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Ames library notes: Iowa Climate Action Planning at the library
Ellen Wanamaker, Ames Public Library
Special to the Register
Ames Public Library invites you to attend an Iowa Climate Action Planning meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 14 via Zoom. To join the meeting, go to the calendar on the Ames Public Library website.
The meeting seeks to educate the public on what a climate action plan is, why a community needs one, and what goals might be included in Ames’ specific plan. You’ll have a chance to learn from climate action experts from neighboring cities. The moderator for the event is Vivian M. Cook, ISU graduate student in Community Development and Sustainable Agriculture. Panelists include Dr. William Gutowski, ISU Professor in Geological and Atmospheric Sciences; Josh Mandelbaum, Des Moines City Council Member; Sarah Gardner, Climate Action Engagement Specialist (Iowa City); and Tamara Marcus, Sustainability Program Manager (Linn County).
Des Moines Register
The proportion of Iowa s energy coming from wind surged to nearly 60% last year, the most in the nation, as a growing number of turbines came online, U.S. Energy Information Administration data show.
Despite the global pandemic and recession, Iowa utilities and developers added about 540 turbines last year, pushing the total close to 5,900, the American Clean Power Association says.
Iowa s total operating capacity climbed to 11,660 megawatts in 2020, up 13% from 2019, when 44% of Iowa s net energy generation already a nation-leading proportion came from wind, the federal data show. The 2020 proportion was 59.6%.
Wind generation is an even greater source of power in some parts of the state, including much of the Des Moines metro. MidAmerican Energy, Iowa s largest power provider, told the Des Moines Register that wind supplied more than 80% of its energy, which is up substantially from 2019 at 61% and is far ahead of most investor-owned utility comp
This year in particular, it seems to have reached a boiling point, said council member Josh Mandelbaum, who represents downtown. I’ve heard more adamantly, and more frequently, and from a wider variety of constituents than previously about a very broad range of concerns and that it is now starting to bleed into other times beyond just the weekend evenings. … We need to get a handle on the situation.
The Des Moines Police Department requested the change, citing an uptick in complaints about excessive noise and dangerous speeds in recent months. A year ago, the city temporarily closed streets near the sculpture park to encourage social distancing and discourage scooping the loop, which seemed to help at least when paired with increased traffic citations.
Des Moines police, city leaders try to hit the brakes on scooping the loop
The decades-old tradition of scooping the loop, which brings people with their loud and fast cars to downtown Des Moines, can be a nuisance for residents. Author: Jon Diaz (WOI) Updated: 10:22 AM CDT April 1, 2021
DES MOINES, Iowa The familiar sounds of downtown Des Moines on a weekend night: loud mufflers, loud music and screeching tires.
For some, a fun albeit dangerous pastime. Just people having fun doing what they love, and they love racing, said Julia Stuart, who says she s never scooped the loop but has been invited to participate.