Renewable Energy

Appliance rebate program starts Monday (02/26/10)
Is the fridge on the fritz? Is the water heater going cold? Is the washer wearing down? Iowans dealing with any of those problems are in luck. Thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Iowa Appliance Rebate Program will be launched at 8 a.m. Monday morning...

Poet to expand in Emmetsburg (02/18/10)
While the parking lots outside resembled pickup truck sales lots, the ballroom featuring Northwest Iowa Ag Outlook keynote speakers inside the Clay County Regional Events Center touted the simultaneous messages of using alternative energy, making money, creating jobs and reducing the nation's dependency on foreign oil this week. ...

With a flick of the switch (12/08/09)
After several weeks of darkness, a couple of blocks of Grand Avenue boulevard between Eighth and 18th streets were illuminated Monday as Mayor Reynold Peterson, proclaimed, "Let there be light," while flipping a ceremonial switch, turning on the new "green" lighting. Not green as in color, but green as in energy efficient...

'Wow' wish list to go to SMU (12/01/09)
Spencer school board members have done as they were assigned by Spencer Municipal Utilities (SMU) board members -- and built consensus amongst themselves while compiling a wish list of potential "wow" projects. During a joint meeting between representatives from both parties on Sept. 28, Bruce Tamisiea, the gathering's facilitator, told those who'd gathered, "SMU is looking for our next what we call 'wow project.' That's something so big, so audacious that nobody thinks a town this size could take it on." ...

Wind farm segment could come to Clay County (10/17/09)
Representatives with renewable energy company NextEra are in discussions with county leaders to bring a major wind farm to northwest Iowa. Spokesman Steve Stengel said the company hopes to locate 167 wind turbines in the region. Under the current proposal, turbine placement would be equally distributed on Clay, Dickinson and Osceola County properties...

J&G shows green not just for John Deere (10/01/09)

Ribbon cutting Tuesday for newest Clay County green facility (09/26/09)
With the assistance of Iowa Lakes Resource Conservation and Development, J&G Regional Services, Inc. and its owners, Julie and Gary Hoefling, will host a ribbon cutting ceremony at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29. The event celebrates J&G Regional Services, Inc., located at 1601 35th Ave. W. in Spencer, the newest green facility in Clay County...

Pump prices stay in check (07/17/09)
Travelers through the region seem to be catching a break at the pump recently. The Iowa Office for Energy Independence said gasoline prices have been decreasing over the past three weeks with Midwest states seeing the largest drops. On July 14, the average price of 10-percent ethanol blend was $2.31, which is 41 percent lower than a year ago. The 10-percent blend was selling for $3.93 per gallon in July 2008...

Spencer's industrial development breaks ground (05/28/09)
"Welcome to the celebration," said Kathy Evert, president of the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation, greeting those gathered for Wednesday's ground breaking at the site of Spencer's new industrial park. The project marks the city's first green development...

It's official: VeraSun now Valero Renewable Fuels (04/02/09)
The Sioux Falls-based ethanol company that made a bright, but brief, splash in northwest Iowa was officially purchased by San Antonio refiner Valero Energy. VeraSun, the country's second largest ethanol producer, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October and on Wednesday, a Delaware bankruptcy court approved the sale of an Indiana development site and five VeraSun ethanol plants, including the Hartley location...

County trust offering funds for energy efficiency projects (02/28/09)
Is your home in need of some energy efficiency upgrades? Then the Clay County Housing Trust Fund could be an option. Formed locally nearly two years ago, the Clay County Housing Trust is part of a larger statewide effort targeting low- to middle-income home owners who are seeking funding options to improve energy efficiency in their homes. Beginning Monday, Clay County homeowners can complete applications to receive funding from the inaugural local dollar pool...

'Green Power Express' could come to area (02/11/09)
The Spencer, Storm Lake and Iowa Great Lakes areas could be in line to land a segment of a $10- to $12 billion network of wind energy transmission lines, according to officials at Michigan-based ITC Holdings Corp. The company on Monday announced plans to develop what it calls the "Green Power Express." The network of transmission lines would capture power from wind turbines in the Upper Midwest and carry them to load centers in places like Chicago, Minneapolis and southeast Wisconsin...

Culver touts wind energy in Philadelphia (12/04/08)
Iowa Gov. Chet Culver used a private meeting with President-elect Barack Obama to emphasize the need for wind energy as part of federal infrastructure packages. Culver met with Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden during a meeting with fellow governors in Philadelphia...

Corridor working to join students, industry (11/04/08)
The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation in collaboration with area high school Industrial Technology programs is working to connect students with local business and industry. A special event to expand on these efforts will be held on Monday, Nov. 10. "Where Are the Welders?" Instructional Forum and Career Fair will be held at the Spencer High School Industrial Tech building, from 6-9 p.m., free pizza and pop will be served. Students and parents are encouraged to attend...

