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posted by Guest Blogger on Thursday, May 28, 2026 For many people, nature represents peace, healing, and connection. Parks, lakes, rivers, trails, and green spaces are often described and experienced as places where communities can recharge physically, mentally, and emotionally. But access to these spaces, a sense of belonging, and environmental justice has never been equal-especially for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.

posted by Cody Smith on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 Over the past two years, IEC has renewed our focus on combating the most harmful effects of climate change in Iowa communities.

posted by Raihan Rashidi on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 After decades of relatively flat electricity demand, the United States is entering a period of rapid growth in energy needs. The country's transmission system has not kept pace. Large amounts of new generation are waiting to connect to the grid, creating congestion and supply bottlenecks that drive up electricity costs. This is where advanced transmission technologies come into play to enable more electricity to flow through the grid in a reliable, efficient, and cost-effective way.

posted by Colleen Fowle on Thursday, March 12, 2026 The true measure of a nutrient reduction strategy must be improved water quality with documented reductions in nitrogen. Scattered, uncoordinated efforts, however well-intentioned, are neither fiscally responsible nor timely enough to address the state's water quality and public health crisis.

posted by Noah Daniel on Thursday, March 5, 2026 As Iowa's energy landscape continues to evolve, communities across the state face an important moment of opportunity. Renewable energy has long played a key role in Iowa's economic success, environmental leadership, and rural vitality.

posted by Cody Smith on Tuesday, January 27, 2026 Lead in drinking water is a critical public health threat for Iowans, and new data released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency late last year showed how urgent action is needed in Iowa. Lead is a known contaminant in drinking water, contributing to serious health and developmental problems, especially for children and pregnant women. Read on to learn more.

posted by Sarah Howe on Tuesday, January 20, 2026 Glyphosate - a key ingredient used in agricultural pesticides such as Roundup - is the most widely used herbicide in the world. In 1974, Monsanto introduced the herbicide for agricultural use under the Roundup brand name; Roundup Ready soybean seeds were approved for use by the EPA ahead of the 1996 growing season after which use of glyphosate increased significantly. Read on to learn more.

posted by Cody Smith on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 When we think about our environment, we often think about our air, our water, and, in Iowa especially, we think about our soil. In terms of agricultural health, Iowa was gifted with some of the healthiest soil in human history. Yet, buried in the soil that has sustained life in Iowa for millennia lays another naturally occurring element: radon. Read on to learn more.

posted by Sarah Howe on Friday, September 5, 2025 Since 2014, IEC has monitored and reported beach advisory statistics to promote public safety and awareness of harmful pollutants to Iowa's recreational water bodies. Since IEC began tracking advisories in 2014, this year has had the highest number of state advisories, and 20 more advisories than the 2024 beach season. Read on to learn more.

posted by Sarah Howe on Friday, August 29, 2025 While Iowa has long been a productive agricultural state, intensive manipulation of the land has degraded Iowa's air, water, and soil. More than 90% of Iowa's landscape is privately owned agricultural land, with the majority used for row cropping. Farmers are expected to produce a strong yield and raise more livestock year after year, regardless of environmental impacts. Read on to learn more.