Iowa

“It creates thousands of jobs, supports economic development, boosts tax receipts, attracts investment in our state, and puts extra money in farmers’ pockets,” notes Sen. Chuck Grassley, a leading Republican.

Iowa, “among the top five energy-consuming states, mainly because of its industry and manufacturing,” is benefitting from its embrace of renewables, which continue to take power- generation market share from coal.

A coal-fired power plant that has historically been a key part of Nebraska’s electricity network is being used less and less as grid operators turn increasingly to cheaper wind- and solar-generation power. Analysts say the Gentleman coal plant, which is almost 40 years old, is like many in states like Iowa, Nebraska, and North Dakota that are no longer cost-competitive. “These plants were designed to run at, or near, full capacity,” said a plant manager for the Nebraska Public Power District. “We aren’t doing that much anymore.”