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Legislative and Policy Action Alerts
Add your voice for a more sustainable Des Moines
updated 5/31/19
The Des Moines City Council will soon take up the long-awaited Building Performance Policy that will move Des Moines’ buildings into the 21st century. It is time to make sure the City Council knows that the citizens of Des Moines support policy that will provide for more affordable energy and water bills and a cleaner future.
To assist with this, we have provided the contact information for the Council members as well as several points for discussionWe encourage you to add your own perspective and use these points only as a general guide.
We have also provided a targeted action letter that can be emailed to Council members directly. To complete the targeted action letter, click the "Take Action" link below.
All Des Moines residents are represented by two At Large councilors (Coleman & Boesen) and one councilperson unique to your ward. All three represent you, so please contact all three. To see which ward you live in, use this website.
Public readings of the bill will occur, as needed. Show your support in person on Monday June 3rd at 4:30pm at City Hall, 400 Robert D. Ray Drive, 2nd Floor, Des Moines, IA 50309.
We greatly appreciate your advocacy and your support for this policy and the positive, community-wide benefits it will afford!
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Protect Solar Growth in Iowa
updated 4/8/19
MidAmerican Energy and their allies in the legislature want to stop you from going solar. The utility is attempting to monopolize the sun by squashing customer choice.
Tell your legislators to reject HF 669! Feel free to reference IEC's Talking Points on HSB 185/HF 669 and SF 583.
Iowa’s solar sector has grown as homeowners, businesses and farmers across the state have made private investments in solar in order to directly reduce their electricity bills with clean energy.
Now the company that claims a “100% Renewable Vision” is making it quite clear that they don’t want any more Iowans contributing to that goal.
HF 669 will undermine net metering, a policy that allows customers with solar to be compensated for the electricity they add to the grid. By imposing needlessly high fees and fixed charges, the utility wants to dissuade new solar customers by ruining the economics of customer-owned solar.
The utilities are trying to convince lawmakers that customer-generated energy is a burden. The truth is that distributed solar more than pays for the infrastructure necessary to support it with the high-value electricity it provides to the grid.
It’s time to stand up for every Iowans’ ability to contribute to Iowa’s clean energy future.
Contact your legislators today and ask that they oppose HF 669/SF 583!
Take Action
Protect Public Land and Source Water in Iowa
updated 4/9/19
A bill was introduced this session in the Iowa Senate that threatens public lands in Iowa. SF 548 (formerly SSB 1221) is a direct attack on conservation and water quality in Iowa. It should be opposed in its entirety.
The bill eliminates the use of the State Revolving Fund for public land acquisition for water quality purposes.
SF 548 passed the House Agriculture Committee and is now eligible for debate on the House Floor.
Learn more and contact your representative to ask they oppose SF 548!
Take Action
Submit comments to the EPA on a proposed rule change to the "Waters of the U.S."
The “Waters of the U.S.” Rule defines which waters are under federal jurisdiction through the Clean Water Act. The proposed changes to the Rule would remove several types of waterbodies, such as interstate waters and wetlands, and ephemeral or intermittent streams, from federal jurisdiction. When drafting comments, free to refer to the The Mississippi River Network sample public comment letter
Ways to submit comments:
Online Comments (preferred): visit regulations.gov to submit online comments.
Email: OW-Docket@epa.gov
Mail: To submit comments by mail, please send comments to:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EPA Docket Center, Office of Water Docket
Mail Code 28221T
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20460.
All submissions received must include the Docket ID No. for this rulemaking (EPA-HQ-OW-2018-0149). Comments on the proposed rulemaking are due by April 15th, 2019.
Take Action
Submit comments to the DNR on proposed stream designation changes
posted 2/11/19
Iowa DNR has proposed rulemaking for changes to stream designations on over 100 streams in Iowa. The Iowa Environmental Council is analyzing the DNR's UAAs and proposals for changing stream classifications. IEC is primarily concerned that lowering the stream designations will allow further degradation of our waters and threaten public health. The DNR is currently accepting public comments on the updated UAAs until 4:30 pm on Friday, February 22.
Please take a moment and lend your voice to protect Iowa's waters. Here are ways to take action:
1. Review the proposed changes to stream designations.
2. Submit your comments to the DNR. The deadline for public comments on the DNR's proposed stream designation changes is February 22 at 4:30 PM. Comments can be submitted to:
Matthew Dvorak
Email: matthew.dvorak@dnr.iowa.gov
Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Section
Department of Natural Resources
Wallace State Office Building
502 East Ninth Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
3. Attend one of the three public hearings held by the DNR to learn about the changes and make comments:
February 12 at the Urbandale Public Library, Meeting Room B at 4:00 pm
February 13 at the Washington Public Library at 4:00 pm
February 14 at the Harlan Community Library at 4:00 pm