Since the information from last week's press release about closing down two of the coal burning plants near Sioux City did not make it into the Journal story, I composed a letter to the editor that presented that "larger picture" information. It appeared in Tuesday's Journal. I have included the site and the text below, including comments (many entertaining). Emily Rosenwasser looked my letter over and suggested a few revisions. Jim Redmond
http://siouxcityjournal.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letter-iowa-reaches-a-milestone/article_3c625f38-8fa8-54a2-b0ca-a95641866bb2.html
January 28, 2013 10:10 am
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SIOUX CITY | Iowa reached a milestone this last week with the announcement that seven coal-fired power plants in the state would be retired in coming years, including two in the George Neal complex near Sioux City. Our state will be known nationwide as a leader in moving beyond the energy generating methods of the 20th century and transitioning to a cleaner, renewable energy industry.
In 1983, Iowa was the first state to pass a Renewable Energy Standard, a first step to our current position as a leader in renewable wind energy. Twenty-two percent of our energy derives from wind power; the state is third in the nation in installed wind capacity. Meanwhile we have staked out a strong manufacturing base for wind generators, employing 7,000, more than any other state.
Iowa can point to its part in the national transition from coal to wind. Since 2008, 50,000 megawatts of coal boilers have been retired or announced for retirement, replaced by 50,000 megawatts of wind power. This represents one-sixth of all power generated by coal.
Iowa’s agricultural sector has discovered a new harvest as wind complexes spring up around the region.
Last week’s joint announcement by MidAmerican Energy Company and the Sierra Club highlights the nation’s successes in freeing us from an energy source that threatens the health of both our communities and our planet.
The Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign is underwritten by Bloomberg Philanthropies, which chose the campaign as a vehicle to combat climate change and improve health in communities - like ours - where utilities burn coal. Since 2008, the nation doubled its installations of wind and solar, and in 2012 the U.S. installed more wind and solar than coal, gas or nuclear power, with both wind and solar having their best year ever.
MidAmerican’s investments in energy efficiency and wind generation signal a commitment to a shared effort and a cleaner future.
Not only will Sioux City see a decline of trains hauling coal from Wyoming, there will be a marked improvement in air quality, making Siouxland more attractive to business and families. - Jim Redmond, conservation chair, Northwest Iowa Group of the Sierra Club
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yebby73<http://siouxcityjournal.com/users/profile/yebby73> - 5 hours ago
I worked on the construction of Port Neal #2 in '69 and '70. At that time, the promise was, it would burn coal (and catch up to 80% of the resulting fly ash) in the winter months and natural gas in the summer months, leaving the price lower for the consumer of heating gas in the winter. As In grew up in the '40's and '50's, it wasn't unusual to see black snow falling from the sky from all the coal burned in the city for heaing. It eased somewhat as home owners switched to burning oil, but the stench inside the home was awful. It could be so bad that folks coughed up black sputum and school class rooms would empty for days with the kids having breathing problems. Burning coal is no joke when it comes to the environment. Its time for it to end.
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effectoffire<http://siouxcityjournal.com/users/profile/effectoffire> - 4 hours ago
Black snow? I've lived here all my life Yebster. Never seen black snow. Attended school in Sioux City my entire life. Never seen an empty classroom or barf-bags with black sputum. Put the reefer and roach-clip away, and join the rest of the class now, please.
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Tee Jay<http://siouxcityjournal.com/users/profile/Tee%20Jay> - 13 hours ago
Isn't the Sierra Club one of the groups fighting against the Hyperion Refinery?
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bambubi<http://siouxcityjournal.com/users/profile/bambubi> - 15 hours ago
The decision to switch out from coal didn't have a thing to do an abundance of with dirt cheap natural gas. It was all about the environment. I almost busted a gut laughing at that last bit though:
"there will be a marked improvement in air quality, making Siouxland more attractive to business and families"
Who knew people didn't flock to Siouxland because we have this terrible air pollution problem!
What?!!!!
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The GOP Hypocrisy<http://siouxcityjournal.com/users/profile/The%20GOP%20Hypocrisy> - 18 hours ago
Stardate 2060. The people of Sioux City look back at thier ancestors and wonder why they were dumb enough to believe that burning coal was actually a good idea..... I tell you what. You go into a 10x10 room and start a coal fire, Ill go into another 10X10 room and get out my windmill. Well see who is alive in an hour. The earth is a giant 10x10 room. If thats not simple enough for you, I dont know what is.
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Tom P<http://siouxcityjournal.com/users/profile/Tom%20P> - 18 hours ago
Equating the earth to a 10 x 10 room is indeed a silly thought from a simple mind.
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Don Quixote<http://siouxcityjournal.com/users/profile/Don%20Quixote> - 21 hours ago
Our air pollution emanates from more than MidAmerican which is somewhat unique in the amount of wind power used. Western Iowa has lots of wind, some areas don't. MidAmerican also serves a small population. The national impetus is not wind, but natural gas as a replacement for coal power. We are awash with natural gas which is cleaner than coal, much cheaper than wind power, and doesn't require huge federal subsidies.
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bambubi<http://siouxcityjournal.com/users/profile/bambubi> - 15 hours ago
Shhhhhhhhhhh! Don't let the Seirra guy know about the natural gas thing! He thinks they talked Mid America into something.
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Thrash<http://siouxcityjournal.com/users/profile/Thrash> - 21 hours ago
The Sierra Club, an anti-American terrorist organization within our own borders. If you're one of the idiots that give these clowns money, knock it off.
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the Beagle<http://siouxcityjournal.com/users/profile/the%20Beagle> - 23 hours ago
Jim, that is an interesting point of view but a bit short sighted in the sense that once the wind stops blowing you and the rest of us still want to snap the light switch and use power. Wind power does not replace power plants it merely forces them to go to a low power state to be in readiness to come on line when the wind stops. Losing the stations at the the Neal plant have other effects on the local economy that will be far reaching.
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Tom P<http://siouxcityjournal.com/users/profile/Tom%20P> - 23 hours ago
Beyond the smiley face you’re trying to paint with your letter, it should be noted that MidAmerican agreed to close or convert the 7 coal power plants to avoid a costly lawsuit threatened by the Sierra Club. It should also be noted that the federal production tax credit (PTC) extension for wind energy will cost taxpayers $12.18 billion from 2013 to 2022 to save an estimated 37,000 jobs in the industry.
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effectoffire<http://siouxcityjournal.com/users/profile/effectoffire> - 17 hours ago
....not to mention a couple of neighbors and friends who operate trains for both the UP and BNSF losing a few routes. But hey, when you're a (probably tenured) liberal college professor wearing rose-colored glasses....problems like that aren't part of the discussion.
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ER<http://siouxcityjournal.com/users/profile/ER> - 23 hours ago
What baloney. Nice propaganda letter, Jim. Of course, no mention of the burdens Obama energy policies are creating in the name of 'saving the Earth.' Perhaps the many, many low information people among us will read your letter and shrug but you aren't fooling the rest of us.
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