Power Plants And The EPA

Posted on September 19, 2026 by Paul Deaton
Peoples’ Coalition at the Coralville Independence Day Parade

On Monday, Sept. 14, the Environmental Protection Agency did two things that were expected since President Trump was re-elected.

  • EPA finalized repeal of the Biden-era greenhouse-gas standards for coal-fired power plants and newly built natural-gas power plants.
  • It also proposed rescission of greenhouse gas regulation related to the now rescinded endangerment finding as it pertains to power plants, saying in essence, greenhouse gas emissions from power plants are not the kind of dangerous air pollution EPA is permitted to regulate under the Clean Air Act.

Both are expected to face legal challenges.

Nothing in the science of climate change is different because of EPA action this week compared to previous. It remains a fact that carbon dioxide contributes to a warming planet, and such warming has negative consequences for humans. What has changed is power plant operators would be freed from a financial burden of compliance that protects public health. Will people die because of these changes? No one in authority appears to be thinking or caring about an answer to that question.

I have been writing about power plants and their pollution since I began posting on Blog for Iowa in February 2009. My first post was titled, “Open Letter to Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Concerning the Proposed Marshalltown Coal Plant.”

I have opinions about this week’s EPA actions by the EPA. However, let’s discuss what’s going on in the Trump administration’s EPA.

Trump’s EPA targeted the Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding, a 2009 determination by the EPA under the Clean Air Act, stating that greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin finalized repeal of the endangerment finding on February 12, 2026. That is that, well, not really. The struggle over rescission has now moved to the legal system. Will the U.S. Supreme Court uphold the rescission? I assume the issue will make it to and be decided by SCOTUS. That will be a consequential decision.

This week’s proposal pertains to eliminating greenhouse gas regulation for power plants, which are point source polluters. EPA’s proposal argues that Clean Air Act does not give EPA authority to regulate power-plant CO2 on the basis of climate change. If the courts determine rescission of the endangerment finding is valid, then this could come into play. The news cycle is faster than our legal system can move.

The reaction to this news was immediate. Brian Campbell, Executive Director of Physicians for Social Responsibility, represents one of several organizations to move quickly. He issued this action alert:

Monday, the Trump Administration took another reckless step backward in the fight against climate change by repealing power plant emissions standards for carbon — allowing dirty coal and gas plants to pump toxic, planet-warming pollution into our air without any restrictions. Contrary to what the EPA claimed in their press release, we know that power plant CO2 emissions and co-pollutants have very real impacts on Americans’ health — causing asthma, heart disease, and respiratory illnesses — while driving climate catastrophes and extreme weather events across the globe. We published a report on this just last year!

As health professionals and advocates, we know climate change is a health emergency, created by the fossil fuel industry, and Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) is taking action by: Filing two lawsuits against the Trump Administration and its attempt to repeal the endangerment finding on greenhouse gases and rollback of standards on toxic mercury emissions, activating our network to testify at EPA’s upcoming hearings, and to submit a flood of public comments on their proposal to gut pollution limits on power plants—mobilizing health professionals and their trusted voices to expose and raise awareness of the direct health impacts of these rollbacks on families and communities.

We need your help to power these legal and advocacy battles, because this Administration cares more about lining the pockets of fossil fuel companies than protecting your health and the health of our loved ones.

Demand Climate Action NOW. Let’s fight back together.

When President Richard Nixon established the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970, those of us who advocated for protecting the environment felt it was a positive move. It was, although like anything related to politics, change was not permanent. Reach out to your local environmental group and see how you can get involved. We are needed now, more than ever.

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Answer: Fifteen Thousand Three Hundred And Twenty-Five Million

Posted on September 18, 2026 by Trish Nelson

Question:  What is the number of CAFOs and hogs in Iowa?  Yep, 15,300 CAFOs and 25 million hogs.

Jefferson County Farmers and Neighbors have been leaders in the fight against CAFO proliferation in Iowa. They deserve our support in the quest to save Iowa from the ravages of BIG AG. Please check out their message and make a donation if you can. 

From our inbox – 

15,300!

That’s how many CAFOs there are in Iowa. About 2/3 of those buildings confine 25 million hogs at any one time during the year.

