Environmental Groups Push for Energy Transparency as IUC Reviews Renewable Verification Rules
posted
on Tuesday, August 27, 2024
in
Energy News
Des Moines – The Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC) and the Iowa Environmental Council (IEC) voiced their support today for the Iowa Utilities Commission’s (IUC) proposal to rescind its Renewable Energy Verification rules during a Commission hearing.
ELPC and IEC (collectively known as the Environmental Commenters) filed comments with the Commission explaining that the rules no longer provide the intended benefits, have not kept pace with the evolving renewable energy market, and are harming the public by legitimizing and failing to hold utilities accountable for deceptive practices.
Initially adopted in 2017, the rules are now outdated and have been used by utilities to mislead Iowans about their renewable energy usage. For instance, MidAmerican Energy, which serves nearly two-thirds of Iowans, leveraged the rules to promote misleading information. In a 2023 press release, the utility claimed to deliver 100% renewable energy to its Iowa customers in 2022 – a statement that was false and obscured the fact that MidAmerican continues to operate several coal plants in the state. According to MidAmerican’s FERC filing from 2022, MidAmerican’s overall renewable energy mix was 68 percent of its net generation, and MidAmerican generated 23 percent of its generation (10,078,400 MWh) from fossil resources.
The rules were originally designed to provide independent verification of renewable energy claims, but the IUC’s own analysis has shown they no longer serve this purpose effectively. Further, as clean energy targets have evolved – shifting towards goals like 24/7 100% renewable energy – the current rules are unable to provide accurate verification.
ELPC and IEC believe rescinding the rules is a necessary step to maintain public trust and promote transparency. The groups also recommended developing new reporting rules to ensure utility transparency and accountability related to renewable energy credits and environmental goals.
Josh Mandelbaum, ELPC Senior Attorney: “The outdated verification rules have allowed MidAmerican to claim 100% renewable energy usage while serving Iowa customers with one of the largest coal fleets in the country. Rescinding the rules will ensure the Commission is not legitimizing claims that paint an incomplete picture or mislead the public."
Michael Schmidt, IEC Staff Attorney, noted: “It’s clear that rescinding these rules is the best course of action. Iowans deserve transparency about the energy they use, and the current rules have allowed utilities to hide the full extent of their coal operations. Clear and honest communication about our energy sources is essential for making informed decisions that affect our health, environment, and economy.”
Contact: Josh Mandelbaum
jmandelbaum@elpc.org
515-240-7750
Contact: Karsten Neumeister
kneumeister@elpc.org
224-659-0898