Renewables vs Fossil Fuels
Iowa Scientists Urge Renewable Energy Expansion to Meet Rising Data Center Demand
Anonymous
More than 180 Iowa scientists and sustainability scholars are urging the state to expand wind, solar and battery infrastructure as electricity demand rises sharply, driven largely by data centers for artificial intelligence and cloud computing, along with the electrification of buildings, transportation and industry. Iowa, which ranks among the top five states for data centers per capita, could see peak electricity demand increase by more than 30% over the next decade. Researchers warn that utilities’ growing reliance on coal and plans for new gas plants could worsen air pollution, climate-related health risks and exposure to fossil-fuel price volatility. The 2026 Iowa Climate Statement says the state faces a choice between returning to greater fossil-fuel use or building on its renewable-energy leadership, which already supplies more than 60% of Iowa’s electricity according to one report.
Key Points
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The 2026 Iowa Climate Statement urges not only utilities but also ordinary residents, technology companies and local officials to support renewable deployment and oppose efforts that selectively hinder renewable energy.
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Iowa utilities are pursuing an “all of the above” strategy: alongside wind and solar investments, they are seeking to restart the state’s only nuclear plant, constructing gas-fired plants and increasing use of existing coal facilities.
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A recently published Iowa Environmental Council report found that coal’s share of Iowa’s electricity generation rose in 2025 for the first time in several years, reinforcing researchers’ concerns about a fossil-fuel pivot.
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The statement highlights Iowa’s natural advantages for renewable expansion, including strong wind resources, abundant sunshine and available land away from residential areas.
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The researchers say the energy decision has implications beyond emissions and power costs, warning that the way Iowa responds to rising demand will have “critical implications for Iowans’ health and wellbeing.”
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