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Activists press for national ban on ‘factory farms’

By

Bill Stowe.

A coalition of state and national groups are calling for a ban on so-called “factory farming” in the United States. Adam Mason of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement said large-scale livestock confinements have “decimated” family farms.

“Thinking back to the late ’70s, there were over 80,000 family farm operations raising livestock across this state. Today, we have 10,000 factory farms,” Mason said. “That ain’t right.”

Mason spoke at a midday news conference in Des Moines, as did Bill Stowe, CEO and general manager of the Des Moines Water Works, which is among the 100 largest water utilities in the country.

“At Des Moines Water Works, our mission is to provide safe, affordable, abundant drinking water for half a million Iowans,” Stowe said. “It’s a job that becomes increasingly difficult, unfortunately, because Iowa’s surface waters are filthy.”

The Raccoon River has pollution levels today that exceed federal standards, requiring additional and expensive treatment before it can be used as drinking water. Stowe said there’s “no question” what he calls “industrial farming” upstream is contributing to the pollution.

“With bacteria, with soils, with chemicals and a growing concern for us is blue green algae and cyanotoxins,” Stowe said.

Stowe and the others who spoke at the news conference would like city and county officials to have the authority to regulate farming operations. Stowe said corporate interests have ruined states like West Virginia and Iowa should take a different path.

“We are not going to find ourselves left in a bone pile, a remanent of a failed industrial system like coal mining, because industrial farming and dirty agriculture is heading us on that same path,” Stowe said.

A national group called “Food and Water Watch” has released a report critical of the impact “massive amounts of manure” from livestock operations are having on the environment.

A spokesman for the Iowa Pork Producers Association said any moratorium on the pork industry “would greatly stifle rural Iowa economic activity” and limit entry into farming for the next generation. The association’s spokesman says modern Iowa pig barns “are designed to contain all manure” and “protect water quality.” He also noted there already are more than 200 pages of state regulations for the pork industry.

Reynolds says energy efficiency cap fits in her Iowa Energy Plan (AUDIO)

By

Governor Kim Reynolds.

Governor Kim Reynolds says the new limit she’s approved on utility fees that finance energy efficiency programs doesn’t detract from the Iowa Energy Plan she released about a year and a half ago.

“It’s a balance and I think it does fit with it,” Reynolds said late this morning. “The bill provides hundreds of millions of dollars in reduction to rate payers and it balances that with a very robust energy efficiency program.”

Reynolds signed legislation last Friday that places a two percent cap on the charge on electric bills that’s used to finance rebates and other incentives for customers who replace old appliances, install new windows or take other steps to make their homes and businesses more energy-efficient.

MidAmerican Energy announced today its customers will now pay about $90 million less for energy efficiency programs as a result of the change.

“Energy efficiency is important. There still is a robust energy efficiency program in place,” Reynolds says. “It was very important to the legislators that we have transparency.”

AUDIO of governor’s weekly news conference, 20:00

A 1990 Iowa law established the utility-run energy efficiency programs, but the charges that supported the programs have not been disclosed on electric and gas bills. Some charges were as high as nine percent, tacked onto customers’ utility bills. The new law requires electric and gas bills to show the assessment, which is now capped at two percent.

Critics say that cap is too low and many customers cannot afford energy efficiency measures in their homes and businesses without the rebates. Some of the people who helped Reynolds write her Iowa Energy Plan in 2016 say the new law contradicts the report’s emphasis on energy conservation.

Decorah group plans to ask for recount after 5 vote failure in utility referendum

By

A canvass by the Winnesheik County Board of Supervisors today found the vote to authorize the city of Decorah to consider forming its own municipal utility fell 5 votes short.

The canvas added one vote to the election night total May 1st had the measure failing by 4 votes.  The final vote total ended up at 1,385 “No” votes and 1,380 “Yes” votes.

The group Decorah Power supported the effort to create a municipal utility, and spokesperson Emily Neal says they plan to ask for a recount. “We recognize that the auditors office and all the volunteers who worked for the election did a incredible job. But we also understand the principle of democracy — and that an election this close within less than zero-point-one percent — it is just good democratic practice to issue a recount,” Neal says.

Alliant Energy currently supplies the town with electricity and opposed the move to a municipal utility.  Alliant spokesperson Mike Wagner had this reaction following the vote canvass. “Alliant Energy has served Decorah for 100 years and we hope that the results from this election will allows us to continue working with the families, the businesses, elected officials, and many more in the community to help meet this town’s energy goals,” Wagner says.

Winnesheik County Auditor Ben Stienes says anyone wishing for a recount must file a petition in his office Thursday by 5 p.m.

(By Darin Swenson, KDEC, Decorah)

 

Conservationists worry regulation rollback will hurt wildlife

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Iowa conservationists are concerned a rollback of federal rules could put migratory birds at risk.

