“Perhaps the most significant downside of the passage of HF 2399 is that it delays the state from doing anything about the emissions from burning coal to generate electricity. The consequences of burning coal for Iowa are mentioned in Iowa Department of Natural Resources Director Richard Leopold’s 2010 State of the Environment Report released last week.”

Okay, I accept defeat for now. We lost the battle over HF 2399, the Nuclear Energy Study bill, which Governor Culver signed into law on Wednesday. The governor’s arguments ranged from new jobs to cheap electricity. In the press release on the bill signing ceremony at the IBEW Local 55 Union Hall, it said, “The law is designed to help utility companies determine the feasibility of revolutionary sources of cleaner, more environmentally friendly energy, while strengthening Iowa’s economy.” During the Senate debate and during the lead up to the Governor’s signing ceremonies there have been more spurious arguments than there is during a half hour of Fox “News.” Let’s talk about some of the truths.

It may make some sense to add nuclear power capacity within the state, as we absolutely have to do something to reduce CO2 and other emissions and soon. Absent innovation and creative solutions, as young talent leaves the state in droves, nuclear power may be the best we can do.

The $15 million dollars to be secured from MidAmerican’s rate payers, while regressive, is not that much money, maybe two sawbucks ($20) per customer over three years. What makes no sense is why MidAmerican, a very profitable subsidiary of Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway, would not pay for their own research and development of nuclear power in Iowa. According to Bill Fehrman, the utility has a substantial fleet of coal burning power plants that generate more than 95% of their electricity. As a business matter, the company needs to diversify their electrical generating capacity and they have experience in nuclear power studies. This work is in their core competency. They certainly don’t need the financial “help” Governor Culver is offering.

The bill specifies that in a carbon constrained environment, public utilities may need to change fuel sources from coal to natural gas or biomass or some combination. The study provides funding to help utilities evaluate this. The thing is that they are already doing this, so it is hardly revolutionary, as the governor asserts. Again do they really need the funding support to do this?

Perhaps the most significant downside of the passage of HF 2399 is that it delays the state from doing anything about the emissions from burning coal to generate electricity. The consequences of burning coal for Iowa are mentioned in Iowa Department of Natural Resources Director Richard Leopold’s 2010 State of the Environment Report released last week. This quote is from the “Clean Air” section of the report and it tells the story better than I could:

 
What our Department of Natural Resources acknowledges is that burning coal, combined with the agricultural industry of Iowa is making us sick. Failure to address these emissions, for at least the three years of the study directed by HF 2399, perpetuates a situation that is getting worse, according to Leopold, and has created a substantial public health concern. This public health concern is the true downside of HF 2399.

~Paul Deaton is a native Iowan living in rural Johnson County and weekend editor of Blog for Iowa. He is also a member of Iowa Physicians for Social Responsibility and Veterans for Peace. With the advent of spring he is also planting and blogging about his garden which you can check out here. E-mail Paul Deaton