The Iowa State University Athletic Department announced today it has sold the naming rights to the football field at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames to MidAmerican Energy. The stadium itself will continue to be called Jack Trice Stadium in honor of the first African-American student-athlete in Cyclone … [Read more...]
Natural gas and wind power are the key factors in eventual closing of the Palo nuclear plant
Alliant Energy announced an agreement last week to end its purchase of power from Iowa's only nuclear power plant in Palo 5 years early, which will lead to the plant closing down in 2020. Alliant Energy spokesman Justin Foss says the decision was based on the drop in cost and availability now of … [Read more...]
Report finds no link to drop in property values and wind farms
Wind energy projects do not lower surrounding property values, according to a study being released by the Center for Rural Affairs. Center policy associate Lu Nelsen says opponents of wind power development who speak out at public meetings typically make the claim, but there's no evidence to … [Read more...]
Schedule moved up for shutting down Iowa’s only nuclear power plant
A new agreement reached between Alliant Energy and the operator of Iowa's only nuclear power plant will see the plant shut down five years earlier than first projected. NextEra Energy Resources spokesman, Peter Robbins, says the change came about as they looked at a new agreement with Alliant to … [Read more...]
Drinking water service may be restored in Creston this weekend
Some of the 20,000 residents and businesSses in southern Iowa that have been without drinking water for the past six days may get clean water in their taps this weekend. New "membranes" used to filter water supplied by the Southern Iowa Rural Water Association have been installed. Dan McIntosh, … [Read more...]
MidAmerican’s ‘Wind XII’ project moves utility to 100 percent renewable goal
MidAmerican Energy is seeking regulatory approval for its 12th major wind turbine project in Iowa. Adam Wright, MidAmerican's president and CEO, said once the project is done, the company's Iowa customers will have access to 100 percent renewable energy for their electricity. "For us, it's a … [Read more...]
Governor approves new $30 million ‘telco’ tax break
Four years from now, telephone companies and cable companies will pay about $30 million less in Iowa property taxes as a result of legislation Governor Kim Reynolds has approved. Buildings and cell towers will remain subject to local property tax assessments, but property taxes on "transmission … [Read more...]
Activists press for national ban on ‘factory farms’
A coalition of state and national groups are calling for a ban on so-called "factory farming" in the United States. Adam Mason of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement said large-scale livestock confinements have "decimated" family farms. "Thinking back to the late '70s, there were over 80,000 … [Read more...]
Reynolds says energy efficiency cap fits in her Iowa Energy Plan (AUDIO)
Governor Kim Reynolds says the new limit she's approved on utility fees that finance energy efficiency programs doesn't detract from the Iowa Energy Plan she released about a year and a half ago. "It's a balance and I think it does fit with it," Reynolds said late this morning. "The bill provides … [Read more...]
Decorah group plans to ask for recount after 5 vote failure in utility referendum
A canvass by the Winnesheik County Board of Supervisors today found the vote to authorize the city of Decorah to consider forming its own municipal utility fell 5 votes short. The canvas added one vote to the election night total May 1st had the measure failing by 4 votes. The final vote total … [Read more...]