Ames-based Renewable Energy Group announced yesterday that it has entered into agreements with Western Iowa Energy, Central Iowa Energy LLC and Blackhawk Biofuels LLC to consolidate their plants. The combined business is expected to better position the company to meet anticipated demand, with increased efficiencies and stronger distribution channels. Ownership of the four companies will be combined into a new holding company called Renewable Energy Group Inc. The transaction is still subject to approvals by shareholders of the four companies and other regulatory approvals.

Home sales were up 8.5 percent in April compared with March but still down 25.4 percent from April 2008, according to the latest report from the Des Moines Area Association of Realtors. During the month, 572 contracts for home purchases were closed, with an average price of $148,666, up slightly from March but down from $170,122 in April 2008. Homes were on the market an average of 95 days in April, down from 102 days in March 2009 and April 2008.

General Motors Corp. will begin notifying dealers late this week about which dealerships will be closed as part of the company’s efforts to reduce its U.S. network by 50 percent, Business First of Buffalo reported. In a 30-minute media conference call yesterday, CEO Fritz Henderson said the process of shutting down dealerships will take several months but gave few details. He also said the company has had a number of parties interested in buying its Saturn brand and is negotiating with two potential buyers for the Hummer brand.

Fiat SpA also will be deciding which dealers will be retained when it takes over Chrysler LLC as the company goes through the bankruptcy process, Bloomberg reported. According to people familiar with the situation, an initial list of retailers to remain with the company will be filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court by Thursday, with some dealers possibly added after that. Chrysler planned last year to cut the number of dealers in major metro areas by as much as 50 percent.