Electricity is transmitted through regional grids of transmission lines, towers, and substations connecting power generating facilities to local distribution grids. The power infrastructure in Iowa is tied into the MISO network which allows Iowa utilities access to a real-time marketplace for power generated, transmitted, and distributed to and from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. The ability of the electric grid to generate, transmit, and distribute a reliable supply of power at a constant voltage and affordable cost is fundamental for Iowa’s continued growth and development. Iowa’s ongoing concern is with aging transmission infrastructure. Iowa’s Investor-Owned Utilities had over 1,000 miles of transmission lines greater than 50 years old in the most recent Iowa Utilities Board Report (10%). Nearly 60% of Iowa’s reported lines are 30 years old or older. Aging lines may result in lower reliability and increased operating and maintenance costs. Upgrading and expanding existing transmission and distribution infrastructure is vital to protecting grid stability and resilience. Notably, Iowa is a leader in wind generated energy production, making it an attractive location for data centers and other heavy electrical power users.
Download the Report Card
Aviation
Bridges
Dams
Drinking Water
Energy
Inland Waterways
Levees
Rail
Roads
Solid Waste
WastewaterA: Exceptional, B: Good, C: Mediocre, D: Poor, F: Failing, ?: Incomplete
Each category was evaluated on the basis of capacity, condition, funding, future need, operation and maintenance, public safety, resilience, and innovation
Aviation
78 public-use airports
Bridges
5,043 of the 24,398 bridges are structurally deficient
Bridges
$56 million in bridge funds came from the Federal Highway Bridge Fund in 2011
Dams
91 high hazard dams
Dams
23% of the state regulated dams have an Emergency Action Plan
Drinking Water
$5.9 billion in drinking water infrastructure needs over the next 20 years
Energy
10.309 gigawatt-hours of renewable energy every year, ranking it 10th
Hazardous Waste
11 sites on the National Priorities List
Inland Waterways
490 miles of inland waterways, ranking it 19th nationally
Levees
889 miles of levees
Ports
10.3 million short tons of cargo in 2012, ranking it 35th nationally
Public Parks
$3.0 million of unmet needs for its parks system
Rail
15 freight railroads covering 3,897 miles across the state, ranking 11th nationally by mileage
Roads
$935 million a year in costs to motorists from driving on roads in need of repair, which is $422 /yr per motorist
Roads
10,560 of the state’s 114,438 public roads are major roads, and 12% are in poor condition
Schools
$4.7 billion in estimated school infrastructure funding needs
Transit
21.3 million annual unlinked passenger trips via transit systems including bus, transit, and commuter trains
Wastewater
$3.4 billion in wastewater infrastructure needs over the next 20 years
Tell Your Legislator
Got a Question?
Sign Up for Updates
Be Social
March 03, 2017
As the President’s repeated in his address to Congress his pledge to dramatically increase infrastructure spending to the tune of $1 trillion, various Congressional Committees
March 01, 2017
On Tuesday night, President Trump addressed a joint-session of Congress for the first time in his presidency. Infrastructure was among the many issues he discussed.
February 28, 2017
U.S. motorists set a new record for vehicle miles travelled (VMT) in 2016, driving over 3.2 trillion miles, an increase of 70 billion miles from
February 17, 2017
Romantic dates, the Grammy awards and celebrating black history are not the only milestones of this week; the Oroville dam crisis in California and the