The Trump administration has announced it won’t prosecute the unintentional killing of species protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Iowa State University wildlife biologist Adam Janke says habitat loss poses the greatest risk to birds in the state, while loosening regulations could make the situation worse.

Janke says, “On top of all those stresses related to habitat loss and habitat degradation, we may add on top of that an unnatural mortality source associated with transmission lines or wind turbines or things like that in some locations.” The federal government plans to stop prosecuting companies that accidentally kill protected species. The law encourages oil, energy and telecommunications developers to work with conservationists to lower their impact on habitat.

Janke says wind energy companies have done a good job of placing their turbines in the state, but now, that could change. “You could end up with a wind energy complex right next to a major migratory stopover location for birds,” he says, “because under this interpretation of the law, there may not be regulatory mechanism to discourage that.”

Conservationists worry developers won’t be pushed to work with them if there’s no punishment for killing the animals. An estimated 500 species of migratory birds spend part of their lives in the upper Midwest.

(By Kate Payne, Iowa Public Radio)

 

Critics urge governor to veto utility bill that cleared GOP-led legislature

By

Amanda Zwanziger

Critics of the bill that limits the energy efficiency programs electric and gas utilities offer Iowa customers are urging Governor Reynolds to veto the changes. Amanda Zwanziger, a consultant from Indianola, served on the working group that helped Reynolds develop her Iowa Energy Plan last year.

“These cuts will essentially kill the potential impact we have to make energy efficiency improvements in our facilities and it guarantees rate increases for all in the long run,” Zwanziger said during a statehouse news conference. ” That, I can reassure you, was not the intent of the Iowa Energy Plan.”

Zwanziger predicted energy use will go up if Reynolds signs the bill that cleared the Republican-led legislature and higher energy use will force MidAmerican and Alliant to raise electric and gas rates to pay for new power plants. According to Zwanziger, MidAmerican’s energy efficiency programs for electric customers will be cut by 67 percent and Alliant’s energy efficiency rebates and incentives for natural gas customers will be cut by nearly 80 percent.

“The legislature is asking our governor to choose politics over her priorities,” Zwanziger said. “…It’s hard to understand why lawmakers would put her in this situation, but here we are.”

The governor’s Iowa Energy Plan was released in December when she was lieutenant governor. “Energy efficiency and conservation” were identified as part of the “foundational pillars” of her plan. Early today, a group of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement members staged a protest as Governor Reynolds spoke to a conference sponsored by the Iowa Economic Development Authority and the Iowa Utilities Association. MidAmerican, Alliant and other utility companies are members of the group.

Too close to call vote on potential city-owned utility in Decorah

By

The results from Tuesday’s municipal electric utility referendum in Decorah are too close to call.

Unofficial results were tabulated Tuesday night by the Winneshiek County Auditor’s office. There were 1,384 “no” votes and 1,380 “yes” votes. There are 15 outstanding absentee ballots and the county auditor says if they were postmarked by Monday, they’ll be counted.

If the referendum passes, the Decorah City Council will be able to consider forming a city-run electric utility. A “no” vote means the issue cannot go before the public for another vote for at least four years.

“With a four-vote margin and with 15 potential votes still outstanding, we are just going to let the process play out,” says Mike Wagner, a spokesman for Alliant Energy.

Emily Neal is a spokeswoman for Decorah Power, the group that supported creation of a municipal electric utility. “I think it’s a little premature to figure out who’s won and who’s lost,” Neal says.

The Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors are scheduled to conduct an official canvas of the vote on Monday.

(Reporting by Darin Svenson, KDEC, Decorah)

Senate GOP sends governor bill to cap utilities’ energy efficiency programs

By

Rob Hogg

Republicans in the Iowa Senate have ratified a plan that will limit energy efficiency programs run by Iowa utilities, reducing annual charges on gas and electric bills in Iowa by an estimated $100 million.

Senator Rob Hogg, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, predicted many of the 20,000 Iowans who work in the energy efficiency industry will lose their jobs if the governor signs the bill into law.

“So this is a big economic issue and, unfortunately, the bill in front of us is bad for jobs, bad for clean energy jobs and bad for consumers,” Hogg said.

Senator Michael Breitbach, a Republican from Strawberry Point, said an estimated $150 million worth of rebates and energy efficiency incentives will still be handed out annually by Iowa electric and gas utilities.

“You talk like the energy efficiency programs are going to completely go away, they’re not going to exist,” Breitbach said. “…They’re still going to pay them if they’ve got an older home to replace their windows with more energy efficient windows. They’re still going to save if they get insulation in their attic.”

The bill passed the House early Friday morning and Republican senators sent it to the governor last night. Supporters say the energy efficiency programs utility companies run in Iowa will be more closely scrutinized. Critics predict utility rates will rise as efforts to reduce energy use are reduced.

