Call on Gov. Kim Reynolds to Remove Richard Lozier from the IUB

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10:00 a.m. CT, September 7, 2017
Contact: Heather Pearson at (402) 452-0534 or [email protected]
Ed Fallon at (515) 238-6404 or [email protected]

CALL ON GOV. KIM REYNOLDS TO REMOVE RICHARD LOZIER FROM THE IUB
Citing “gross partiality” as referenced in the Iowa Code

Des Moines, IA — Bold Iowa and its partners call on Governor Kim Reynolds and other members of the Executive Council of Iowa (Paul D. Pate, Secretary of State; Michael L. Fitzgerald, Treasurer of State; Bill Northey, Secretary of Agriculture; and Mary Mosiman, Auditor of State) to remove Richard W. Lozier, Jr. from the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) immediately, citing “gross partiality” as referenced in Chapter 66.26(3) of the Iowa Code. Mr. Lozier’s strong connections to Energy Transfer Partners as the attorney for the MAIN Coalition represent clear partiality, not only toward the Dakota Access pipeline but toward any similar proposals likely to come before the IUB in the future.

Earlier this summer, Indigenous Iowa and Bold Iowa began circulating a petition calling on Gov. Reynolds and the Executive Council of Iowa to remove Lozier from the IUB. Other allies sponsoring Friday’s petition delivery include Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement and Bakken Pipeline Resistance Coalition.

On Friday, September 8 at 11:00 a.m, Bold Iowa and its partners will deliver the petition to Gov. Reynolds, as part of the National Day of Action to Stop Energy Transfer PartnersA brief press conference will be held on the west steps of the State Capitol before delivering the petition signatures to the Governor’s office.

“This is yet another example of an extremely flawed process,” states Heather Pearson, Bold Iowa volunteer. “We need an Iowa Utilities Board that will act in the best interest of Iowans and not huge corporations.”

“Lozier’s connection to Energy Transfer Partners (ETP) as the attorney for the MAIN Coalition tags him as Branstad’s fox sent to guard Iowa’s land, water and property rights. Lozier’s bias is so transparent that Branstad never should have appointed him,” said Ed Fallon, director of Bold Iowa. “Gov. Reynolds needs to do the right thing and remove Lozier from the IUB. The Iowa Code speaks strongly to this type of conflict, citing ‘gross partiality’ in Chapter 66.26(3) as grounds for deposing someone like Lozier.”

Bold Iowa was formerly part of the national Bold Alliance and is now an independent non-profit organization that addresses the climate crisis, opposes the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure, promotes renewable energy and works to build a broad, urban/rural coalition of Iowans concerned about climate, land, water, property rights and greater accountability and integrity in politics. The organization’s new website is boldiowa.com.

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