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Energy

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Water system compliance hits 10-year high

The percentage of Iowa drinking water systems that complied with all health-based standards hit a 10-year high of 94.5 percent in 2015, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources reported. The systems, which serve a combined…
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PMCI looks to promote solar, wind nationally

There were days earlier in my career when I called Dawn Carlson to talk to her about the challenges small independent gas stations faced because of regulations requiring elaborate monitoring and cleanup of underground storage…
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Recharging: Iowa Energy Center under review after director leaves

Iowa Energy Center operations are getting a full review with the help of outside experts after the center’s departing director blasted what he called interference from utilities and others when he tried to make changes …

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Farmers worry about Bayer-Monsanto deal

Iowa farmers are concerned that the purchase of Monsanto Co. by Germany’s Bayer AG, if approved, could shrink competition and increase prices, The Des Moines Register reported. Monsanto, the world’s largest seed company, has agreed to a …

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Iowa lawmakers delay alcohol ban at two state parks

Cedar Rapids Gazette: The party will roll on for the time being at Lake Macbride State Park and Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area. The Iowa Natural Resource Commission had voted to ban liquor, beer and wine …

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Farm groups offer to pay legal fees in water lawsuit

The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation and the Iowa Corn Growers Association have offered to help pay legal costs for the supervisors in Buena Vista, Calhoun and Sac counties who are being sued by the Des …

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Branstad, other governors call for better E15 regulation

Gov. Terry Branstad joined six other Midwestern governors to send a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency asking for changes in a regulation they say is limiting the sales of E15 fuel. “EPA has …

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REG sells one-month record 50 million gallons of biodiesel

Renewable Energy Group set a new production record in August. REG sold approximately 50.9 million gallons of biodiesel and renewable hydrocarbon during the month. The figure does not include sales from Petrotec, the German biodiesel …

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Cedar Rapids looks to turn industrial area lake into rec area

Cedar Rapids Gazette: Cedar Rapids officials are launching a study of Cedar Lake north of downtown to check for environmental problems before the city decides whether to turn the waterway in an industrial area into a …

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Water coalition expands, backs sales tax increase

A growing group of business and conservation leaders plans a bigger push for a sales-tax increase expected to raise $180 million a year for recreation and conservation projects, many of which would help water quality, The …