Air Quality with Neighborhood Sensors The Linn County Public Health is expanding its systems for monitoring air quality across the county, including adding an additional location for its portable air quality monitors. The county has two regulatory air monitoring stations — one in Cedar Rapids and one in Coggon — with expensive, heavy duty monitors that are used to measure the air quality to ensure it remains within the national standard or issue alerts if it doesn’t. But the county also uses smaller air quality sensors that are slightly less accurate, but are cheaper and more portable, to collect day-to-day data from more locations. The small sensors, made by Utah company PurpleAir, are deployed in nine locations around Linn County. Read more from the Gazette |
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 | Amid rising opposition to clean energy, Iowa conservative group pushes to expand production The Iowa Conservative Energy Forum, a group led by veteran Republican lawmakers and strategists that promote clean energy production, held a conference in Des Moines focused on the benefits and potential of clean energy. "Renewable energy in Iowa, spearheaded by innovation and government action over the last half-century, is under threat because of worsening public sentiment," warned economist Ernie Goss. Despite Republican hesitancy on the need for renewable energy, the conference's speakers said Republicans can be leaders in renewable energy production and in addressing carbon emissions that are contributing to rising global temperatures. Read more from the Gazette |
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| | | The Green Soirée on Friday, June 14, at Mainframe Studios in downtown Des Moines was a beautiful event celebrating Iowa's natural environment and helped raise fund for the largest state coalition fighting to protect and improve it - the Iowa Environmental Council. A mix of artists, auctions, good food, and community connections, the Soirée also marked the official release of IEC's publication Sacrifice State: Iowa Voices on Environment and Justice. The book, created through IEC's partnership with Drake Community Press, uplifts Iowans and their stories facing the impacts of a changing climate and environmental injustice. You can order your copy now! |
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Des Moines, Iowa 50309-2317
515-244-1194 |
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