Protecting the Environment

• 2025 Legislature

• Ag Drainage Wells Finally Closed

CO2 Pipeline Update

• Update on Summit Phase 1 Appeal

• Wolf Abandons CO2 Pipeline

Plus

• 6 Reasons to Update Your Will

• Lunch and Learns Fridays at noon

• Contribute to the Iowa Chapter

• Volunteer for the Iowa Chapter

• Calendar of events

• To see the archive of previous Iowa Chapter newsletters

Wolf Abandons CO2 Pipeline

On December 2, 2024, Wolf Carbon Solutions withdrew its application for a permit to construct a carbon dioxide pipeline in eastern Iowa.  Wolf had planned to partner with Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) to run a carbon dioxide pipeline from Cedar Rapids, to Clinton, Iowa, and then on to Decatur, Illinois.  In Iowa, it was expected to cross Linn, Cedar, Clinton, and Scott Counties.

Earlier this year, news broke that the sequestration site ADM operates in Decatur, Illinois, had experienced leaks and movement of the carbon dioxide away from the sequestration site.  See ADM CO2 Sequestration Site Has 2 Leaks

2025 Legislature

The Iowa legislature will gavel into session on January 13.  The session is scheduled to end on May 2 – the day when the legislators’ per diem expense money ends.  Often, it runs a little beyond that.

In general, we do not know what bills will be coming before the legislature until they are actually introduced.  Even so, we have an idea of some of the bills, including:

• Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP), a state law enacted in 1989, provides the framework for funding to protect Iowa’s natural areas, soil conservation, water quality and historical resources.  REAP is expiring in 2026 – that needs to be extended beyond 2026 while keeping the funding formulas as they are currently.

• Every year, the bottle deposit law comes before the legislature.  We support expansion of the bottle deposit law to include more containers, plus raising the deposit to 10 cents.  We also support the legislature naming the study committee members who will be reviewing the most recent changes to the bottle deposit law and how they have negatively affected the consumers.

• The Sierra Club always asks for adequate funding to support the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, including parks and recreation as well as environmental protection, and fully funding REAP at $20 million.

• The tax revenue will be reduced as the recent changes in income tax rates become effective, so there will be efforts to shrink the budget and the size of government.  The Sierra Club will monitor these changes.

• Every year we see efforts to restrict solar and wind siting.  The Sierra Club supports the build-out of wind, solar, and battery storage as long as the siting is done properly.

• Pipelines – we expect pipeline opponents to introduce bills that change how pipelines can be permitted in Iowa.

• We expect to see a bill that would require electric utilities to engage in integrated resource planning (IRP).  An IRP is a study conducted by the utilities to predict how much electricity will be used in the future, how it would be supplied by the utility, and how the electricity will be supplied using low-cost and reliable generation sources. 

  

Feel free to visit with your state legislators about these issues. They may have open houses or coffees where members of the public are invited to discuss issues with them.  Once the legislature is in session, the legislators often participate in forums which you are welcome to attend.   

Ag Drainage Wells Finally Closed

In the early to mid 1900’s farmers constructed agriculture drainage wells to remove snow melt and stormwater from farm fields.  Farm drainage tiles were connected like straws to the aquifers below the farm fields.  That allowed the excess water to drain off the fields, along with pesticides, herbicides, fertilizer, and manure. 

Unfortunately those same aquifers were used to provide drinking water and water used for livestock.  The contamination risked the health of those using the water.

In 1987, the Iowa legislature passed the Groundwater Protection Act, which required an inventory of the wells in Iowa.  Of the 300 that were located, about one-third of them had been closed or were not functioning.  Humboldt, Pocahontas, and Wright Counties accounted for 178 open wells.

The Iowa legislature funded the work to close 195 agriculture drainage wells over the last 25 years.  Late this year, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship announced that the last wells were closed.

Source

Press release from Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, “Secretary Naig Celebrates the Closing of Iowa’s Last Remaining Ag Drainage Wells”, November 19, 2024

Lunch and Learns Fridays at noon

Fridays at noon, we do a Lunch and Learn livestream.  See us on Facebook at "Sierra Club Iowa Chapter".  These will be recorded so you can watch them anytime.  Topics will be selected based on what is happening during the week.  During the legislative session, we cover issues coming before the Iowa legislature.

In case you missed our past webinars and lunch and learn sessions, you can still see them.

