[Pacg] Weigh In on Iowa's Energy Future!

[Carolina 1961]

>From Mike Carberry

Sierra Club: Chair Iowa City Area Group

Iowa Global Warming: Regional Field Coordinator

Iowa Renewable Energy Association(I-Renew): Board of Directors

Phone: 319-338-8820
Mobile: 319-594-6453
*RESIDENTS OF EASTERN IOWA, MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD!*

*T*HE PROBLEM: Iowa produces 85% of its electricity from coal, a major cause
of global

warming in the United States.
*

THE SOLUTION: Better, cleaner alternatives to coal and other fossil fuels
exist. According to the
*

federation of U.S. Public Interest Research Groups:

An America that uses no more energy than it does today—and that relies on

renewable sources for a large and growing share of that energy—is not a
fantasy.

It is a realistic, perhaps even conservative, goal that can be achieved
using

technologies and policy tools existing today.

Government officials and business leaders are discovering that clean energy
solutions like wind

power and energy efficient practices are good for the environment and the
economy.
*

THE OPPORTUNITY: Over the next several months, policy makers will plan
Iowa's energy
*

future. They will be deciding how we use energy and what kind of energy
(coal, wind, etc.) we

will use. Several Iowa environmental organizations will be working to
influence policy makers.

But no one's opinion is more important than yours! In the coming months,
private citizens will

have an opportunity to influence landmark decisions in Iowa.
*Your first important opportunity

occurs this month!
*The Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Iowa Office of Energy

Independence have asked for public comment.
*

WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP: State policy makers need to hear from folks who want
policies
*

and plans that move us to "energy independence," and provide sound,
innovative solutions to

global warming.


HOW YOU CAN HELP:* Attend one of four meetings for public input - including
one right

here in Coralville - on the Energy Independence Plan, 7-9:30 pm on:
*

-Thursday, October 18: State Historical Building Auditorium, Des Moines
*

- Monday, October 22: North Ridge Pavilion (2250 Holiday Road), Coralville**
*

-Thursday, October 25: Iowa Western Community College, Looft Hall
Auditorium, Council

Bluffs

-Monday, October 29: Iowa Central Community College, Career Education
Building, Rooms

108-110, Fort Dodge
*

**Before the Coralville meeting there will be a pre-meeting for anyone
interested in

making sure they understand what is at stake and to answer questions. This
will be held at

the New Pioneer Co-op in Coralville at 5:30 pm in the mezzanine of the
store. Please

attend to get your questions answered and prepare to speak your mind!

Go to
http://tinyurl.com/2bdtsu for a map highlighting the North Ridge Pavilion
and the

Coralville New Pioneer Coop.

OTHER WAYS TO GET INVOLVED: The Iowa Policy Project, the Iowa Environmental
Council
*

and the Iowa chapter of the Sierra Club are working together ensure that
policymakers hear

Iowans' voices. You can contact any of the following individuals for more
information:

Nathaniel Baer Kristi Lohmeier Mark Kresowik

Iowa Environ Council Iowa Policy Project Sierra Club

baer at iaenvironment.org klohmeier at iowapolicyproject.org
mark.kresowik at sierraclub.org

515-244-1194 ext 206 319-338-0773 319-621-7393
*

1. Before October 30, 2007,
*write or email Tommi Makila and/or the Office of the Governor

(contact information provided below) asking policy makers to:

A) Set a target of reducing Iowa's global warming emissions by 80 percent,
by the year 2050—a

doable target recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

B) Reject any plan that includes new dirty coal plants, unless they can
safely eliminate the global

warming pollution for the entire life of the plant.

C) Include energy efficiency efforts in state plans and policies—the
cheapest and cleanest way to

meet state energy needs.

D) Significantly increase energy produced from renewable sources like wind,
solar and

geothermal, which produce ZERO global warming pollution.

Office of The Governor and Lt. Governor Tommi Makila or
tommi.makila at dnr.iowa.gov

State Capitol Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Des Moines, IA 50319 502 East 9th Street

515-281-5211 Des Moines, Iowa 50319
* *

*2. Attend Clean Energy Messenger Training on October 20, 2007*, in Des
Moines. Call Lynn

Laws for more information: 515-244-1194.

3. Attend the Iowa Environmental Council Annual Meeting and Conference on
October 19,
*

2007, in Des Moines to learn more about this issue. Go to
www.iaenvironment.org for
*

information.
*

THANK YOU FOR TAKING ACTION ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE!
*
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