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Energy

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Iowa poultry producers closely watching flocks after Indiana bird flu outbreak

Des Moines Register: With avian influenza creeping closer to Iowa, poultry producers are closely watching flocks for signs of the highly contagious disease that swept through the state’s commercial and backyard flocks nearly seven years ago, …

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Cedar Rapids council to adopt $37M ReLeaf plan to recover from derecho tree loss

Cedar Rapids Gazette: Looking to craft the premier U.S. urban forestry model that will guide Cedar Rapids’ recovery from devastating tree loss, the city and nonprofit Trees Forever have unveiled their ambitious 10-year plan to replenish …

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Scientists concerned about potential COVID spread from infected deer

Axios Des Moines: Widespread coronavirus infections have been detected in Iowa’s white-tailed deer, according to a peer-reviewed study published today. Scientists worry the disease could mutate in animals and spread back to humans. Scientists from Penn …

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Iowa DNR tells rangers to move out of state-owned houses at parks

Cedar Rapids Gazette: The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is evicting park rangers from government-owned houses in 23 state parks because it doesn’t want to pay up to $1 million on repairs. Critics of the plan …

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Waukee becomes 4th metro city to endorse moving forward with regional water utility

Des Moines Register: The Waukee City Council voted Monday evening to approve a resolution calling for progress toward the establishment of the Central Iowa Water Works, becoming the fourth metro city to agree to negotiations on …

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EPA tells Alliant to close Ottumwa power plant’s coal ash storage pond

Des Moines Register: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to reject Alliant Energy’s efforts to continue using its Ottumwa power plant’s coal ash storage pond, saying it’s concerned the site lacks sufficient groundwater monitoring. The EPA …

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NOTEBOOK – ONE GOOD READ: This startup is turning nonrecyclable plastic into building blocks fit for construction

Although sustainability has entered the minds of more consumers, the end of single-use plastics in the U.S. is still likely years away. This article from Fast Company reports that only 9% of the 42 million tons of …

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ICON Water Trails receives $15M from Water Infrastructure Fund for Raccoon River improvements

Iowa Confluence Water Trails has been awarded $15 million through the state’s Water Infrastructure Fund for improvements on the Raccoon River along Fleur Drive. According to the announcement, the funding was part of a larger …

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Energy Department’s REMADE Institute seeks input from manufacturers

The REMADE Institute, a 141-member public-private partnership established by the U.S. Department of Energy with an initial investment of $140 million, recently issued a Request for Information aimed at accelerating the transition to a Circular Economy. …

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WDM conduit project will move forward following lawsuit settlement

The City of West Des Moines will pay Mediacom $595,000 and allow the internet service to license parts of its conduit network, resolving a lawsuit filed more than one year ago, according to the settlement agreement reached …