Today is August 11th, or 8-1-1, which coincides with the three-digit telephone number Iowans need to call before they do any late summer digging in their yards. Seth Hale is spokesman for Iowa One Call. "We'll be doing our promotional day to remind folks across the state of Iowa to call at least 48 … [Read more...]
Community groups trying to help Clinton residents forced out of apartment building
Several local agencies have come forward to help residents of the Lafayette Towers apartments as they are being forced to move from the downtown Clinton building. Clinton City officials arranged a meeting Tuesday afternoon to help coordinate that assistance. Clinton Mayor Mark Vulich said the city … [Read more...]
La Motte company wins SBA loan to install fiber optic cable
A tiny town in eastern Iowa's Jackson County is the beneficiary of a more than $2.7 million loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The loan is going to the La Motte Telephone Company. General Manager JoAnne Gregorich says the money will be used to install 71 miles of underground fiber-optic … [Read more...]
ISU sells football field naming rights to MidAmerican Energy
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...]