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Energy

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Renewable sources powered 88.5% of MidAmerican Iowa customers’ energy in 2021

Des Moines Register: MidAmerican Energy provided 88.5% of customers’ annual power needs from renewable energy last year, the Iowa Utilities Board has verified. That’s five percentage points higher than 2020, according to a news release from …

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Des Moines set to build its first municipal solar fields

Axios Des Moines: Des Moines will construct two solar fields on the city’s southeast side under plans approved by the Plan and Zoning Commission last week. They’re the city’s first municipal solar fields and are another …

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Southern Iowa beach closed after infection of ‘brain-eating amoeba’ confirmed

Des Moines Register: A southern Iowa beach is closed as a precaution after a swimmer was diagnosed with Naegleria fowleri, commonly called “brain-eating amoeba,” according to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. The closure …

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Northern Iowa derecho is state’s third in less than two years

Des Moines Register: Weather officials confirmed a derecho struck Iowa on Tuesday — the third one in the state in less than two years. The straight-line windstorm — along with hail reported in some areas — …

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Vilsack urges farmers to seek funds to offset derecho losses, warns of worsening, more expensive storms

MINBURN – Farmers who suffered market losses as a result of the August 2020 derecho that damaged millions of acres of crops and destroyed grain bins and other buildings can apply for funds through the $10 billion …

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Des Moines unveils plans for a $40 million phosphorus recovery plant

Axios Des Moines: A $40 million phosphorus recovery facility will be constructed by the Des Moines Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation Authority under a plan presented to the city’s Urban Design Review Board last week. The WRA anticipates …

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Tech giants question cost of MidAmerican’s $3.9 billion wind, solar plan

Des Moines Register: MidAmerican Energy’s commitment to renewable energy is one of the things that has drawn Facebook, Google and Microsoft to build data centers in Iowa. But now the tech giants are raising questions about …

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Task force asks Polk supervisors to spend up to $16 million on water quality

Des Moines Register: Polk County supervisors are being asked to spend up to $16 million on several water-quality projects that County Administrator John Norris said could jump-start “transformational” changes for Central Iowa residents. A task force …

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NOTEBOOK – ONE GOOD READ: Green energy’s big looming problem is red tape

Wind turbines are now built into the Iowa landscape, and I think they add a nice height to our rolling plains. I learned from this Wall Street Journal article that with costs to install wind and solar …

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Flood warnings in effect in Central Iowa after thunderstorms bring heavy rain

Des Moines Register: Flooding may affect parts of Central Iowa today after heavy rains from overnight thunderstorms, according to the National Weather Service. Flood warnings were issued for areas near Boone and Ames. A flood warning …