In mid-March, Governor Reynolds was asked if she supported the kind of changes in Iowa utility regulations that her fellow Republicans in the legislature were considering, but Reynolds said she wouldn’t comment until she saw the bill in its final form.

Fate of municipal electric company in hands of Decorah voters

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Decorah residents will go to the polls today to decide on authorizing the city council to explore the possibility of a municipal electric utility in the community.

Emily Neal, with Decorah Power — a group supporting the effort, says a “yes” vote is a win for the northeast Iowa town. “We win because we will control our energy future,” Neal says. “We can decide at that point to apply to the Iowa Utilities Board or if we decide we want to wait, we’d be in a better negotiating position, but only with a yes vote can we fully understand the potential we have to save our community millions of dollars every year.”

Alliant Energy has provided power to Decorah for more than 100 years. Matt Cole, a spokesman for Alliant, says the utility has a proven track record. “We have great reliability in the Decorah area,” Cole says. “The system we operate safely. We have 17 dedicated employees with a combined 356 years of experience. They built the system. They’ve done modifications and design to it and understand how it’s configured which will ensure low cost and reliable energy being provided to the customer.”

Decorah City Manager Chad Bird explains the impact of a “yes” response from voters. “A yes vote is simply authorization for the council to continue to have the conversation as to whether they want to apply to the IUB for municipalization,” Brid says. “It’s not a mandate. The council doesn’t have to do anything with a yes vote and there also is no time limit on that.” Bird says there’s no expiration on the authority, either. He notes that a “no” vote essentially stops discussion on the possibility, but only temporarily.

“It can come back for a future vote after four years time has passed,” Bird says. “That’s written into state code. If it’s a no vote, the issue is really dead as far as municipalization for four more years.” The Iowa Utilities Board has not approved a municipal electric utility since 1976.

(By Darin Svenson, KDEC, Decorah)

 

State regulators approve plan for utilities to pay back federal tax savings

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The change in the federal tax law is leading to a payback for utility customers across the state.

The amount utilities can charge gas and electric customers is regulated by the Iowa Utilities Board, and board spokesman Don Tormey, says the utilities were required to come up with a plan to pay bay the tax savings.

“It was money that was would have been over collected because the tax rate was reduced from 35% down to 21%. So the rate-regulated utilities — Black Hills Energy, Alliant Energy, MidAmerican Energy — they all submitted proposals acted on last week,” Tormey says.

Black Hills Energy is returning $2.2 million to natural gas customers, while Alliant is returning $34.7 million and MidAmerican $33 million to their electric customers. Tormey says the money will be returned through credits on the electric and natural gas bills.

“I don’t know an exact dollar amount for each utility company, but it should be noted on the customer’s bill,” Tormey says, “It should say what it is for. Not all the refund mechanisms are the same.” He says the refunds should start showing up soon.

Tormey says the Utilities Board wanted to get the refunds to the customers as soon as possible, so they should be showing up in your next bill. Tormey says the IUB has the full information on the refunds on their website.

“If customers have any questions at all, first contact their utility company. And then if they don’t get the answers they are looking for then they can contact the board here and our customer service staff would be glad to help them,” Tormey says.

Tormey says the IUB will keep the tax case open to deal with utility company deferred taxes and any other issues. He says there could be more money coming back with customers based on tax law changes.

 

Bill capping rate-payers’ energy efficiency contributions clears House

By

Gary Carlson

Most Republicans in the Iowa House have approved a bill that would impose new caps and new requirements on the energy efficiency programs and rebates run by utility companies.

Customers would pay about $100 million less each year on their electric and gas bills to finance those programs, according Republican Representative Gary Carlson of Muscatine.

“This is a utility policy bill and I believe it accomplishes what we want,” Carlson said early this morning before the House passed the bill on a 52-42 vote.

Democrats opposed the bill, arguing the move would cause job losses in Iowa businesses that do things like install energy efficient light fixtures or insulate homes. Representative Kirsten Running-Marquardt, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, accused Republicans of “appeasing” utility lobbyists.

“We are mad ’cause you’re wasting our time and you’re wasting the taxpayers’ money,” Running-Marquardt said. “We could be doing great things, but we’re not because of some lobbyists who have those companies’ best interest at heart.”

Other Democrats argued programs that reduce energy usage save money for customers who’d otherwise pay higher rates to support construction of new power generating stations.

“That seems like a pretty good return on investment, not a cost, but a savings, a benefit,” said Representative Chuck Isenhart, a Democrat from Dubuque.

Carlson — the Republican given the task of responding to Democrats during House debate — urged his GOP colleagues to reject attempts to maintain the current system for energy efficiency charges on utility bills.

“How much more do we need to do to take out of rate-payers’ pockets?” Carlson asked.

The bill passed the House at 5:10 a.m. today, after seven consecutive hours of overnight debate. The Republican-led Iowa Senate passed a more expansive version of this bill earlier in the year. The Senate will review the adjustments made in the House next week.