Tammy R. Lawson

June 19, 2008
By Tammy R. Lawson
MC Sun Staff Writer

We have all seen them wedged against a fence or blowing across the road-the ubiquitous plastic grocery bag-and the popular carry-all was the main topic at the Marshall County Board of Supervisors’ June 10th session.

Discussions were held with local citizens whether to eventually execute an ordinance that would ban non-compostable grocery bags used within the county. This ban would only affect two rural convenience stores outside of the city limits.

San Francisco was the first US city to enforce such a ban last November. If Marshall County was to follow through, it would be first in the state to do so. Other cities in California, Texas, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Oregon, Arizona, and Maryland have also considered similar bans on the infamous bag as well.

The discussion came amid growing concerns, one of which over 100 billion of the handy bags end up in America’s landfills each year. But instead of entering their trash-heap destination, many are becoming airborne to get caught in fences, trees, and power lines while also clogging the throats of wild animals, gutters, and sewers, not to mention the long-term environmental consequences.

“I’ve found bags that have blown into my corn field from who knows where,” Board member Ron Goecke said. “It’s getting out of hand.”

“I think an ordinance is unnecessary and it should be left up to the individual to decide if they want to use a plastic bag,” said local farmer Grant Upah, who was against any future proposal. “The government should stay out of this decision. On my farm, it’s not a big issue, and I can’t believe it’s a big issue on any other farm. We’ve got more important issues to deal with.”

Bag manufacturers prefer the plastic wonders because they cost only a penny per bag to produce, while many consumers prefer their ease of carrying items home from stores.

“I think all three of us on the Board have had people call us with a misunderstanding about what we’re doing,” said Board member Pat Brooks. “We’re only considering banning those with a petroleum base and this is only a discussion about it. We’re not here to ban all plastic bags.”

Bags are manufactured from crude oil, natural gas, or other petrochemical derivatives which are transformed into molecules known as polymers or polymer resin. After being heated, shaped, and cooled, the plastic is ready to be printed for merchant distribution.

But that’s a misnomer, according to Phil Rozenski, Director of Environmental Strategies for Hilex Poly LLC, a manufacturer of plastic bag products based in St. Louis, Missouri. “Plastic bags aren’t made from petroleum…they’re made from natural gas. It’s one of the biggest misconceptions out there on the internet.”

He continued, “Ninety one percent less energy is used to recycle a plastic bag than a paper bag, so we have an energy offset with the plastic bags.”

Clair Long of Marshalltown said he didn’t feel the plastic grocery bags were that much of a problem. “I’ve seen some, of course, and we expect to see some but we do reuse the plastic bags and recycle.”

Resident Mary Stewart stated in a written letter that the Board of Supervisors was to be commended for their concern over use of the bags in convenience stores rurally. “These bags pollute the environment while providing a danger to habitat and wildlife in the area.”

Environmentalists have rallied against their use for years because they are difficult to recycle and take anywhere from 400 to 1000 years to decompose, whether in landfills or your local farm land.

Melbourne resident Linda Barnes said she was a biologist who would support a proposal if one was brought forth. “On our farm, we encounter a great number of plastic bags caught in fruit trees, fence lines, and Iowa is the most altered state in the nation. We have less original eco-system than any other state and it would be nice if Marshall County could make a simple statement.”

“All this would be is a statement because we’re only affecting two businesses,” said Chairman Gordie Johnson, “but it is a starting point as to say we do care.”

“Why have we have not, as a county, embraced the efforts of the city?” asked Curt Loney. “There aren’t any city personnel here and they should be very interested. If you get the city into this, there are lots of areas we can work together on, and this is a big one.”

“We talked with the city about this several months ago, and we delivered a copy of this [proposal] so they could see our efforts,” Brooks said. “I hope the city will do something, but it has to be something that makes sense and accommodates everyone.”

There was no word if or when the issue would receive future discussion, but it’s safe to say the cat’s out of the bag, and it’s not a paper one.

Members of The Iowa Utilities Board voted 2-1 in favor of Alliant Energy’s plan to build a 630-megawatt coal plant in Marshalltown.

May 8, 2008

By Tammy R. Lawson

MC Sun Staff Writer

For three hours, you could have heard a pin drop anywhere in the room.

Fate lay in the hands of the Iowa Utilities Board, which after much deliberation on everything from greenhouse gasses to economic growth, was sealed in a 2-1 favored victory for Interstate Power and Light Company (a subsidiary of Alliant Energy) to proceed with construction of its 630-megawatt coal/biomass plant in Marshalltown.

But unlike corn stalks the facility would burn, the April 30th decision wasn’t as cut and dried.

Board Chairman John Norris attached stipulations to the approved permit:

*Five percent of the plant’s electric generation must be derived from biomass within two years and 10 percent stemming from biomass within five years;

*Alliant must generate 10 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2013 (the projected start of service) and another 25 percent from renewable sources by 2028;

*If regulations are passed by Congress for the capture of carbon dioxide emissions, Alliant would be totally responsible for those emission costs without executing rate increases.

“I do think it would be a wise decision to wait a couple of years and see what strides have been made in carbon capturing,” Norris said. “But in looking at the big picture, I don’t know if all that much will change during that time.”

Board member Darrell Hanson, who voted against granting the certificate, had reservations. “I think the company may have aimed unrealistically high in assuming the cost alternatives for carbon constraints. We could approve this, but what happens if we’re wrong? You have to look at the risks and the consequences. It’s a matter of, which risk are we willing to take?”

