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Energy

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Alliant Energy says it will plant 1 million trees in Iowa and Wisconsin over next decade

Des Moines Register: Alliant Energy plans to plant 1 million trees in Iowa and Wisconsin over the next decade, part of the electric utility’s efforts to reduce the effects of carbon dioxide emissions. It will plant …
By BPC Staff | Jul 21, 2021
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Cleanup begins on contaminated downtown property

The former Dico Inc. property sits south of West Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway. Photo by Duane Tinkey

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this week began work to remove three buildings from a contaminated site in southwest downtown Des Moines, …
By KATHY A. BOLTEN | Jul 20, 2021
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Garst farmland near Coon Rapids to be sold at auction, placed in conservation easement

Farmland owned by the Garst family, who hosted Soviet Union Premier Nikita Khrushchev in the 1950s, will be sold at auction next month and placed into what is believed to be a first-of-its-kind soil conservation …
By BPC Staff | Jul 19, 2021
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Bill would reverse ruling that scuttled year-round E15 sales nationwide

Radio Iowa: The U.S. House Biofuels Caucus is introducing legislation to make it clear the EPA has the authority to allow year-round sales of E15 and higher blends of ethanol. The bill would overturn a recent …
By BPC Staff | Jul 15, 2021
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Kemin Biofuels begins customer trials of new low-dose enzyme product

Kemin Industries, a global ingredient manufacturer based in Des Moines, announced that its Kemin Biofuels division has begun customer trials of a new low-dose enzyme aimed at reducing production costs for biofuels producers. The new …
By BPC Staff | Jul 14, 2021
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Renewable Energy Group’s CEO says biodiesel industry fueled for post-pandemic challenges

Cynthia Warner took the helm at Ames-based Renewable Energy Group in January 2019. Since then she has guided the renewable fuels company as it continues to grow and compete with the growing demand for electric …
By MICHAEL CRUMB | Jul 14, 2021
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New brand, new director named for Central Iowa Water Trails

The Central Iowa Water Trails project has a new brand, and a new director, as it takes its next step forward in realizing its goals of improving more than 150 miles of Central Iowa’s waterways.…
By BPC Staff | Jul 14, 2021
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$65M bond for water, rec projects planned for November Polk ballot

Des Moines Register: The big ideas Central Iowa officials have for creating new water trails, improving other recreational opportunities and parks, better protecting drinking water and preventing future flooding all have a price. So Polk County …
By BPC Staff | Jul 13, 2021
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Utility energy savings plummet after 2018 change in Iowa law

Cedar Rapids Gazette: Iowa’s largest utilities have dramatically scaled back efforts to help customers conserve energy since a 2018 law gutted the state’s efficiency requirements. MidAmerican Energy reported kilowatt-hour savings for 2020 that were 64% lower …
By BPC Staff | Jul 9, 2021
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Genie Maybanks named executive director at Iowa solar association

Genie Maybanks is joining the Iowa Solar Energy Trade Association as the organization’s first executive director, ISETA announced this week. Maybanks spent 18 years at New Pioneer Food Co-op in marketing, outreach, education and staff …
By BPC Staff | Jul 9, 2021