And it’s not 15,000 CAFO operators and owners running these confinements (many people or corporations own multiple confinements). Actually, there’s barely 5,200 “hog farmers” left in Iowa according the 2022 USDA’s ag census.

Since factory farms were allowed to be built unchecked in Iowa due to 30 years of failed regulations, Iowa has lost over 90% of its family hog farms that used to be the backbone of our small-town rural economies.

This has not only had a major impact on the 3.2 million people in Iowa, but it’s also forced tens of thousands of independent farmers off the land and created an industry of corporate consolidation that cares only about profit and not about your safety or quality of life.

How fair is that?

At JFAN, we don’t think it’s at all fair that a mere 0.002% of Iowa’s population operates factory farms that can damage the water quality, public health, and the quality of life of over 3 million people.

  • 0002% of Iowa’s population that have more rights to build and operate a CAFO than you have to say no.
  • That’s why JFAN has worked for over 21 years to safeguard Jefferson County from becoming overrun with CAFOs. To protect your right to a good and safe quality of life
  • That’s why we work with state and national partners to fight back against an industry that cares more about its bottom line than the well-being of Iowa’s citizens.

We work hard for Jefferson County and beyond – and we need you by our side!

Please support JFAN during our annual fundraising drive.

We are only halfway towards our $30,000 match with less than a week to go. These are critical funds that fuel our staff and operations so we can do all in our power to fight against unbridled CAFO growth to protect all you hold dear.

Donate here or send a check payable to: JFAN to PO Box 811, Fairfield, IA 52556.

JFAN will work as hard as we need for Jefferson County and for Iowa. But we can’t do this alone.

It takes us working all together to stand up against a powerful industry.

We are up to the task – and have been for 21 years. Please partner with JFAN today with a generous tax-deductible donation and stand with us as we fight for you. Together, with your help, we can work to keep Jefferson County safe and fight for a better Iowa.

With appreciation,
Diane Rosenberg

Jefferson County Farmers & Neighbors, Inc.
JFANIowa.org
P.O. Box 811
Fairfield, IA 52556
641-209-6600
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

JFAN is funded by grassroots support and gratefully welcomes your donations. JFANIowa.org/donate-today

JFAN is a member of the Iowa Alliance for Responsible Agriculture (IARA)

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Two Easy Things You Can Do This Week

Posted on September 17, 2026 by Trish Nelson

From our inbox – Here is an action alert/learning opportunity from Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement.  Please like and share on your social networks.  All hands on deck! 

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There’s a lot to be paying attention to right now, I know.

We want to provide you with two ways to learn about – and take action on – two important Iowa-centered election topics.

If you think Iowans deserve: fair, free, and safe elections AND a fair tax system that makes corporations and the super-rich pay their fair share — RSVP for one or both of these election-related Zooms!

1. Election Protection Teach-In (this week!)

Wednesday, September 16 at 6:30 pm

We want to equip more Iowans with the tools they need to fight election disinformation and protect our sacred right to vote from those looking to seize and hold onto power.

To help us get informed and organized to say “Hands off our Vote!,” we’re hosting Maxwell Love, project director for Hold the Line, to lead a zoom teach-in with us. Click here to register!

Hold the Line equips people across the country with evidence-based, nonpartisan frameworks to help understand threats to democratic institutions; organize effective collective action; and defend free, fair, and safe elections.

This was the most attended workshop at our summer convention.

2. Vote NO on Iowa’s Amendment 1 teach-in

Monday, October 6 at 6:30 pm

CCI Action joined Common Good’s Fair Taxes for Iowa’s Future, a campaign to educate Iowans on why Amendment 1 is wrong for Iowa’s future.

And, we’ve invited Kylie Spies from Common Good Iowa to help us understand what’s in Amendment 1 – aka the Millionaire Protection Act – which will be on the ballot for all Iowans this November. Click here to register and learn more!

We need to protect our schools, our health and our water – not provide more tax breaks for the super-rich nor concentrate tax veto power into the hands of a powerful minority. If you’re involved in our public-school strong campaign, you don’t want to miss it.