“I think these conditions are reasonable,” said Board member Krista Tanner. “I also think as far as renewable energy goes, this application satisfies that.”

Norris added that the stipulations would reduce the burden of higher rates. “Consumers do have a lot of financial risk here, and this will add generation for the company’s customer base to support reliability, while providing continued incentive for wind/renewable energy-not only at this plant, but throughout the entire fleet in Iowa.”

IPL President Tom Aller said it was understandable for the regulatory body to add what ever conditions they wanted to the decision. “They represent our customers and the people of our state, so that’s what their job is. We take no issue whatsoever with the board wanting to condition the first part of this case.”

Mayor Gene Beach, also in attendance, was satisfied. “I believe that this is just the first step on many good announcements to come as a result of IPL selecting Marshalltown as its site for the most efficient plant in the Midwest.”

The following day, Beach received a phone call from Newton Mayor Chaz Allen, who’s city is constructing a 1.5 megawatt wind turbine facility, congratulating Marshalltown on its accomplishment.

“We discussed how the proposed plant will benefit all of us with jobs during construction, as well as the generation fees that will be coming in once generation starts,” Beach said. “We also discussed how the new TPI blade plant in Newton will fit nicely with Alliant’s wind generation plans…this means a great deal for the city, the area, and the state.”

But while the celebrating commenced for some, disappointment ensued for others, bringing the old saying “it ain’t over ’til it’s over” into play.

Speculation is high that Plains Justice attorneys Carrie La Seur and Jana Linderman, who represented five environmental organizations opposing the plant during January’s IUB hearing, may appeal the decision and block the necessary air quality permit from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources which is due by September, and contingent upon the final written decision expected in a few weeks.

“We believe that we prevailed on most factual issues and are very disappointed that the IUB didn’t rule in our favor,” La Seur said. “We are pleased with the Board’s recognition of its obligation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, we remain concerned with the negative environmental impacts of this plant, and it is far from clear that this ruling will do anything to meaningfully reduce [those] emissions all the members identified as a problem.”

Linderman added, “While we had asked that the Board deny the certificate, their approval is subject to a number of major conditions, and we will have to review the final written order carefully before making a firm decision how to respond.”

Denison native Jim Hansen, head of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York, also testified in January and was equally disappointed with the vote. “The decision makes no sense for the people of Iowa and the creatures of the planet. It especially short changes our children and grandchildren for the short term benefit of a small number of special interests who benefit by the burning of a cheap, dirty fuel.”

He continued, “Coal serves the interest of only a handful of oligarchs, but our officials are letting these special interests ride roughshod over the public, our planet, and creation. This is a case of cutting the baby in half-a dastardly deed. Somebody had better object real soon.”

Until the DNR decision is handed down on air quality, plant supporters like local Alliant representative Kenn Vinson are basking in the after-vote, for now. “An extremely big hurdle has been cleared.”

Marshall County Sun© Copyright 2008

April 10, 2008
By Tammy R. Lawson
MC Sun Staff Writer

With April 7th through April 12th being declared Severe Weather Awareness Week in Iowa, the timing for Marshall County couldn’t have been any better.

Meteorologist-In-Charge Brenda Brock, from the National Weather Service in Des Moines, recognized Marshall County as a StormReady® county by presenting Deanna Bachman, left, and Kimberly Elder, middle, on behalf of Marshall County Emergency Management, with a plaque and special StormReady® signs as recognition for a job very well done.

This makes Marshall only the fourth county out of 99 in the state to do so thus far, according to Warning Coordinator Specialist Jeff Johnson.

“One thing Marshall County has done-that I don’t think any other county nationwide has-was to [recently] provide every citizen with a weather radio,” Johnson said. “That stands out as a highlight in my career, observing a county who had gone the extra mile to try and make their citizens safe.”

According to the National Weather Service, a county or university must go through a rigorous process to receive StormReady® status by:

*Establishing a 24-hour warning point/emergency operations center;
*Having more than one way to receive severe weather forecasts and warnings in order to alert the public;
*Creating a system that monitors local weather conditions;
*Promoting the importance of public readiness through community seminars;
*Developing a formal hazardous weather plan, which includes training severe weather spotters, as well as holding emergency exercises.

“Actually, I’d like to thank everyone in the county because if they all didn’t cooperate, we couldn’t have done this county-wide, and this was a two-year process,” Elder said, addressing the audience. “We worked with 13 different cities and departments, including fire, and whatever we had to do to meet the criteria, everyone signed on and helped.”

In a whirlwind, the ceremony ended and weather spotter training began with approximately 100 people on hand at MCC’s DeJardin Hall, including members of Marshall County’s Board of Supervisors, listening as Johnson taught a two-hour class on recognizing an inclement weather threat, its effects, and the importance of weather spotters, especially when it comes to tornadic activity.

According to Bachman, between 60-80 weather spotters are trained each year in order to assist citizens in and outside the county with being prepared for emergency situations, and spotters have become a necessity to the system.

“We have to thank all of our spotters out in the area, because they are the eyes and ears for us,” Bachman remarked. “When they see something out in the county that maybe isn’t picked up by radar, they can call and get that information to the weather service in order to get warnings and information out.”

Ronald and Colette Benge of Marshalltown attended the class and couldn’t have agreed more, especially after last week’s episode of tornado sirens that were heard throughout the county. “I’ve been through a tornado, and when I looked out, it didn’t look as if one should even be around,” Ronald said, “but it didn’t change the fact that it was there!”

Welcome to Iowa.

Marshall County Sun© Copyright 2008