Iowa City, yes in our backyard

I am writing this letter in response to the staff editorial “'Not in my backyard’ lobby threatens to hold up climate action plans in Eastern Iowa,” published Dec. 12. Using Iowa City as an example of “not in my backyard” is misleading. The open discussions that the Iowa City Council held with its residents was an exemplar of democracy and community. Iowa City supports developing unused clearings into solar. Many Iowa City residents have solar energy in their backyards or on their roofs. However, Iowa City residents were uneasy about a take-it-or-leave-it opportunity for solar that required habitat destruction, which contrasts with Iowa City’s goal of developing landscaped areas as prairies. It is of concern that major power projects, which are welcomed in Iowa City, are the only avenue for sustainability as the barrier for private energy generation increases. Some examples include incentivizing energy underproduction for households and expiring solar tax credits.

Ian Thornell

Iowa City