Power Generation Resources
Information related to oil and oil pipelines, coal and coal ash, and other methods of generating and transmitting power.
Oil and oil pipelines
Use of Substandard Steel by the U.S. Pipeline Industry 2007 to 2009
Letter to Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration requesting investigation of possible use of substandard steel in the Keystone Pipeline
Great Plains Tar Sands Pipeline blog
The Keystone XL Pipeline: Not Needed, Too Expensive, Better Solutions (Plains Justice Policy Brief)
Dakota Rural Action’s Keystone XL website
Western Organization of Resource Councils’ Keystone site
Northern Plains Resource Council’s Pipeline Landowners’ Rights factsheet
Coal and coal ash
Coal’s Hidden Threat – Urgent action is needed now to solve Iowa’s Coal Combustion Waste disposal crisis.
Iowa Coal Combustion Waste Report 2007
Carbon Sequestration: What Should You Know about It?
The Green Hat Archive, a series of peer-reviewed scientific articles and reports on the effects of fossil fuel combustion on agricultural yields.
Filings for Marshalltown, Iowa Coal Plant Proposal
Below are some of the relevant filings made by different parties in respect to the 660 megawatt (statements about the size of the proposed plant differ in various filings: 660MW is the largest size stated) coal-fired power plant proposed by Alliant Energy for Marshalltown, Iowa. On March 5, 2009, Alliant Energy (Interstate Power & Light) announced that it has cancelled its plans to build a proposed new coal plant near Marshalltown, Iowa.
Public Interest Surveys
- Survey of Iowa Voters About Coal-Fired Power. A new (12/20/07) survey of Iowans shows that a freeze on building new coal-fired power plants is favored by two-thirds of most likely caucus-goers.
Before the Iowa Utilities Board
- Iowa Utilities Board orders
- Filings by Alliant Energy subsidiary Interstate Power & Light
- Filings by Plains Justice on Behalf of the Coalition (Community Energy Solutions, Iowa Environmental Council, Iowa Farmers Union, Iowa Renewable Energy Association, and Physicians for Social Responsibility Iowa Chapter):
- Petition to Intervene
- Testimony of Dr. James Hansen on the impact of coal-fired power plants on the Earth’s climate, endangered species, and all life.
- Testimony of Dr. Neil Harl on the potential demand for electric power from producers of ethanol and other biofuels.
- Testimony of Tom Sanzillo disputing Alliant’s modeling of future electricity demand.
- Testimony of Dr. Kristin Welker-Hood on public health effects likely to result from the proposed plant.
- Coalition post-hearing brief (2/11/2008)
- Coalition motion to dismiss (2/15/2008)
- Coalition post-hearing reply brief (2/25/2008)
- Sanzillo Direct Testimony in Ratemaking Principles Docket, July 2008
- Sanzillo Surrebuttal Testimony in Ratemaking Principles Docket, August 2008
- Filings by the Office of the Consumer Advocate
- Testimony of William E Powers on deficiencies in Alliant’s engineering analyses of alternative technologies.
- Testimony of Ezra D. Hausman on global warming as it relates to the proposal.
- Testimony of Mr. Robert Fagan.
- Testimony of Mr. David A. Schlissel.
- Testimony of Mr. Scudder Parker.
- Initial Post-Hearing Brief by Office of Consumer Advocate.
- Post-Hearing Reply Brief by Office of Consumer Advocate.
- Transcripts from January 2008 Generating Certificate Hearing
Before the Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- Filings by Alliant Energy subsidiary Interstate Power & Light (Nov. 1, 2007)
Filings for Waterloo, Iowa Coal Plant Proposal
Below are relevant filings for the Elk Run Energy Center, a coal-fired power plant proposed for the rural area just outside of Waterloo, IA. The center is proposed by Elk Run Associates, which is related to LS Power and Dynergy, Inc. Chart comparing actual 2007 UNI and CFU coal plant emissions to anticipated emissions at Elk Run Energy Station. On January 6, 2009, LS Power announced it was cancelling plans for the Elk Run Energy Center.
- Before the City of Waterloo
- Before the Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- Filings by LS Power
- PSD Application (submitted 5/29/07) — this is the draft air construction permit.
- Air Permit application (submitted 2/29/08) — note that this application was rejected on March 3, 2008 because LS Power had failed to demonstrate that it had control of the land in question. The DNR has indicated that once/if LS Power obtains proper zoning, it will be able to reapply for its air permit.
- A directory of Elk Run supporting references for the application
- A zipped directory of the modeling files used by LS Power to support their application. Note: to read these files you will need access to the BEEST software package.
- Filings by LS Power
Information about the Council Bluffs Energy Center
- Self-reporting of pollution to the Department of Natural Resources (along with documents for some other, older, coal-fired power plants in Iowa)
- Response to Public Comments on the PSD permits for CBEC4.