• See "IUC Appeal Hearing - What's in the Record?", December 13, 2024
• Watch "Victory! Wolf Withdrew!", December 6, 2024
• Watch "South Dakota Victories & Pending Pipeline Victories", November 22, 2024

Volunteer for the Iowa Chapter

Almost everything we do is done by volunteers like you.  If you would like to volunteer for the Iowa Chapter, please let us know by sending an E-mail to Iowa.chapter@sierraclub.org.  Or sign up by using the online form.  There are many opportunities for you to make a difference:

• making phone calls

• developing graphics for banners and flyers

• working on legislative issues

• working on elections

• fundraising

• organizing events

• joining an issue committee 

If you would like to join our legislative action team, sign up here.  Keep on top of what is happening at the Iowa legislature.  Be alerted when you should contact your legislators about pending legislation.

Photo: camping by Jess Mazour.

6 Reasons to Update Your Will

Changes in life are inevitable, which means our plans have to change, too. Whether you already have a will or are thinking about creating one for the first time, here are six reasons to revisit your estate plans.

1. Family changes.  Events such as marriage, divorce, death, birth, or adoption may affect how your estate will be distributed, who should act as guardian for your dependents, and who should be named as executor or personal representative of your estate.
2. Support a favorite organization or cause.  Many people update their estate plans to include gifts to organizations that are near and dear to their hearts. Gift planning is one way you can have a positive impact on an organization like Sierra Club’s Iowa Chapter–without affecting your budget right now. 
3. Significant birthdays and milestones.  Significant birthdays, graduations, retirements, and other life milestones are a good time to check in with your estate plan and make sure it reflects your wishes.
4. Move to a new state.  If you are moving away from Iowa or splitting your time, it’s worth revisiting your estate plan. Laws among the states vary. Moving to a new state or purchasing property in another state can affect estate plans and how property in that new state will be taxed or distributed.
5. Changes in your estate’s value.  Your assets may have changed in value since you made your will. In addition to standard investment growth, you may have bought or sold a home or business. Make sure your will still reflects how you would like to distribute your estate.
6. Passage of time.  It’s always good to review your estate plan and refresh your memory, plus note any details that may need updating. 

Visit myplan.sierraclub.org/planning-toolkit for free estate planning resources. For legal or tax advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. If you’d like to talk about including a gift to the Iowa Chapter, you can reach out to Julia Curtis at julia.curtis@sierraclub.org.

Link to QR code: Planning Toolkit QR Code.png

Sierra Club - working every day on Iowa’s environmental problems

Sierra Club is Iowa’s oldest and largest grassroots environmental organization.  Not only that, we are the best bet in the state for achieving bold solutions to Iowa’s environmental problems.

We work in the courts, before Iowa’s public agencies, and in the halls of the legislature.  The Iowa Chapter's effort to protect the environment takes financial support.  The Chapter receives very little financial support from the national Sierra Club.  Can we count on you for a donation to ensure even more victories?  Your contribution will be put to work here in Iowa on issues that affect every day Iowans – water quality, clean air, protection of Iowa's soil, parks and natural areas, and a strong democracy.  The Iowa Chapter is relentless in fighting back bad legislation that affects every one of us. 

Your non-deductible contributions make it possible for us to fight bad legislation and to promote good legislation.  We appreciate your past and on-going support of these efforts.  You can make a non-deductible donation with a credit card.   A non-deductible donation supports the Chapter's effective, citizen-based advocacy and lobbying programs.  If you prefer, a non-deductible check can be written to the Sierra Club Iowa Chapter and mailed to:

Treasurer
Sierra Club, Iowa Chapter
PO Box 1058
Marion, IA 52302

You can also make a tax-deductible donation with a credit card.  Tax-deductible activities are limited to public interest education, research and legal actions.  A deductible check can be written to the Sierra Club Foundation with “Iowa Chapter” written in the memo line.

Thank you for your support.

Donate your used vehicle

As the Sierra Club Foundation's Iowa Chapter continues to raise charitable funds to support its work in Iowa, won’t you consider participating in our vehicle donation program?  Our partners over at CARS have made the process of donating your unused or unneeded car, truck, motorcycle, boat or RV easy, efficient and secure.  They’ll take care of everything from picking up your vehicle to sending you a tax receipt for your generous gift.  To learn more about The Sierra Club Foundation's Iowa Chapter vehicle donation program, please call 844-674-3772.  Or visit our webpage to get started today!

Sierra Club Foundation promotes climate solutions, conservation, and movement building through a powerful combination of strategic philanthropy and grassroots advocacy. The Foundation is the fiscal sponsor of Sierra Club’s charitable environmental programs.

For more information 

Planned giving . . . naming the Sierra Club Iowa Chapter in your will 

Ensure your environmental legacy by naming the Iowa Chapter in your will or trust. These gifts cost you nothing now. You can hold onto your assets for as long as you need them.

Thank you for supporting our work!