The Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) mandated “2016 Iowa Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report” shows greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in Iowa have decreased for the second year in a row. This is primarily from a decrease in power plant emissions, but also an increase in renewables.
The DNR used emissions reported by power plants to EPA as required by the federal GHG reporting program. CO2 is not emitted when electricity is generated from “zero-emitting carbon sources” such as wind or hydroelectric power.
Statewide emissions decreased 2% from 2015 levels and 9% from their peak in 2007. Power plant emissions decreased 14% in 2016 and are down 40% from their peak in 2010 as the amount of electricity generated in Iowa from renewable energy increased.
Generation from coal has decreased from 78% in 2005 to 47% in 2016. The percentage generated from wind increased from 4% to 37% in the same period.
In 2016, 128 million metric tons of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide equivalents) were emitted. According to the EPA equivalencies calculator, that is like sending 6 million tons of garbage to the landfill instead of recycling it. Another way to view it: it would take 151 million acres of forest to store that amount of carbon.
This is the 11th greenhouse gas inventory conducted for Iowa. Its purpose is to document emissions trends and develop baselines to track progress in reducing emissions.
Find the complete report at by clicking here.
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