Daniel Wheaton
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The Midwest Newsroom
Data center demand, severe weather and the aging grid are forcing utilities to drive up electricity rates. While the Midwest has historically had the cheapest energy in the nation, forces are undermining that trend.
Rachel Cramer
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Iowa Public Radio
Eliza Billingham
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Iowa Public Radio
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The Trump administration says easing federal restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions will lower electricity costs and help meet growing demand. Critics warn that relying longer on coal could harm public health, worsen air pollution and accelerate climate change. -
Data centers are driving up Iowa's power demand. On this Newsbuzz episode, whether to build more wind and solar or invest in new gas and coal plants. First, we talk with Jason Clayworth of Axios Des Moines about how Iowa's new 2% property tax growth cap is forcing cities to weigh cuts to police and fire budgets, and Iowa's state climatologist Justin Glisan joins us with an update on September's record precipitation. We talk with higher education reporter Vanessa Miller about a new $5 million investment to speed up cancer treatments, and Emma Stapleton Thornell shares how this year's Iowa Climate Statement describes a "fork in the road" when it comes to electricity generation. We also hear from Hong Kong filmmaker and playwright Jun Li, who is a resident of this year's International Writing Program. Then, IPR’s Lucius Pham grooves us into the weekend. -
Rather than investing in new gas plants and higher coal usage to scale up generation, the signatories of the 2026 Iowa Climate Statement are advocating for more wind and solar. They say renewable energy is critical for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting Iowans from air pollution and global price fluctuations from fossil fuels.
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Deputy Secretary of Energy James Danly visited rural Linn County to announce the loan, which is the final piece of financing the energy center needed. He called the recommissioning an early chapter of “an American nuclear renaissance.” -
Black Hills Energy is facing scrutiny over compliance with state and federal regulations after inspectors found multiple violations. The Iowa Utilities Commission could order the company to pay civil fines or take steps to address the problems. -
Google has been eyeing a site for a potential data center that's currently in unincorporated Linn County but could be annexed into Palo city limits. This week, Palo put a data center ordinance in place, while Linn County opened up talks to circumvent its newly instated moratorium.
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Northwest Iowa’s Woodbury County has joined a growing list of Iowa communities developing regulations for data centers. The vote comes after the City of Salix annexed farmland for a potential data center that MidAmerican Energy is shopping around. -
The City of Cedar Falls is moving forward with plans to build a new gas power plant. Cedar Falls Utilities, which is behind the project, says the plant will support the city's energy independence as the region's electrical grid is increasingly strained. -
The issue of data centers is heating up in a small community just south of Sioux City. Residents say they were left in the dark, and Woodbury County officials are considering new regulations.