We’re stronger together! These Zoom meetings will be part training, part strategy, and all CCI Action!

Early voting starts October 14 and we need all hands on deck to win the future for our people.

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Virtual Town Hall With Chris Jones and Sarah Vogel Tonight

Posted on September 16, 2026 by Trish Nelson


From the Chris Jones for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Campaign:

We’d like to invite you to a special Virtual Town Hall with Chris Jones Wednesday, September 16 at 7:30 pm Central.

Join us for a powerful online conversation between Sarah Vogel, former North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner and author of The North Dakota Nine and the Fight to Save the Family Farm; and Chris Jones, water quality scientist, author, and candidate for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture.

Start:  Wednesday, September 16, 2026 — at 7:30 PM Central Time

This will be a conversation that you won’t want to miss!

Click here to RSVP and get the Zoom link to join.

About Sarah Vogel:
From taking on USDA during the 1980s farm crisis to taking on corporate agribusiness in the heart of the Corn Belt today, Sarah and Chris know firsthand that corporate profits must not come at the expense of clean water, healthy soil, and family farmers – and how to make change happen.

Sarah’s proven track record of making a state ag department work for real people brings a grounded, battle-tested roadmap to Chris’s vision for a clean, sustainable, and prosperous rural Iowa.

Come find out how transforming state agriculture is actually going to work, and why this fight matters now more than ever.

RSVP here to be emailed the info to join the exciting call.

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The Ellisons’ Takeover Attempt of Warner Bros

Posted on September 15, 2026 by Trish Nelson


The following video by Media and Democracy Project opens referencing a quote by our friend, former FCC Commissioner Nicholas Johnson.

“Whatever is your first priority, you have little hope of making any progress with it if you can’t get media coverage – fair and favorable media coverage.” –  Your Second Priority: A Former FCC Commissioner Speaks Out, by Nicholas Johnson

Here is MAD’s description of this event.

Democracy is under siege. Oligarchs Larry and David Ellison are consolidating their personal control of information, and media. TikTokUS, CBS News are under their control and they are attempting to use massive debt and foreign cash to take over Warner Bros Discovery (HBO, CNN and many cable channels and media properties). This is not an ordinary merger. This is a debt time-bomb and would mean harmful hyper-consolidation of the media and entertainment industry under the control of one family – while saddling a merged company with $80+ billion dollars in debt.

Watch and learn from a distinguished panel of experts about the largest attempted leveraged buyout in history – and why that matters to the American media landscape, national security, press freedom, workers, consumers and democracy.

Why does the massive debt used to finance the takeover matter? What would the 39%+ foreign ownership by 3 petro-state (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar) sovereign wealth funds mean for Americans? Past mega-mergers have failed consumers, employees, shareholders – could this be different?

How do Data Centers, AI and Larry Ellison’s personal finances impact the deal and stability of a possible merged entity?

Panelists:

Alvaro Bedoya: Senior Advisor, American Economic Liberties Project and served as a Federal Trade Commissioner from 2022 to 2025.

Pete Johnson: Visiting Assistant Professor at NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study. He specializes in US film and television industry history, media finance and economics, and the role of narrative in shaping business outcomes.

Deborah Jaramillo: Professor of Film and Television Studies, and Director of Graduate Studies for the American Studies Program at Boston, University

Twelve state Attorneys General have filed a lawsuit to #BlockTheMerger on the grounds it violates anti-consolidation laws, but have not emphasized the hazards of debt and financing – and national security and press freedom.

Jaramillo and Johnson are co-authors of the insightful and powerful analysis that demonstrates the harms of the attempted-takeover: “The Costs of Consolidation: Arguments and Evidence for Blocking the Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger” https://macrolab.ucsd.edu/paramount-warner-merger/  

 

Follow Meda and Democracy Project on BlueSky.

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Amendment One Poses Questions. The Answer is ‘No’

Posted on September 14, 2026 by Trish Nelson

by Mike Owen
(previously published in the QC Times)

Listen to the article here

One way to approach Iowa’s constitutional amendment question is to ask yourself serious questions.

