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Iowans protest coal-fired plants

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By Charlotte Eby | Tuesday, March 18, 2008 11:39 PM CDT | () comments

Environmentalists and residents from Waterloo and Marshalltown, two cities where coal-fired power plants have been proposed, rallied at the State Capitol Tuesday to delay the projects.

Josh Jones, an organizer for the Iowa Sierra Club, said his organization wants Iowa Gov. Chet Culver to put in place a temporary stay on state permits for coal plants because of the environmental implications.

But it appears unlikely they will get what they want from the governor’s office. Culver spokesman Brad Anderson issued a statement saying the action they are seeking is beyond the governor’s power.

“The governor appreciates the advocacy and hard work done by the Sierra Club and other groups involved; however, he is not authorized by law to impose a moratorium on an administrative proceeding such as obtaining a permit,” Anderson said.

Linda Huss, who lives on a farm east of Waterloo, spoke out against a power plant planned by LS Power near Waterloo.

She said the company asked for an easement to her property and said they would try to get it through eminent domain if she didn’t grant it voluntarily.

Huss has banded together with other affected landowners, who have hired a lawyer to fight what she called intimidation.

“An out-of-state company, LS Power, should not be threatening to use eminent domain so they can earn private profit from a merchant plant selling energy to out-of-state customers,” Huss said.

Jeri Thornsberry of Waterloo highlighted what she believes are negative health impacts from fine particulate matter produced by coal-burning power plants. Each year, she said, 24,000 American lives are cut short by pollution from coal-burning plants.

“When we look past the slick, well-financed marketing message of the coal industry, the evidence is unequivocal. Coal-burning power plants emit incredible amounts of pollutants that seriously threaten the health of those living within reach of their pollution,” she said.

An LS Power official defended their plan in a statement.

“There is a significant need for new low-cost coal-fired generation in Iowa. A stay on coal-fired generation would be economically devastating for Iowa ratepayers and future economic development,” said Mark Milburn, project manager for LS Power’s Elk Run Energy Station.

Charlotte Eby can be contacted at (515) 243-0138 or chareby@aol.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.