A report from the Iowa Environmental Council shows an uptick in the use of fossil fuels for electric generation in the state.

The IEC’s Steven Guyer says wind is still the top source, but the amount of power coming from coal increased about 50% from 2024 to 2025.  “The utilities have said this, that there is an increased demand out there. Load has been increasing.” he says. Guyer says wind generation has plateaued and the trend with coal is continuing this year. “It would appear that 2026 is headed down that same path of greater utilization of the coal units,” Guyer says.

Guyer says burning more coal in Iowa is concerning because it releases large amounts of carbon dioxide, which he says is the primary driver of climate change. Research has also linked air pollution from coal-fired power plants to asthma, cancer, heart and lung disease, and other health impacts. Iowa’s share of electricity generated by wind surpassed coal in 2019.

(By Rachel Cramer, Iowa Public Radio)