Embargoed until: June 20, 2006, 10am

Contact: Linda Wells, (563) 940-1242

New Report: Iowa Global Warming Pollution Up 97% Since 1960
Power Plants, Cars Main Culprits Cited in Report

Des Moines, Iowa—Global warming pollution in Iowa jumped 97% between 1960 and 2001, according to The Carbon Boom, a new analysis of government data released today by the Iowa Public Interest Research Group (IowaPIRG). Increased coal emissions and oil emissions were responsible for 79% and 17% of this increase, respectively.

"When you find yourself in a hole, the first thing you should do is stop digging. To protect future generations from the effects of global warming, we need to stop this trend of increasing pollution," said IowaPIRG Advocate Linda Wells.

Existing energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies could substantially reduce global warming pollution, but the federal government has so far rejected mandatory pollution limits.

Using data compiled by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, IowaPIRG’s new report examines trends in carbon dioxide emissions and fossil fuel combustion nationally and by state between 1960 and 2001, the most recent year for which state-by-state data are available. Major findings of the report include:

Iowa emitted 39.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 1960; by 2001, the state’s emissions had grown to 78.2 million metric tons, an increase of 97%.

Nationwide, emissions of carbon dioxide nearly doubled between 1960 and 2001, jumping from 2.9 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide in 1960 to almost 5.7 billion metric tons in 2001, an increase of 95 percent.

A dramatic growth in oil combustion in the transportation sector and coal combustion for electricity generation fueled the rapid increase in U.S. carbon dioxide emissions between 1960 and 2001. Increased coal and oil combustion each accounted for 40% of the increase in carbon dioxide emissions.

In Iowa, increased coal combustion – primarily to generate electricity – accounted for 79% of the state’s increase in carbon dioxide emissions from 1960 to 2001. Coal has the highest carbon content of any fossil fuel, meaning that burning coal for electricity produces more carbon per unit of energy than does burning oil or natural gas. Over the four decades analyzed, as demand for electricity boomed, Iowa added 5,818 megawatts of new coal-burning power plant capacity. Increased combustion of oil and natural gas contributed 17% and 4%, respectively, of the state’s growth in emissions from 1960 to 2001.

The early effects of global warming are evident in Iowa and worldwide. According to NASA, 2005 was the warmest year ever recorded. Left unchecked, global warming threatens to cause more frequent and extreme droughts in Iowa, as warmer temperatures evaporate moisture in the soil more quickly.

The U.S. could substantially reduce its global warming pollution by using existing technologies to make power plants and cars more efficient and increase the use of clean, renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass, noted Wells "These are win, win solutions because they also would reduce our dependence on oil, reduce air pollution, protect pristine places from oil drilling and mining, and save consumers money," she said.

Oil companies – led by ExxonMobil – automakers, and most electric utilities continue to fight common sense solutions to global warming, Wells pointed out. For instance, ExxonMobil gave at least $15 million between 1998 and 2004 to groups working to confuse the public about the broad scientific consensus on the causes of and solutions to global warming.

"Progressive innovations in sustainable energy development can help revitalize rural communities while slowing global warming. But that's not enough to halt global warming during the 21st century," said Tim Kautza, Science and Environmental Specialist for the National Catholic Rural Life Conference and Coordinator of Iowa Interfaith Power & Light. "We need, right now, national, mandatory controls that reduce the heat-trapping pollutants resulting from our dependence on dirty fossil fuels."

Today, Rep. Henry Waxman (CA) introduced the Safe Climate Act, which provides a long-term, science-based solution to global warming. The bill requires the U.S. to reduce its global warming pollution by 15% from today’s levels by 2020 and by 80% by 2050. To achieve these targets, the bill calls for improved energy efficiency and a greater reliance on clean, renewable energy sources, while providing companies flexibility in meeting the pollution-reduction goals through a "cap-and-trade" program.

Rep. Waxman commented, "PIRG’s report shows state-by-state how the problem has been growing for decades. Now is the time to heed the scientists and start healing the climate. The Safe Climate Act will dramatically reduce emissions of greenhouse gases to the levels needed to avoid dangerous global warming. We start now and increase improvements over time, as we replace dirty old energy sources with clean renewable energy and energy efficiency."

Iowa PIRG and the National Catholic Rural Life Conference are urging Senators Harkin and Grassley to sign the Durbin-Collins "dear-colleague" letter, which calls on President Bush to support legislation to make real reductions in global warming pollution. The letter will be sent to the President on Thursday. So far, neither Iowan senator has signed on.

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Iowa PIRG is a statewide, non-profit, non-partisan public interest advocacy organization.