The University of Iowa’s Public Policy Center has awarded the City of Dubuque two Hawkeye Decarbonization Awards for its work in reducing carbon emissions within the city.
The City of Dubuque on behalf of the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency (DMASWA) was awarded a Decarbonization Community Project Award, for the renewable natural gas (RNG) project at the DMASWA landfill. The project, which was completed in October of 2021, collects methane gas that is produced by landfill waste and purifies it into RNG. Project partner Dubuque Gas Producers then distributes the RNG via the Black Hills Energy pipeline. The volume of gas produced can heat approximately 2,700 homes in the community each year. The project is one of only two landfill RNG projects in the Midwest and has already reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 65%.
Additionally, Gina Bell, the City of Dubuque’s Sustainability Coordinator, was awarded a Green Energy Champion Award. Bell works to implement the City’s Climate Action and Resiliency Plan identifying opportunities and initiating efforts to reduce the city’s greenhouse gas emission by 50% by the year 2030. The University of Iowa’s Public Policy Center specifically praised Bell’s leadership of “Renew DBQ,” a program to help families with low-to-moderate-incomes access solar technology.
The Hawkeye Decarbonization Awards aim to recognize Iowa’s most innovative climate policies, projects, and people working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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