A new report says pollution from power plants is a big threat to the health of Iowans. The Iowa Public Interest Group says pollution from coal-fired power plants kills nearly 300 Iowans each year, with thousands of others getting sick.The report says the air in Quad Cities is among the worst in Iowa, and is worse than Chicago’s and nearly three times as bad as Houston’s. Brian Button of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the report is misleading as it looks at emissions from only one business. He says it falsely concludes the Quad Cities’ air is worse than Chicago or Houston.Mid American Energy Environmental Services Director Steve Guyer agrees the report is flawed. He says it ignored more than a dozen studies that found no risks from coal-fired plants.Guyer says the Quad Cities plant meets national pollution standards.The report is available at www.cleartheair.org.
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