  • Do you trust legislators elected in 2022 and 2024 to dictate options for policymakers in 2030? 2040? Even 40 or 50 years from now?
  • Do you believe 17 state senators, barely one-third of the Senate, should be able to override the will of 133 other elected legislators, a governor and the popular will of the voters?
  • Do you think Iowa is currently in good enough financial shape to provide the critical public services we need now, let alone decades from now?
  • Do you realize that tax cuts in recent years have not only reduced resources but also provided meaningful benefits only to rich individuals and powerful corporations?

Amendment One on the November ballot would require a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate to raise individual or corporate income tax rates. It is designed to lock in those recent cuts for the wealthy — and permanently hamper Iowa’s investment in education, healthcare, environmental quality and public safety.

Those recent cuts passed despite expectations of nearly $2 billion less annual revenue, according to the Legislature’s own fiscal experts, than Iowa would receive under the previous law to responsibly fund a budget of about $9 billion. They guaranteed future budget deficits.

Lawmakers have patched the holes temporarily using reserves, which resulted from underfunding services and saving revenue gains from federal pandemic relief. It’s a fiscal cliff, assuring that when the reserves run dry in the next couple of years, either drastic cuts in services will be necessary or new revenues will be needed.

The amendment takes off the table any attempt to correct the impact of previous income tax cuts and may even prevent plugging loopholes used by corporations or the wealthy. It would force increases in sales tax — or deep cuts in education.

Come to think of it, this might even reduce funding for private school vouchers, which could concern voucher proponents. Nothing would be off the table for cuts, as the state constitution requires a balanced budget.

Save everyone a lot of future headaches and protect our responsibilities to each other as Iowans. Vote “No” on Amendment One.

Mike Owen is a former Statehouse reporter and recently retired from over 20 years in nonpartisan policy analysis and advocacy at the Iowa Policy Project and Common Good Iowa.

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Protecting The Midterm Vote

Posted on September 13, 2026 by Paul Deaton
Rural Polling Place

My first assignments as a poll worker dropped this week, a reminder of how soon election day will be here. Early voting starts October 14 in Iowa.

I drew three shifts helping in the lobby at the county administration building, and expect to draw an election day assignment. The county auditor is well-organized to cover elections. Despite bluster in the media, voting preparations seem to be progressing normally in our county.

Democrats have activated their vote protection process. I worked as a poll watcher as part of this program during the previous three general elections. It was pretty dull work. There was never any action, of any kind, that required my intervention. I got a lot of reading done while poll watching. This lack of action led me to apply to be a poll worker, figuring if I was going to be there, I may as well get paid. I don’t recall ever seeing a Republican poll watcher in our precinct.

The problem we face this cycle is not local. The current administration has openly announced that it will send ICE agents to some polling places, and the Justice Department has recently raided election offices. As our local Democratic Party said on their website, “Don’t give in to fear! Take comfort in knowing that many organizations are working together to protect our voters and our election system.”

There are volunteer opportunities to protect the vote.

Volunteer with the legal team. If you are an attorney able to be in Iowa on Election Day, contact the county party to volunteer with the Voter Protection legal team. You do not have to be an expert in voting law.

Become a poll watcher, like I did. Volunteer through your county Democratic party.

Help in another county. Let your local volunteer coordinators know if you are willing and able to serve as a poll watcher outside your home county. If so, be sure to vote early.

Join a monitoring effort. Learn about organizations and local groups recruiting citizens to monitor the polls on Election Day as an early warning system. Sign up with your county Democratic Party if you can.

While the president tends to turn everything he lays his hands on into a goat screw, here’s hoping everyone who wants to vote can do so… and that our votes count. This seems basic, yet in these times we can take nothing for granted. I plan to check my voter registration, and vote early, in person, at the auditor’s office. Maybe you should consider it, too.

The No Kings coalition is offering training in how to protect the election where you live. Sign up at this link.

If you experience or witness any issues or problems at the polls, call the Iowa Democratic Party Voter Protection Hotline at 515-207-9455.

Posted in 2026 election | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Miller-Meeks Dodges The Real Problem

Posted on September 12, 2026 by Paul Deaton
Social Security card.

