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April 2026 | Visit us online at www.icgov.org/climateaction. 

By the numbers: Domestic battery production takes a big leap forward!

In 2024, no U.S. factories had the capability to produce batteries for grid storage, which have a different design than other batteries.

By the end of 2025, U.S. factories had the capacity to produce 70 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of grid-batteries.

Grid-battery manufacturing is projected to continue to grow to 145 GWh in 2026.

Because of this, batteries will account for 28% of new U.S. power plant capacity built in 2026.

Calling all Energy Blitz volunteers

Reach for your walking shoes and join others taking climate action! Iowa City will be hosting its sixth Neighborhood Energy Blitz on Saturday, April 25.

Individuals, families, clubs, teams, and other groups can volunteer to deliver energy saving kits to homes in the Wylde-Weeber and Bryn Mawr Heights neighborhoods in the morning and collect used lightbulbs and batteries in the afternoon.

Find more information and register as a volunteer on the sign up page. 

• Saturday, April 25, a.m. and p.m. shifts available
• Wylde-Weeber and Bryn Mawr Heights Neighborhoods, starting at Horn Elementary, 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
• Sign up online.

Earth Expo celebrates community-wide sustainability projects

Update: This article has been updated to reflect the correct time for the Earth Expo event from 1 to 4 p.m. on April 11.

Bring your family and friends to check out Earth Expo exhibits from organizations such as the Iowa Flood Center, Bur Oak Land Trust, student environmental groups, and more! 

• Saturday, April 11, 1-4 p.m.
• Robert A. Lee Recreation Center, 220 S. Gilbert St.

Reminder: redeem Root for Trees vouchers soon

If you received a Root for Trees voucher this year, you have until May 15 to redeem it. If you meant to apply for a voucher this year, it is not yet too late! Root for Trees applications will be accepted through May 1, until 5 p.m. For more information, visit icgov.org/rootfortrees.

More street trees coming to IC neighborhoods!

The City will be planting numerous trees in public rights-of-way during spring and fall 2026. In addition to infill planting locations throughout Iowa City, three regions will be receiving a large number of trees. These regions include the westside this spring and two additional regions this fall. For maps of the areas receiving trees, and for more information, visit icgov.org/parkprojects.

Iowa City’s Climate Action Commission meets monthly

Access upcoming and past meeting packets  at the Climate Action Commission web page.

Help Green Iowa AmeriCorps protect water and wildlife

Join Green Iowa AmeriCorps members for a clean up day on Highway 6!

Sign up online and plan to meet at Riverfront Crossings Park on Friday, April 17, at 10 a.m.

Climate writer Elizabeth Kolbert to speak in Iowa City this Earth Month

A free public event hosted by UI Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative presents Pulitzer Prize-winning science writer and journalist Elizabeth Kolbert.

• Saturday, April 11
• Voxman Music Building, 93 E Burlington St.
• Register online (required).

The event begins with a free public reception at 6 p.m. in the Pearl Lobby of the Voxman. The program begins at 7 p.m. in the Concert Hall, and the event ends with a book signing immediately following the program. Prairie Lights will be selling Elizabeth Kolbert's newest book during the reception.

For more Earth Month events, visit the Earth Month hub hosted by the UI Office of Sustainability. Browse the rich offering of opportunities to celebrate, connect, and act as an Earth-friendly community during the month of April!

Katherine Peterson

Climate Action Commissioner

How do you take climate action?

I've focused a lot on mitigating waste in the kitchen. I've converted to using reusable cookie liners, muffin holders and Keurig cups. I use rags for clean-up and pack my lunch in reusable containers. I've reused a lot of food containers for craft storage and projects. I also hold onto my kitchen items as long as possible--my hand-me-down vintage Sunbeam mixer makes great cookies!

Why is it important to take climate action?

Climate action holds a lot of dual benefits. Riding your bike reduces carbon emissions but is also a source of exercise. Reducing new purchases minimizes your carbon footprint and saves money. You can take that a step further by sharing resources, such as specialized tools, within your community. This builds relationships and strengthens social resilience.

What can others do to take climate action?

Focus on small changes to build climate-orientated habits. Hyper focusing on things that you want to change will negatively impact your mental health. As a starting point, visit your local library to borrow materials instead of buying them. In addition to books, the Iowa City library lends out video games, hobby kits, seeds, and more!

This month's reason for hope: six trillion ways to fix climate change

A paper recently published in Science outlines an approachable "wedge" framework for climate solutions. Find more climate hope on the Project 51 web page.

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This newsletter is published by the City of Iowa City Climate Action and Outreach Division. For more information, contact Sarah Gardner at 319-887-6162 or Sarah-Gardner@Iowa-City.org

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