Energy News

IUB's ruling on Wind PRIME protects customers from risk

posted 5/1/2023
The Iowa Utilities Board issued an order on April 27 setting conditions for MidAmerican Energy's ability to move forward with its Wind PRIME project. The Board approved the project but found that MidAmerican should bear the risk of the $3.9 billion project underperforming and placed strict conditions on the utility's right to recover the project costs from customers.

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Environmental groups applaud Iowa Supreme Court decision on MidAmerican coal plant economics

posted 4/28/2023
IEC, ELPC, and Sierra Club are celebrating the Iowa Supreme Courts ruling in favor of the groups' position in a challenge to an Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) order that limited its ability to review the cost-effectiveness of MidAmerican Energy's coal plants. The court reversed the Board's order and sent the case back to the IUB.

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Newly published MidAmerican studies reveal costly inconsistencies in clean energy transition

posted 2/20/2023
In response to an IUB order, MidAmerican Energy filed new public versions of two internal studies that show solar is the lowest cost path for achieving carbon free energy and acknowledge that transitioning away from burning coal is an essential piece of achieving this goal. These studies come to light as a hearing for the approval or denial of MidAmerican's $3.9 billion Wind PRIME project gets underway at the IUB.

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MidAmerican delays study release following board order

posted 2/8/2023
IEC and partners submitted a response to an objection by MidAmerican Energy to the Iowa Utilities Board order to make internal studies public.

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IEC and groups applaud order to make MidAmerican studies public

posted 1/25/2023
On January 19, the Iowa Utilities Board issued an order in MidAmerican Energy's Wind PRIME proceeding to make public two generation planning studies MidAmerican has aggressively and repeatedly sought to keep secret from regulators and the public. The studies include an evaluation of the economics of MidAmerican's coal generating facilities and the a study of pathways to achieve zero carbon emissions electricity.

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Environmental groups propose alternative to MidAmerican's Wind PRIME

posted 11/22/2022
MidAmerican Energy is Iowa's largest carbon polluter. IEC and our partners filed testimony showing that a balanced portfolio of reliable clean energy would meet Iowa's energy demands and allow MidAmerican to retire its coal plants – protecting the health and environmental future for all Iowans.

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IEC and environmental groups call on IUB to make MidAmerican info public

posted 11/4/2022
On November 3, ELPC, IEC, and Sierra Club filed an objection to MidAmerican's attempt to hide studies of its electricity generating facilities from public view. The groups argue that public deserves to see relevant studies that would shed light on whether MidAmerican's proposed a $4 billion investment is reasonable compared to alternatives. MidAmerican continues to aggressively attempt to maintain secrecy of the studies.

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No sweat: Wind pulled its weight in steamy Midwest summer

posted 9/23/2022
Iowa is a national renewable energy leader, with 57% of our energy generated by wind. Traditionally, August is one of the lowest wind months in Iowa. Here we examine the question: does wind perform predictably and reliably even in these conditions? And how could solar and storage complement this great resource to make our system even more resilient?

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IEC joins in filing motion seeking MidAmerican's withheld coal studies

posted 9/13/2022
IEC joined the Environmental Law & Policy Center and Sierra Club in filing a motion with the Iowa Utilities Board seeking documents, including the utility's Zero Emissions study and its own Coal Plant Economics Assessment, that would provide backing for the utility's repeated assertion that its six Iowa plants are economical and a are a responsible use of customers' money.

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Proposed rail merger in Iowa may bring significant environmental impacts

posted 9/6/2022
A proposed $31 billion marriage between Canadian Pacific Railway Limited and Kansas City Southern is currently before the Surface Transportation Board (STB). The merger would significantly increase train traffic, crossing line times, and hazardous material transport. IEC shares information on the merger and a public hearing to share comments.

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