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Energy Fact Sheets

The Iowa Environmental Council compiles and contributes to fact sheets on a variety of subjects related to clean energy. Find fact sheets on the topics below.

Solar | Wind | Electric Vehicles | Storage  

Coal in Siouxland | Clean Communities | Cryptocurrency | Energy Efficiency | Grid Reliability | Transmission 

Utility Planning Legislative Priority

Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) is a process that requires monopoly utilities to regularly develop transparent plans for reliably and cost-effectively meeting future electricity demand. Iowa is one of only five states that does not have either an IRP, a long-term filing requirement, or some form of utility competition.

Solar Fact Sheets

Solar energy has the potential to play a significant role in Iowa’s energy portfolio and has been gaining momentum in recent years with growth in solar projects statewide.

Wind Fact Sheets

Wind in Iowa: Past, Present, Future

Iowa is a national leader in wind energy, producing the highest percentage of electricity produced by wind — 64% (2023) — of any state. While Iowa’s wind leadership should be applauded, significant potential remains.

Perspectives on Waste: Wind Turbines

Waste from wind turbine repurposing has raised questions about the sustainability of wind power generation. Yet the non-toxic solid waste generated from wind turbine wind production is a fraction of the dangerous waste products and polluting emissions from coal plants operating in the state.

Electric Vehicles in Iowa

Electric vehicles are the future for cleaner transportation nationwide. In Iowa, an increasing number of electric vehicles hit the road every year, growing demand for charging stations across the state. 

Energy Storage in Iowa

As Iowa continues the transition to clean energy resources, the ability to store renewable generation for use when the sun does not shine and the wind does not blow will be essential for achieving a carbon-free electrical grid. Storage makes a more resilient energy system, minimizing the impacts from events like the 2020 Derecho. With expanding storage technology and the rapidly declining costs of storage, more utility, commercial and personal applications are being realized in Iowa.

Coal in Siouxland

A new report from IEC, in partnership with public health experts from organizations including the American Lung Association, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska’s Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare System, examines the relationship between pollution from coal plants and lung disease in Woodbury County. This double-sided fact sheet draws some of the key conclusions of the report.

Particulate matter (PM) 2.5 --the primary pollutant in Sioux City's air-- is formed in the atmosphere through reactions involving emissions from fossil fuel power plants, industrial operations, and agricultural activities. You can discover how this microscopic yet harmful pollutant impacts public health with this fact sheet. Join the air monitoring campaign to demand accountability from major polluters and push for cleaner, healthier air in Siouxland.

 

Clean Communities

In early 2021, the City of Des Moines adopted a communitywide 24/7 carbon-free electricity resolution to transition the city's electricity away from fossil fuels by 2035. This resolution is thought to be the first of its kind nationwide. Since then, two other cities in Iowa have followed suit: Waterloo and Windsor Heights. Learn how 24/7 carbon-free energy differs from other clean energy pledges in our FAQ below, as well as how the City of Des Moines was able to build support and ultimately adopt this resolution. 

The IRA includes provisions that make communities currently hosting, or have recently hosted, coal plants prime areas for renewable energy development that can retain local jobs and replace lost tax revenues. Learn more about these opportunities and how they can benefit Iowa communities. 

Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin, is a complex technological development that has some people
chasing short-term profits. Proponents make big claims about the value and potential of this
technology as an alternative to traditional money and finance. However, current processes for
creating cryptocurrency are wasteful, can create a nuisance for their neighbors, and can drive up
bills for other ratepayers.

Energy Efficiency 

Energy efficiency is often referred to as a “least cost resource,” meaning that it is the single most cost-effective tool within an energy portfolio. On the production side, increased energy efficiency can result in reduced costs of the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity or methane gas. On the consumer side, energy efficiency improvements have the potential to generate customer savings that can be reinvested to further fund energy system upgrades. This in turn leads to further savings. A major result of energy efficiency programs is that they generate a sustained cycle of avoided costs, and lower energy prices. These types of projects also tend to result in reinvestment of local dollars in local jobs and industries

Grid Reliability

Many wonder how we can build a reliable and resilient power system using those resources to fully decarbonize the electric sector. Grid operators have already shown that utilities can maintain or even improve electricity reliability by responsibly building out a mix of renewable and battery resources, and their studies show that reliability can further improve with much larger additions. Learn more about what this means for Iowa:

Transmission Fact Sheets

Sufficient high-voltage transmission infrastructure that can carry significant additions of wind power and solar power will is necessary to continue clean energy growth and development. Learn more about upcoming transmission projects:

 

Find full reports and more on IEC's Energy Publications page!

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