The Ames Municipal Electric System’s power plant is among several facilities the Iowa Public Interest Research Group (IPIRG) has accused of failing to meet federally mandated clean air guidelines.

IPIRG representatives claim that the A.M.E.S. power plant, 200 E. Fifth St., among others statewide and nationwide, is not complying with the federal Clean Air Act regarding emissions standards.

The Clean Air Act, passed in 1970, sets limits on plant emissions anywhere in the country. The act also allows individual states to adopt stronger regulations based on their own geographic area, industry or other considerations.

Amber Hard, campaign director of IPIRG, which is based in Des Moines, said the group toured 80 power plants around the country and found that many, including A.M.E.S., “have been exempted from the Clean Air Act.”

Brian Button, air quality information specialist for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, said a number of plants built before the Clean Air Act was passed were “grandfathered from federal guidelines.”

Button said the Clean Air Act allowed utilities built on or before 1970 to operate without meeting federal clean air guidelines until they were updated.

Hard said in many cases, plants are still open and operating in this loophole.

“IPIRG is working on a campaign to close that loophole at the federal level,” she said.

Hard said the campaign includes all coal-fired plants not meeting modern emission standards.

“Last time we checked,” she said, “A.M.E.S. did not meet federal guidelines.”

Button said the Iowa DNR is not aware of any problems with A.M.E.S.concerning the Clean Air Act.

A.M.E.S. is a coal-fired plant.

“Without more information concerning why the statement was made by IPIRG, I can’t really say whether it is true or not,” Button said.

However, Button said he sent out a notice of violation to the plant concerning a report from a passerby of excess opacity (density of the smoke emitted from the plant) on May 12.

He said the problem was with the electrostatic precipitator.

Within a week, it had been handled, he said.

Merlin Hove, director of A.M.E.S., said to suggest the power plant is non-compliant with state and federal emissions standards, or that the facility has been allowed to grandfather old standards, is incorrect.

“[IPIRG] made a broad shot at all power plants, but they don’t give specifics,” Hove said.

Hove said IPIRG was “in and out” of the 80 plants members toured.

“The group’s never been to this facility, and I’ve never talked to anyone from that group,” Hove said.

He said A.M.E.S. officials plan to spend an additional $3.9 million for pollution control upgrades in the near future.

“They made some pretty harsh statements,” Hove said. “They made it sound like we’re loophole finders.”