By Cami Konus, Iowa Capital Dispatch
According to the state report’s 2025 Iowa Electric Generation state, Iowa’s utilities still have to travel a long journey to meet the goal of 2035 pure zero emissions, especially when the federal level changes have changed significant and accelerated timelines for solar tax credit.
The annual report of the Iowa Environmental Council states that in order to meet the purpose of this pure zero, the utility not only has to be removed from coal but also to meet the demand, which is likely to increase by 30 % -60 % over the next 20 years.
The pure zero goal is in accordance with the federal targets from 2021, which directed the energy sector to achieve pure zero emissions, or emissions that are equal to the amount of greenhouse gases that are removed from the environment, up to 2035.
The climate change has also found that the government panel 2022 has also found that global greenhouse gas emissions should reach pure zero by 2050 to avoid the biggest effects of climate change, including limiting the global temperature rise.
IEC Energy Policy lawyer, Stevegier, said in a webinar on Wednesday that climate change costs billions of dollars every year to Iowa’s businesses, families, governments and taxpayers.
“I want us to keep this energy, environment and economy in mind,” said Geor.
The gear and the report states that coal production, which has the largest emission of greenhouse gases in the energy sector, not only “moves climate change” but also has adverse effects on public health, producing air pollution, can cause premature death and even affect corn.
“Air pollution does not discriminate,” said Giver. “Everyone has to suffer, and basically, this effect is burdened – not only financially, but otherwise.”
Coal down, air and solar energy
According to the report, in Iowa, the share of coal -based electric generation has been permanently reduced since 2010. From 2021 to 2024, foam fuel production in the state has decreased by 9 %.
Since the early 2000s, the air production in Iowa has increased permanently and has affected coal production in the state since 2019. In 2024, Wind Energy contributed 66 % of the state’s total power generation.
Solar power increased by 2024 to represent 1 % of the power generation. According to the report, in 2024, Iowa was the largest part of the race from renewed sources of any state.
“In 2024, 67 % of our generation was in fact represented with solar energy,” said Geor. “It certainly keeps us ahead of any other state as far as generation from renewable means. It also means that we are uniquely positioned to get 100 % carbon -free by 2035.”
Iowa Greenwood, a major utility of Iowa, said that as a leader in clean energy, Iowa’s position “is widespread due to the leadership of the madmiric energy energy.”
The wind has made the majority of Mid American energy mixes, or 64 %. Greenwood said in an email that since 2004, the company has increased more than 7,600 MW and has invested 141 MW of solar power, and has intended to invest hundreds more by 2028. According to the company’s website, it provided “100 % carbon -free energy” to Iowa users in 2024.
Greenwood said, “The environmental benefits of the renewable generation are not less than its production.”
The report states that there are six operational fossil fuel power plants in Iowa to achieve pure zero emissions, despite promises to the main part of the wind and solar generation in the state and the promises to the midium and electrical energy.
According to the report, these plants excluded more than 14 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2024, including several thousand tonnes of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide.
According to the recent Green House Gas Inventory report by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, power plants represent about 16 % of Iowa’s greenhouse gas emissions. The report states that 29 % of agriculture is the largest part of the emission in the state, after which residential, commercial and industrial foam is closely used.
Greenwood said Midamerin has already retired “several coal units” and “will continue to retire the rest of the coal units by 2049.” He said that existing plants are in compliance with federal and state rules.
According to Greenwood, coal production in Iowa is about 52 % lower than in 2005 in 2024, and at the same time carbon emissions decreased by 47 %.
Greenwood said, “The council’s report itself acknowledges that the power sector in Iowa is the only sector that has made meaningful progress in reducing GHG emissions.” “Madamirikan is proud to be a key help in this progress.”
“The company is implementing a strategic plan to create a more sustainable future for our customers and communities,” a spokesman for Elent Energy said in an email.
By 2030, the emission of greenhouse gases from utility operation up to 50 % of the 2005 level, and by 2040 to eliminate all coal from generation.
According to the spokesman, the company reduced its 2005 emission level by 39 % in 2024.
“We will continue to review and update our energy vision based on future economic progress, energy technologies and emerging trends in these communities that we serve,” the spokesperson said in an email. “Our goals are the same, however, changes in consumer energy needs, reliability and sufficient amounts of resources and changes in tax policy may delay, or revise our goals.”
‘Wonderful’ increases energy requirements
The demand for energy is increasing rapidly due to the implementation of data centers, Geeer said.
According to the report, which analyzed modeling estimates from the Midconnent Independent System Operator, or the Masu Power Pool, Iowa has increased the expected burden between 30 and 60 percent over the next 20 years.
The expected burden, as well as a change in the rules of the scratch that can count toward a useful ability, means that there is a “amazing” amount of energy over the next 20 years.
“We have one, I just say that, we have an amazing mission in front of us.” “Not only we have to try to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases, but we have to try and we have to do when we are also trying to meet the increase in this demand.”
Greenwood said the “rapidly” increasing demand for energy noted in the report means “reliable supply is important during this growth.”
Greenwood said, “Our long -term vision is clear: We are trying to get the emissions of Net zero greenhouse gases while keeping the expectation of our customers.” “It is very important that our energy transfer to balance and cheapness with environmental responsibility. It is not a reliable electricity luxury, it is a need.”
‘Big Beautiful’ Law changes the timeline for tax credit
The Biden Administration inflation reduction under the Act needs to be “aggressively transmitted,” Gaier said.
The large -scale spending bill made tax credit to encourage many types of renewable energy investment, including solar and wind energy projects through 2032.
Widely, Republican -led tax concessions and spending bills are known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”, which was signed in the law in July, reduces the timeline for these credit.
According to the report, now, the provision of credit, the projects, the projects will have to start construction by July 4, 2026, and should be kept in service before 2028.
“Although there was an urgency with the IRA immediately, now the big, beautiful bill has now increased rapidly.”
But, Gear said, whether a company can use IRA credit or not, renewable energy projects are still the cheapest form of electricity in Iowa.
“Even without credit, the renewable breed will still cost less, but credit will definitely have an impact and will help consumers as a whole.”
Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of the Status Newsroom, a non -profit news network that is supported by a grant and the alliance of donors as a 501C (3) public charitable body. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kathy Obradoch for questions: [email protected].
