Iowa coal electricity generation share increased in 2025

The Iowa Environmental Council’s annual “condition of the state” report indicates a reversal in Iowa’s progress toward meeting energy demands with renewable sources. While wind remains the dominant source of electricity in the state, the share of energy generated by coal increased in 2025 by 3 percent compared to 2024.

According to the report, major utilities including MidAmerican Energy Company and Alliant Energy Corporation saw a higher share of generation from coal in 2025 than in the previous year. The Iowa Environmental Council maintains that the electricity sector must become “carbon-free” by 2035 to support net-zero greenhouse gas emission goals by 2050.

MidAmerican Energy Company responded to the report by stating that such goals “oversimplify an extraordinarily complex challenge.” The utility emphasized that the transition must account for costs, reliability, and operational realities, arguing that the report lacks acknowledgment of the necessity to maintain affordable and reliable power for customers.