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Energy

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Iowa Energy Center launches revolving loan program for energy infrastructure projects

The Iowa Energy Center board and the Iowa Economic Development Authority have opened applications for a new program that is intended to support energy infrastructure projects. According to a news release, the Energy Infrastructure Revolving Loan …

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NOTEBOOK – ONE GOOD READ: Google is now marking hotels as green certified

A new tech solution will allow travelers to determine whether a hotel uses green practices before booking. Google is building a feature for travelers to differentiate hotels and resorts that are eco-friendly and  have sustainable …

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Cedar Rapids City Council adopts ‘aggressive’ Community Climate Action Plan

Cedar Rapids Gazette: The Cedar Rapids City Council on Tuesday adopted a plan committing Iowa’s second-largest city to action to slow the rapidly worsening climate, with targets to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and to …

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Critics of carbon capture pipeline say Branstad appointees should recuse themselves

Des Moines Register: Critics of a proposed $4.5 billion pipeline project say Iowa Utilities Board members appointed by former Gov. Terry Branstad have a conflict of interest and should recuse themselves from decisions about the project, …

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Members of Farm to Table Task Force announced

The names of those who will serve on a task force to identify strategies to help farmers gain access to markets and sell their products were announced today. The Farm to Table Task Force was …

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Iowa-based grain cooperative struck by ransomware attack

Ransomware group BlackMatter is demanding $5.9 million from New Cooperative Inc., a Fort Dodge-based grain cooperative, following a ransomware attack around Sept. 17, Bloomberg reports. It is unclear how extensive the damage to New Cooperative’s systems is, …

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Iowa DNR survey shows 2020 derecho destroyed 7.2 million trees

Des Moines Register: Iowa lost an estimated 7.2 million trees in cities and farms when last year’s hurricane-force derecho swept across the state, a new Iowa Department of Natural Resources report shows. Cedar Rapids, Des Moines …

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Polk County supervisors approve resolution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90%

The Polk County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from county operations by 90% by the year 2040.

The supervisors voted 4-1 to approve a resolution adopting a Climate Action Plan, which will …

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NASA awards UI engineer $1.3 million in grants to study climate impact of wildfires

NASA awarded two grants totaling $1.3 million to Jun Wang, the James E. Ashton Professor of Engineering and assistant director of the University of Iowa Technology Institute (ITI), the Corridor Business Journal reports. One grant will …

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Iowa, Nebraska companies fined for diesel emission tampering

Associated Press: Two companies from Iowa and Nebraska have been fined for tampering with emission controls for hundreds of customers, the Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday. The companies — Midwest Truck Products of Cantril, Iowa; and …