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Energy

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EPA proposes year-round E15

Des Moines Register: Iowa drivers this summer could start buying E15 — a more budget-friendly gasoline that’s blended with 15 percent ethanol. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Tuesday proposed changing federal rules to allow year-round access …

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Plans unveiled for 349-mile renewable power line through northern Iowa

Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier: A development firm plans to construct a 349-mile underground power line to move renewable energy generated in rural Iowa to Chicago and eastern cities. Direct Connect Development Co. on Monday announced the SOO …

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Solar advocates raise questions about Iowa group campaigning against net metering

Iowa clean energy advocates suspect the state’s largest utility is secretly behind a new organization claiming to represent farmers, consumers and businesses that oppose the state’s solar policies, reports the Energy News Network. The utility neither …

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Iowa struggles as small business job creation breaks record

Corridor Business Journal: Job creation among small businesses broke the 45-year record in February with a net addition of 0.52 workers per firm, according to National Federation of Independent Businesses’ monthly jobs report, released Thursday. The …

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State officials assess water quality progress

The state government has released its latest data on achieving the voluntary goals set by the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy — the state’s main machinery to address significant water quality problems. As state lawmakers continue to debate raising the …

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Farm income below $70B — a new average for U.S. agriculture?

Successful Farming: The USDA forecast net farm income, a broad measure of profits, of $69.4 billion this year. If accurate, the total would be the third year of net income below $70 billion since 2015. …

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Alliant proposes increase in electric, gas base rates by as much as 25% in north Iowa

Alliant Energy has proposed an electric and gas rate increase for Iowa customers, citing costs for expanding wind farms and new meters, reports the Mason City Globe Gazette. Electric and gas base rates would increase in …

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REG revenue up 10.6% in ’18

Ames-based Renewable Energy Group’s revenue grew 10.6 percent to $2.4 billion  in 2018, with sales of 649.2 million gallons of biodiesel, the company reported Tuesday. Net income was $292.3 million, and adjusted EBITDA was $138.9 million. …

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Iowa AgriTech Accelerator seeks new executive director after Vollstedt joins Successful Farming

Former executive director Megan Vollstedt has left the Iowa AgriTech Accelerator to begin as the Agronomy & Technology Editor at Successful Farming, a Meredith Corporation publication. Vollstedt, who began at Successful Farming last week, was …

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NOTEBOOK – One Good Read:Is it supposed to be this cold? No!

It was 3 below zero when the newsroom convened for its morning meeting today, continuing a winter of weather insults that felt colder than usual. And, no, it shouldn’t be this cold. It’s early in …