CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — A community discussion in Cedar Rapids Tuesday marked the latest flashpoint for the proposed Morgan Valley Energy Center.
People filled up the room to hear from experts about how they say gas-run power plants, and data centers, could impact quality of life.
This is not over,” Jon Lee, a member with the Save Morgan Valley organization, said. “If you see someone tomorrow or the next day that says, ‘Oh, this is already done,’ it’s not. It’s not done. But if we do nothing, then it will become done.
There’s still a long road ahead before the plant, which would be built south of Highway 30 and east of Linn-Benton Road, gets approved. However, that hasn’t stopped groups like Save Morgan Valley from speaking out against Alliant Energy’s proposal.
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Dr. Brittany Keyes, a clean air policy manager with Healthy Climate Wisconsin, discussed how to find the balance of meeting energy demand and acknowledging health effects.
Air pollution makes us sick. And when you retire coal plants and gas plants, communities get healthier really fast,” Keyes said. “We need energy, but what should they look like?
Lori Huntoon, a professional geologist and environmental industry leader, talked about how water usage will impact nearby wells.
“And then you won’t be able to pump water,” Huntoon added.
Huntoon also touched on how fast the projects are moving before regulators can keep up.
“That’s not okay,” Huntoon said. “I don’t know when that became okay, but it’s not.”
Some elected officials were in attendance, including At-Large City Councilman David Maier.
I’m the only council member who’s voted against any ordinance related to a data center,” Maier told the room. “I don’t support any new power source that’s not clean energy.
Taylor Adams, a spokesperson for Alliant, told Iowa’s News Now in a statement the center “is needed to meet growing energy demand and support the reliable electric service our customers and communities depend on.”
The project is subject to a thorough regulatory review process designed to ensure compliance with federal, state and local environmental and public health requirements,” Adams added. “Alliant Energy has a strong track record of environmental compliance and decades of experience operating regulated energy facilities under extensive oversight.
Alliant has submitted applications for the project’s zoning, a generating certificate, and air permit materials with multiple agencies. Before any construction starts, all of those processes must get approved.
