Iowa Environmental Council (IEC)

IEC members, as of 2024, included left-of-center organizations that support restricting hydrocarbon fuels, left-of-center socioeconomic policies, and weather-dependent energy sources, notably wind and solar energy. American Rivers, the Citizen’s Climate Lobby, the Sierra Club, and the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as of 2024, were notable members of the IEC. ²

Between 2020 and 2023, the group was financially supported by the Tides Center, the Energy Foundation, the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Environmental Defense Fund, and The Minneapolis Foundation. As of 2023, the group also received financial support from the National Christian Charitable Foundation, a common donor to right-of-center causes. ³

Founding and History

The Iowa Environmental Council was founded in 1995 by a group of environmentalists, business leaders, and lawmakers. ⁴ The group’s primary focus at the time of its founding was water quality and land stewardship. ⁵

In 1997, IEC helped pass legislation requiring regulations on agricultural drainage wells to prevent them from contaminating groundwater. The same year, the group also developed a water quality action plan for Iowa, organizing a statewide conference to garner investment and support for water quality monitoring. ⁴ A year later, the group co-founded IOWATER, a now-discontinued volunteer water monitoring program. ⁶

The IEC, in 2005, added a wind and solar energy program, with the objective of moving the country towards a 100% non-hydrocarbon-fuel future. ⁴ Between 2006 and 2009, the IEC helped pass new water quality standards to meet federal Clean Water Act requirements. The IEC was also appointed to the Iowa Climate Change Advisory Council. ⁵

In the 2010s, the group helped establish rules for new pollution sources in high-quality waters, updated energy efficiency building codes, and pushed legislation to remove barriers for small-scale non-hydrocarbon energy projects. The IEC also advocated major legislative actions, such as extending wind energy tax credits and passing solar energy tax credits in 2012. ⁴

As of 2020, the group aims to make Iowa 100% reliant on weather-dependent energy sources as part of the 100% Iowa Initiative. ⁴

Activities

Weather-Dependent Energy and Climate

As part of its “Clean Energy and Climate” program, the IEC, as of 2024, advocated for several energy policies within Iowa to advantage weather-dependent energy sources, notably tax incentives for wind and solar energy sources, the promotion of grid interconnection, and the development of high-voltage transmission lines for wind energy. ⁷

The group, as of 2024, has also been active in solar energy promotion, calling for tax incentives, net metering, and third-party power purchase agreements to boost solar power production in the state. The IEC has also advocated reforming rate-making laws. ⁷

Water and Land Stewardship

The “Clean Water and Land Stewardship” program, as of 2024, involved advocacy work aimed at solving issues of water pollution and agricultural runoff in Iowa. ⁸

As part of the program, the IEC worked with state officials and other stakeholders to bring about regulations that sought to decrease nitrogen and phosphorus content released to water sources in the state. ⁸

The IEC, as of 2024, has also been active in demanding a thorough implementation of the Clean Water Act, particularly the enforcement of permits regulating chemical discharge from factories. ⁸

Environmentalism

The “Iowa Environmental Justice” program, as of 2024, was aimed at addressing what the nonprofit considered to be the disproportionate impact from pollution and environmental problems faced by ethnic minorities and low-income communities. ⁹

As part of the initiative, the group has partnered with the Heartland Environmental Justice Center (HEJC) to function as an intermediary connecting individuals and groups with partner organizations on initiatives such as maintaining water infrastructure in rural areas, replacing lead piping, improving water access and safety, and helping coal-dependent communities transition away from reliance on coal. ⁹

Leadership

Sarah Green is the executive director of Iowa Environmental Council, as of 2024. Prior to her work with the IEC, she worked with several international and local nonprofits, particularly Blessman International, the Children’s Cancer Connection, and the McElroy Trust. ¹⁰

Jennifer Hemsen is the president of the organization’s board of directors, as of 2024, while Jonathan Gano of Representing Trees Forever serves as the group’s vice president. ¹¹

Representatives from the Drake Environmental Action League, Practical Farmers of Iowa, the American Institute of Architects – Iowa Chapter, Des Moines Water Works, Big Rock Park, and the Whiterock Conservancy, as of 2024, sit on the council’s board. ¹¹

Funding

In 2023, the Iowa Environmental Council received $1,650,718 in revenue, of which $1,347,336 was expended. The organization had a net income of $303,382 and held $1,262,870 in net assets at the end of the year. Approximately 90% of the group’s revenue came from contributions by members and donors, while $81,588 or 4.9% of the nonprofit’s revenue came from program services. ¹²

Between 2020 and 2023, the group was financially supported by the Tides Center, the Energy Foundation, the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Environmental Defense Fund, and The Minneapolis Foundation. As of 2023, the group also received financial support from the National Christian Charitable Foundation, which usually donates to right-of-center causes. ³