The City of Des Moines has an important opportunity coming up that will help ensure it meets its committed climate goals: the franchise agreement renewal with MidAmerican, which expires on June 15, 2022. A franchise agreement is a negotiated contract between a municipality and utility service provider that grants the utility the right to use the city right-of-way to serve customers in the city’s jurisdiction. Iowans live in a monopoly utility environment, with no choice in their electric provider. This makes franchise agreement renewals a key tool for influencing these relationships to meet municipal goals.

Des Moines, residents. Please take this moment to tell the mayor and city council members to voice support and vote to advance a 3-year franchise agreement with MidAmerican Energy that includes climate commitments so the city can remain on track to reach its clean energy goals.

As climate change continues to worsen, more must be done by local leaders to address carbon emissions. In April, a 24/7 carbon-free energy resolution was proposed to the Waterloo City Council. To transition away from fossil fuels and accelerate the clean energy transition, our elected officials must commit to this clean energy goal.

Please take this moment to tell the City Council to adopt a 24/7 carbon-free electricity resolution to advance bold and meaningful climate action in Waterloo.

The Des Moines City Council will be considering a tax abatement incentive for new buildings to go fossil-fuel-free by building all-electric. Tax abatement is a decades-old incentive in Des Moines that reduces or eliminates the property taxes on new construction for several years. This proposed change would only allow the full incentive for new construction that is all-electric. This means that an eligible property's heating and cooking appliances could no longer use greenhouse gas-producing “natural” gas to qualify.

Tell your city council members to support an all-electric tax abatement proposal for new construction to help meet its ambitious clean energy goals.

Iowa City is a climate leader, yet more must be done to rapidly phase out fossil fuels and transition to 100% clean energy. To advance an equitable clean energy transition, our elected officials must commit to a 24/7 carbon-free electricity goal for Iowa City by 2030.

Please take this moment to tell the City Council to adopt a 24/7 carbon-free electricity resolution to ensure a sustainable and equitable future for Iowa City.