Alliant Energy has submitted a 309-page air quality permit application for its proposed Morgan Valley Natural Gas power plant in Linn County near the Benton County line, less than two miles from some nearby homes. The filing came the same day the American Lung Association gave Linn County a failing grade for air quality.
According to the permit application, the proposed facility would rely entirely on fossil fuels and would be a significant source of greenhouse gases. Alliant Energy’s figures show the plant would emit the equivalent of adding more than 330,000 cars to Iowa’s roads each year it operates, or nearly 1,000 cars per day.
The application also states that the facility is designed to meet all applicable state and federal public health and environmental standards.
Alliant Energy declined an on-camera interview but provided a written statement saying the permit “demonstrates the Morgan Valley facility is designed to meet all applicable public health and environmental requirements established by law.”
Local residents and community groups have raised concerns about the project. Abe Kellison of Fairfax, who lives less than two miles from the proposed site and is a member of Save Morgan Valley, said Linn County’s failing air quality grade adds to his concerns.
“Why would we want a power plant when Linn County already gets a failing grade for air quality?” Kellison said.
Kellison said meeting minimum regulatory standards is not enough for residents living near the proposed plant.
“Tell the people that are going to live close to this plant about regulations and meeting those standards and ask them how they feel,” he said.
He also said Alliant could install a stronger pollution control system, but that cost was cited as a reason for not doing so.
“If you are including any kinds of particulate matter or pollutants into the air, that’s something we don’t want,” Kellison said.
Kellison urged residents to speak with elected officials and attend public meetings.
“I want people to question, I want people to show up at meetings and ask their elected officials why they feel this is necessary,” he said.
The proposed plant is intended to meet growing energy demand, driven in part by data centers supporting artificial intelligence. Alliant Energy plans to hold a public town hall next Thursday.
The application comes as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposes allowing power plants to stop reporting their greenhouse gas emissions altogether.
