116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Iowa Ideas: New policies and funds propel clean energy, sustainable ag
Water quality, agriculture, power grid and more are Iowa Ideas topics
Oct. 6, 2023 5:30 am
Energy and environmental issues gradually have risen to mainstream prominence over the last few decades, catapulted by climate change and its wide-ranging impacts.
The Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law in August 2022, was hailed as the most significant climate legislation in American history. It created about $375 billion in climate incentives through tax credits and rebates that encourage clean energy and greenhouse gas emission reductions.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, commonly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and signed into law in November 2021, also introduced billions of dollars for clean energy and transmission advancements, emissions reductions, electric vehicle infrastructure and more.
Even more pots of money and corresponding policies are being introduced nationally and trickling down locally. In the Oct. 12 and 13 Iowa Ideas virtual conference, experts in water quality, agriculture, energy and more will discuss how to equitably take advantage of them. Sign up for the free conference at iowaideas.com.
“This has been really brought to the foreground because there's all this money that has potential to either transform the landscape or perpetuate problems,” said Silvia Secchi, a University of Iowa professor of geographical and sustainability studies. “But certainly, it's where people’s energy is at.”
Clean energy expands
On the energy side, there are efforts to improve the overall permitting process for transmission lines — an important part of expanding and advancing the power grid.
Non-renewable energy sources, like coal-fired power plants, are gradually being decommissioned and replaced with renewable energy. The new projects need new transmission lines to connect to the grid. As that process is stalled, so does the addition of more clean energy to the energy portfolio, creating congestion.
More transmission also will better connect different sections of the power grid, making more energy available to customers at lower costs. Midcontinent Independent System Operator, or MISO, which manages Iowa’s energy, already has plans to expand its transmission system throughout the Midwest.
Fulfilling the missing pieces to the puzzle will help meet increased energy demands and reduce congestion. Improved permitting processes can expedite that journey.
“The whole dynamic of the way that our energy system works is changing,” said Steve Guyer, energy and climate policy manager of the Iowa Environmental Council. “We need to find ways to improve the current processes to allow us to meet those demands on a timely basis.”
Agriculture and environment intertwine
As it reaches the 10-year anniversary of its Nutrient Reduction Strategy, Iowa knows all too well how much agriculture impacts water quality. More sustainable farming and ranching practices are necessary to improving state waterways.
Now, perhaps more than ever before, there are incentives to do that. The Inflation Reduction Act alone allocated about $20 billion to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for conservation, forestry and climate-smart agriculture. The 2023 Farm Bill may add even more.
Other incentives and policies encourage cleaner production of agricultural goods and other products, enriching our atmosphere along with our water. The Inflation Reduction Act’s 45Z tax credit, for instance, provides up $1 per gallon for domestic clean transportation fuels, including ethanol. Its 45Q program offers tax credits for carbon capture projects — three of which are proposed among Iowa’s ethanol plants.
The onslaught of funds and policies may have a domino effect on Iowa’s agriculture, industry and environment — which are all tightly intertwined. And they’re not without their drawbacks for different stakeholders.
“That is a real challenge to show how these things have the ripple effects into the system and how they play with each other,” Secchi said. “If you could just think of one thing, you don't get the full scope of the potential for changes or lack of changes.”
Iowa Ideas Energy and Environment Track
How and why Iowa’s residents can test their water to help monitor quality — 10:10 a.m. Oct 12.
DIY water testing: How Iowa residents can test their water to help monitor quality. As water quality becomes a more partisan issue, what can Iowa residents do to monitor the quality of the water in the state? Why is water testing important? And how can testing be used to improve the quality of our water in Iowa?
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture — 11:15 a.m. Oct. 12
Agriculture is responsible for more than 10 percent of the total greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, and Iowa is No. 2 for greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. In a country where half the states have no greenhouse gas reduction goals, what can be done to reduce emissions? Which states are focused on reducing emissions, and how are they working toward their goals? Is it possible to reduce emissions from agriculture without hurting farmers?
Planning for the grid of the future — 1:20 p.m. Oct. 12
Will the energy grids of tomorrow include adequate support for renewable energy? How can we ensure that wind, solar and hydrogen will be sustainable and reliable?
Protecting ourselves from forever chemicals — 2:25 p.m. Oct. 12
PFAS — substances known as “forever chemicals” — are so prevalent that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say most Americans have been exposed to them. What can we do — if anything — to protect ourselves from them? Will the Environmental Protection Agency’s new PFAS drinking water standards help?
Making progress on conservation practices — 8:30 a.m. Oct. 13
Research shows that practices like wetlands, cover crops, prairies and buffer strips can improve water quality and prevent erosion. Where does Iowa stand in implementation of these practices? And what will it take to make their use more widespread?
Trucks, trains, and pipelines: Transporting hazardous materials — 9:40 a.m. Oct. 13
Following the derailment of a train in Ohio that was carrying hazardous waste, and the rupture of a carbon dioxide pipeline in Mississippi, we ask what is the safest way to transport hazardous materials? Are CO2 pipelines safer than semi trucks? Are trains safer than pipelines? How can we best transport these materials? Will there always be a risk?
Environmental justice in Iowa — 10:45 a.m. Oct. 13
Marginalized groups often face challenges and roadblocks when it comes to accessing clean air, water and resources that help them live sustainably. How can we draft environmental laws and policies that ensure everyone is being served and protected equally? What kind of assistance is available and how could it be improved?
Energy and environment track schedule: iowaideas.com/topics/energy
Brittney J. Miller is the Energy & Environment Reporter for The Gazette and a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues.
Comments: (319) 398-8370; brittney.miller@thegazette.com
Daily Newsletters