In November I will get my seventh opportunity to vote for Mariannette Miller-Meeks for Congress. I will decline, again. The incumbent is not doing enough on important issues of our times. I am thinking particularly of Social Security.

She made a splash with her support for Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent’s bill to open access to the Social Security database by the Treasury Department. This is a quest to stop Social Security payments for people who died.

Whatever.

Shouldn’t the Social Security Administration already have such a process in place? The most pressing problem is an actuarial one. The Social Security Trust Fund will not be able to pay full benefits beginning in 2032 without changes. “Changes” means Miller-Meeks and other like her must do something. Thus far they haven’t.

There are a number of proposals related to Social Security in both chambers of the legislature, sponsored by both Republicans and Democrats. I don’t see Miller-Meeks supporting any of them, including the House bill introduced by a Republican to form a bipartisan committee to address the issue.

I am unaware of any public statement from Miller-Meeks that lays out a specific plan for fixing Social Security’s projected 2032 financing gap. None.

She says Social Security must be protected. What does that mean? Her inference is protecting the program from waste and fraud. It shouldn’t take an act of Congress to do that. This is not the position of a serious member of Congress and represents no solution to the actuarial problem.

She co-sponsored legislation focused on removing deceased recipients from the roles, and making sure only qualified people receive benefits. Again, why would it take an act of Congress to do that? The Social Security Administration should be doing that already. If administrators are doing an insufficient job, get people in position who will do better.

Another of her claims to fame concerns making tax deductions for Social Security recipients permanent. Nothing in that legislation addresses the actuarial problem.

Miller-Meeks seeks to “control federal spending,” and “make Congress live within its means.” That sounds pretty good, yet she doesn’t connect that idea to the actuarial problem. She could propose any number of changes to support these ideas. If they exist, I have not seen them.

There are plenty of ideas available to resolve the actuarial problem, including raise the cap on taxable earnings, change the structure of the program by modifying eligibility requirements, or joining the bipartisan commission/process proposals now being discussed. Where is Miller-Meeks? Nowhere to be found.

If Miller-Meeks had public Town Hall Meetings, someone should ask directly, “You have said that you want to protect Social Security. The trustees now project the retirement trust fund will be depleted around 2032. What specific changes to taxes, benefits, retirement age, or other financing do you support to prevent the roughly 22% reduction in scheduled benefits?” Since an answer to this type of question doesn’t fall under the umbrella of her vapid statement about “protecting Social Security,” I doubt she would answer.

It’s time for a new member of Congress in Iowa’s First District. Christina Bohannan is available and willing to say publicly how she would resolve the actuarial problem with Social Security. Vote for Christina Bohannan on or before November 3.

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Nate Willems: “She Looked The Other Way”

Posted on September 11, 2026 by Trish Nelson

“Since she [Brenna Bird] looked the other way, the CEO of that company has put $100,000 directly into her campaign account. He is now the single largest individual donor to her campaign.” – Nate Willems

Take a listen:

Biofuels giant threatens defamation suit against Iowa AG candidate

 Today would be a great day to donate to Nate Willems’ campaign for Iowa Attorney General.  natewillems.com

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The Labor Movement In Iowa

Posted on September 10, 2026 by Trish Nelson

Guests on this September 4th edition of Iowa Press are  Jesse Case, secretary treasurer of Teamsters Local 238, the largest labor union in Iowa; and Jennifer Sherer with the Economic Policy Institute and former director of the University of Iowa Labor Center.

Transcript available here.

“I think you can see the last ten years in Iowa what a one-party system has done in terms of collective bargaining rights being lost by 180,000 public sector employees. The two-party system is broken, but a one-party system is worse.” – Jesse Case

“We’re in a period of time that has been difficult for Iowa workers.  I look at the data and think about moving here 30 years ago when Iowa’s union representation density was above the national average. In that time that I’ve lived here, it has fallen to being just below the national average. And that has to do with all kinds of policy choices and all kinds of attacks, some of which we’ve talked about today. But that’s not the end of this history. Workers are still rewriting it today. And this Labor Day and the next election cycle, and everything that comes after will probably write the next chapter.” – Jennifer Sherer

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