Environmental groups accuse MidAmerican Energy of misleading claims on renewable energy amid coal plant operations.

Environmental groups are accusing Warren Buffett’s MidAmerican Energy of misleading the public about its renewable energy claims, claiming it supplied 100 percent renewable power to customers while operating a half-dozen coal plants. The Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC) and the Iowa Environmental Council made the claim in comments to the Iowa Utilities Board. The claim, which MidAmerican disputes, highlights the issue of utilities’ communication plans, as many aim to achieve 100 percent or net-zero carbon emissions. Josh Mandelbaum, a senior attorney for the ELPC, said a 2017 rule meant to ensure independent verification of utilities’ renewable energy claim instead serves to legitimize them. The Iowa utilities board has proposed rescinding the rule, which requires regulators to verify how much of utility’s energy supply comes from renewable resources.