24/7 Carbon-Free Energy Goal in Iowa City Receives Broad Support

100% Iowa City, a community-driven movement to make Iowa City the next 24/7 carbon-free energy city launched this spring to urge the City Council to commit to a path towards 100% clean electricity.

After formally declaring a climate crisis in 2019, the City Council announced new emission targets, building on those established in its 2018 Climate Action and Adaptation Plan: reduce carbon emissions by 45% from 2010 levels by 2030, then achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Notably absent amongst these targets is an explicit clean energy goal.

The 100% Iowa City initiative calls for the City of Iowa City to improve on these goals by adopting a resolution to reach community-wide 24/7 carbon-free electricity by 2030. While the existing net-zero goal would reduce emissions and then compensate for the remaining using carbon offsets, a 24/7 carbon-free energy goal would avoid emitting carbon in the first place—a goal first adopted in early 2021 by Iowa’s capital city, Des Moines, followed by other cities across the country. 

The campaign has received support from individuals, businesses, and organizations in the community as the initiative moves forward with city leaders. “We must act fast and make bold commitments to provide a livable future for our children and grandchildren,” said Deb Schoelerman, a member of 100 Grannies for a Livable Future. “This resolution is a promise to future generations and can strengthen our community’s role as a climate leader.”

The grassroots effort—spearheaded by the Iowa Environmental Council’s 100% Iowa project—represents a broad coalition of residents, businesses, and organizations across Iowa City. To date, twenty-five local businesses and organizations have signed on in support of the goal. The letter of support will be delivered to the Council tomorrow, April 19 at 6 PM, during the regularly scheduled City Council meeting on behalf of the following groups: 

100 Grannies for a Livable Future
Astig Planning
A&W Sustainable Planning & Outreach
Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa
Common Good Iowa
C-Wise Design and Consulting LLC
Dotł’izhi
Dream City
Geoff’s Bike and Ski
Global Food Project of Iowa City
Great Plains Action Society
Green State Solutions
Integrated Power Corporation
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
Iowa City Bicycle Library
Iowa City Environmental Advocates
Iowa City Green Drinks
Iowa Interfaith Power & Light
Neumann Monson Architects
Pani Clean, Inc.
Physicians for Social Responsibility
Public Space One
RAYGUN
Sierra Club, Iowa Chapter
University of Iowa Environmental Coalition

IEC energy staff is slated to meet with members of Iowa City’s Climate Action Commission at its upcoming meeting on Monday, May 2, to discuss the goal and its pathway forward for Iowa City. The commission acts as an advisory board to the city council and is responsible for guiding the direction of the city’s climate and sustainability goals, including the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. 

“We appreciate city leadership recognizing the role local government can play in the clean energy transition and taking bold action,” said Elizabeth Wagner, an organizer with 100% Iowa. “This goal is the most genuine decarbonization commitment that local government can leverage to act on climate, and we look forward to Iowa City becoming the next 24/7 carbon-free energy city.”

1. clean energy
2. climate change
3. energy efficiency
4. renewable energy