Plains Justice

March 5, 2009: Victory! Marshalltown, IA Coal Plant Is Cancelled

awildenberg — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 04:21:09 +0000

Today Alliant Energy (Interstate Power & Light) announced that it is cancelling plans to build a proposed new coal plant near Marshalltown, Iowa. Plains Justice thanks Alliant for this responsible decision and encourages everyone to take action today to support bills in the Iowa legislature that would help ensure clean energy replaces the dirty coal power that was cancelled. More information on this urgent need is available here.

March 2, 2009: Fighting Goliath in Cedar Falls, IA on March 12

awildenberg — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 04:20:13 +0000

Iowa Interfaith Power & Light and Community Energy Solutions are hosting an evening of conversation about coal power with Carrie La Seur, President and Founder of Plains Justice, plus a screening of a 45 minute film narrated by Robert Redford, Fighting Goliath: Texas Coal Wars. For more information, visit the Iowa Interfaith Power & Light Calendar page.

February 27, 2009: Good news — Iowa Department of Natural Resources Increases Opportunities for Public Comment on Marshalltown Coal Plant

awildenberg — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 04:18:48 +0000

The deadline for public comment on the draft air permit for the proposed new Marshalltown coal plant has been extended until May 18, 2009, and additional public hearings have been added in the Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Iowa City, and the Waterloo/Cedar Falls area. More information is available on the DNR web site and here.

February 27, 2009: First Quarter 2009 Newsletter

awildenberg — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 04:17:56 +0000

February 27, 2009: Our First Quarter 2009 Newsletter Is Now Available

February 18, 2009: Real Solutions — A Climate Bill that Works for Everyone

awildenberg — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 04:16:21 +0000

In a guest opinion article in today’s Iowa City Press-Citizen, Plains Justice Founder and President Carrie La Seur explains how we can we can stimulate the economy, shield consumers from higher energy costs, and protect future generations against climate change — all at the same time.

February 17, 2009: Plains Justice Wins Horizon Award

awildenberg — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 04:15:28 +0000

Today Plains Justice was recognized by the Iowa Not-for-Profit Alliance. The Horizon Award is given for best management practices in a new organization and brings with it a $5,000 prize. The award was presented by former First Lady of Iowa Christie Vilsack.

February 16, 2009: Public Comment Period Opens for Draft Air Permit for Marshalltown Coal Plant

awildenberg — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 04:15:02 +0000

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has begun taking comments for the draft air permit for the proposed new Marshalltown coal plant. The public comment period will end March 20, 2009, and we encourage Iowans to ask the DNR for more time as this is an unreasonably short period of time to comment on a complex technical document. Read more about it here.

February 12, 2009: Draft Air Permit for Marshalltown Coal Plant Is Released

awildenberg — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 04:14:12 +0000

Today the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) released the draft air permit for the proposed new Marshalltown coal plant. The permit contains the steps the DNR will require Alliant Energy to take in order to protect air quality. Iowans can — and should — comment on them. Please note, the DNR will not begin taking public comments about the permit until February 16. Read more about it here.

February 11, 2009: Victory! North Dakota Public Service Commission Takes Step Toward Better Enforcement of Mining Laws

awildenberg — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 04:13:30 +0000

The North Dakota Public Service Commission (PSC) said today that GTL Energy must respond within 20 days to a complaint filed last month on behalf of landowners and the non-profit group Dakota Resource Council. Written by Plains Justice, the complaint asks the PSC to require a surface mining permit for GTL Energy’s coal preparation plant being built near South Heart, North Dakota. The permit would require the facility to meet operating and reclamation standards, so, for instance, the area would be restored when the plant reaches the end of its useful life and is shut down. Hundreds of coal processing plants across the country are regulated under surface mining law.

February 5, 2009: Iowa Can Make Energy Efficiency Its Economic Edge

awildenberg — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 04:12:11 +0000

Energy efficiency is a cheaper way to meet our energy needs than new coal or nuclear power plants, but the Iowa Legislature needs to hear from the public in order to do the right thing. Read why in this Plains Justice guest column in the Des Moines Register. You can find out which legislators represent you at this website.