‘Environment’ Archives

IOWA STILL #2 IN WIND POWER

According to a new report, Iowa is still the nation’s #2 wind energy producer.After adding enough wind projects to power another 879,000homes last year, Iowa solidified its ranking as the #2 wind energy producer in the United States. The report, which was produced by the American Wind Energy Association, noted 11 wind energy projects that started generating an additional 879 megawatts of power in 2009 bringing Iowa’s total wind energy capacity to 3,670 megawatts. Iowa is ranked behind only Texas, which produces 9,410 MW.

Category Environment |

Energy Efficiency Grants Available

The Iowa Office of Energy Independence has $8,634,400 in energy efficiency grants available for cities and counties across the state to reduce energy use, have a positive impact on budgets and enhance economic development through job creation.
This grant is based on the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).  The purpose of the Iowa EECBG program is to provide funding with a competitive grant process which would assist local governments with reducing fossil fuel emissions, reducing total energy use of the eligible entities, improving energy efficiency in the building and creating and retaining jobs.

To apply for these grants go to: www.iowagrants.gov

To get more information go to: www.energy.iowa.gov

Tags: ARRA, eecbg, energy effiicency, iowa office of energy independence
Category 2010 Session Information, Environment |

Iowa receives $5.9 million Energy Sector Green Jobs grant

Iowa has been awarded a three-year, $5.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to expand Iowa’s growing green economy sector. Iowa’s grant will target renewable energy, efficiency, Smart Grid Technology, Energy Assessments and other industries to increase the state’s overall strength in the green economy.  The overall goal of the grant is to bring state resources together to further develop the national green economy.

Over the next three years, the Iowa Energy Sector Partnership will implement a state-driven green workforce development plan. The project will focus on sustainable job growth in the Energy Sector and training workers with portable skills that provide opportunities and movement within the green sector.

Tags: grant, Green Jobs
Category Environment, Jobs & Economy |

Honey Creek to be Featured in GOLF Magazine

The Perserve Golf Course on Rathburn Lake is new to the Honey Creek Resort State Park, It will be featured in the January issue of GOLF magazine for being one of the best new courses. The Preserve is an 18-hole golf course designed for the novice and experienced golfer.

Honey Creek Resort State Park, Iowa’s first destination park and opened in September, 2008. The resort is a public/private partnership with public ownership and private management. The 2005 Legislature authorized a bonding package that raised $28 million in revenue bonds for the park. The Legislature appropriated a total of $13.5 million over several years to complete the construction, and local organizations have raised over $4 million as a private match. Also, the Grow Iowa Values Fund authorized $1 million a year from FY 2007 through FY 2010 for the resort. Additional funding will also be derived from Iowa’s Park and Institutional Road Fund, Marine Fuel Tax, federal funding assistance, and other sources.

For more information about the Honey Cree Golf Course visit http://www.honeycreekresort.com/amenities/the-preserve-golf-course-2

Category Environment, Featured, Jobs & Economy |

Deadline for I-Jobs Stormwater Grant is Dec 1

The DNR is still taking applications for a new grant program aimed to help improve urban water quality while also creating jobs for Iowans.
Announced in September, the I-JOBS Green Urban Stormwater grant program has more than $1.4 million to help Iowa organizations design and build post-construction green urban stormwater practices.
Urban green stormwater practices, such as bioswales, rain gardens and permeable pavement, help slow and filter rain water as it runs off urban surfaces. As it runs across lawns and pavement, stormwater can pick up pollutants like soil, fertilizers, pet waste and oil. Rain water washes into storm sewers, which dump the water into a local stream or lake without any treatment.
Materials to help applicants have been added to the DNR Web site, including editable application forms and an FAQ document with answers to the most common questions received. The application and other materials can be accessed at www.iowadnr.gov/rfp.html under the title “I-JOBS Improved Green Urban Stormwater Best Management Practices.” The deadline for all applications is 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 1, 2009.

Category Budget, Environment, Featured |