Good news! Marshalltown coal plant cancelled
Kelly Fuller
There is wonderful news today out of Iowa. Alliant Energy (Interstate Power & Light) announced that it has cancelled plans to build a new coal power plant near Marshalltown. (See news release below.) On Radio Iowa, Alliant mentioned the factors that led to its decision, including the recently filed litigation we announced earlier this week. http://tinyurl.com/Mtown-coal-plant
A big thank you from all of us at Plains Justice to everyone who has supported this effort. It’s our hope that this victory will encourage everyone to keep working to build the clean energy future our entire Northern Plains region needs and deserves.
Together we are strong!
Kelly Fuller
Communications Director
Plains Justice
P.O. Box 251
Vermillion, SD 57069
(605) 659-0298
Plains Justice serves northern plains communities from offices in Cedar Rapids, IA and Vermillion, SD.
Marshalltown Coal Plant Cancelled
But Iowa Legislators Must Act This Week to Ensure Replacement Clean Energy Supply
Today Alliant Energy announced that it is cancelling its plan to develop a new coal power plant near Marshalltown, Iowa.
“Alliant Energy made the right decision on Marshalltown. Now Iowans need their legislators to make the right decision. Energy efficiency and renewable energy legislation that would lower energy bills and give Iowans clean energy to replace dirty coal is languishing in committee. Unless the bills are pushed forward to a vote very soon, they will die,” said Carrie La Seur, Founder and President of Plains Justice.
Energy efficiency savings standards bills, House Study Bill 150 and Senate Study Bill 1191, would require utility investment in cost-effective energy efficiency programs to lower consumer bills and decrease overall electricity demand. Both bills are currently stalled in subcommittees.
The cancellation closely followed two events unfavorable to the proposed coal plant. Last Friday, Plains Justice attorneys filed a lawsuit against the Iowa Utilities Board’s decision to grant a generating certificate to Alliant Energy for the coal plant. The petition was filed on behalf of Community Energy Solutions, Iowa Physicians for Social Responsibility, and the Iowa Renewable Energy Association.
Also last Friday, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources announced that it was extending the public comment period for the project’s draft air permit from 30 days to 90 days and that it was adding additional public hearings throughout the state.
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Plains Justice is a public-interest law center that works to protect Northern Plains communities, with offices in Cedar Rapids, IA and Vermillion, SD. We work to ensure that every voice is heard when decisions are made that affect our air, our water, our land, and our lives.