By Tim Kapucian —– We are a commodity state. We export our corn, hogs, beef and beans around the world. And in a few years, if the stars align correctly, we will export a lot more of our wind. Currently, Iowa is No. 2 in the nation for wind production, and we’re sneaking [...]
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A proposed rate increase for MidAmerican Energy to fund a possible nuclear power power plant is ill-advised, an energy expert said Sunday during a visit to Iowa City. Dr. Arjun Makhijani, president of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research in Takoma Park, Maryland, spoke Sunday to a group of about 30 people at the [...]
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Interstate Power and Light Co.’s tentative plan to build a $700 million natural gas combined cycle power plant is looking less and less tentative. Alliant Energy terminated plans to build a $1.5 billion coal-burning power plant in Marshalltown in January 2010. The project had been approved by the Iowa Utilities Board, but with some big [...]
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Plasma Power has mostly focused on Marion for locating a power plant, but Cedar Rapids also would be interested in being home to a power plant using plasma-arc technology to zap garbage into energy. Scott Olson — a Realtor with Skogman Commercial who began representing Plasma Power in Cedar Rapids before he won a Cedar [...]
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UPDATE: Some lawmakers and advocacy groups are questioning a measure that would help MidAmerican Energy pay for a possible nuclear power plant, arguing that slow-growing Iowa produces significantly more energy than it uses and doesn’t need an expensive electricity generator. Opponents of the measure, which would let the utility recover costs related to a nuclear [...]
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Alliant Energy expects to reach a decision by the end of June whether to build another power plant or pursue another path to meet its long-term energy needs in Iowa. The company’s Interstate Power & Light asked for proposals last week from energy suppliers for a long-term power supply agreement to provide 550 megawatts of [...]
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Prolonged weather-caused power outages present a hazard that Iowans should prepare for, according to Rich Patterson, director of the Indian Creek Nature Center. “People tend to take electricity for granted, but they should be aware they could lose power for a week or two,” said Patterson, who recently helped his elderly parents recover from two [...]
continue »As the holiday and winter heating season approaches, the Cedar Rapids Fire Department has traditionally seen an increase in the number of fires caused by electrical failures due to overloaded extension cords or power strips. The Fire Department recommends that all appliances be plugged directly into an outlet suitable for the required amperage of the [...]
continue »The state panel that regulates Iowa’s largest utilities has launched a look at how new and proposed federal EPA regulations will affect power companies and their customers.. The Iowa Utilities Board launched a notice of inquiry this month asking utilities primarily about the effect of the new regulations on their coal-burning power plants. Most of [...]
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