ILCC wind tech students may transfer to UI under agreement (09/19/08)
The University of Iowa College of Engineering and Iowa Lakes Community College of Estherville, Iowa, have signed an agreement that will allow some Iowa Lakes students to transfer to either the UI Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering or the UI Department of Mechanical Engineering, effective fall semester 2009...

Briefs 9-11-08 (09/11/08)
The Clay County Farm Service Agency will host USDA informational meeting at 1 p.m. on Thurs., Sept. 11, at Frederick's of Royal, located at 303 Main St. in Royal. The meeting will provide information on SURE (Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program), which was enacted as part of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill), to provide supplemental disaster assistance...

Briefs 9-10-08 (09/10/08)
The Clay County Farm Service Agency will host USDA informational meeting at 1 p.m. on Thurs., Sept. 11 at Frederick's of Royal, located at 303 Main St. in Royal. The meeting will provide information on SURE (Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program), which was enacted as part of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill), to provide supplemental disaster assistance...

VeraSun to fire up Hartley plant (08/16/08)
VeraSun Energy Corp. on Thursday announced the startup of its 110 million gallon per year ethanol biorefinery near Hartley. The Hartley plant is the 13th VeraSun biorefinery in operation. The opening pushed the company's annual production capacity to more than 1.3 billion gallons. "We are pleased to bring our Hartley ethanol biorefinery into production," said VeraSun CEO Don Endres, in a statement. "It is one of the largest and most efficient facilities in the nation...

King among lawmakers refusing to accept vacation (08/06/08)
Congressman Steve King didn't get to visit the wheelhouse of the Storm Lake dredging boat on Monday as planned. Instead, the western Iowa U.S. Representative raced back to Washington to join about 24 other Republican House members in an unprecedented efffort to guide a vote on a comprehensive energy bill through treacherous waters...

King touts domestic energy solutions (07/22/08)
On a Friday afternoon when travelers were planning their weekend getaways, U.S. Rep. Steve King also was on the road. The congressman included Spencer in a series of stops around the region. "I need to put my ear to the ground constantly to pick up the voice of the people," he said...

Aquila service rates could go up 10.3 percent (07/18/08)
The Iowa Utilities Board has made a Spencer location available to Aquila customers who would like to address the company's plan to increase its natural gas service rates in Iowa. Comment hearings will take place at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, throughout the state using the Iowa Communications Network...

Soybeans decline as warm weather boosts planting (06/24/08)
NEW YORK (AP) -- Soybean prices declined Monday as dry Midwest weather allowed farmers to resume planting after massive flooding that engulfed fields and drove agriculture futures to record highs. Other commodities traded mixed, with crude oil gaining and gold, silver and copper prices falling...

Supervisors race features six candidates (05/31/08)
By Russ Mitchell Daily Reporter Staff Republicans have a choice on the ballot as the party tries to find two nominees for a pair of available seats on the Clay County Board of Supervisors. Incumbent Del Brockshus of Spencer is near the end of his fourth term. He has filed to run again...

Iowa Lakes president makes Spencer stop (05/22/08)
Iowa Lakes Community College President Harold Prior said his institution's role in an emerging industry could be an economic development boost in the region. His remarks, about wind energy, came as part of a presentation Tuesday to the Clay County Board of Supervisors. Iowa Lakes has campus locations in Estherville, Spencer, Emmetsburg, Spirit Lake and Algona. Prior said he makes periodic stops to keep the region's five county boards of supervisors informed about the progress of the college...

Governor signs renewable fuels bill (05/14/08)
Iowa Governor Chet Culver signed a bill to expand the use of renewable fuels at the Statehouse on Monday. The bill, House File 2689, encourages more retailers to sell ethanol and biodiesel and also encourages Iowans to use more renewable fuels. State Representative Marcie Frevert of Emmetsburg, who serves on the House Agriculture Committee, is shown here third from the right at the bill signing...

Supervisors approve Terramech loan (05/09/08)
Members of the Clay County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a six-year, $100,000 loan to help a new company get a foothold in Spencer. The vote, to assist a prospective company called Terramech, came with a recommendation from the county's recently-created Revolving Loan Board...

Briefs 05-03 (05/03/08)
Spencer fall youth football sign-ups today Registration for the Midwest Youth Football League fall session, for Spencer students entering the third through sixth grades will take place from 2-4 p.m., today in the Sacred Heart Catholic School gym. Registration forms will be available on site and participants will be fitted for helmets and shoulder pads at that time...

Briefs 05-02 (05/02/08)
Spencer fall youth football sign-ups Registration for the Midwest Youth Football League fall session, for Spencer students entering the third through sixth grades will take place from 2-4 p.m., Saturday, May 3 in the Sacred Heart Catholic School gym. Registration forms will be available on site and participants will be fitted for helmets and shoulder pads at that time...

Renewable energy sources to be featured in Saturday open house (05/02/08)
By Kris Todd Daily Reporter Staff The Paul Rekow and Dr. Stephanie Johnson family lives according to the "reduce, reuse, recycle" mantra. The stay-at-home father and Physicians Laboratory of Northwest Iowa pathologist also believe in "cleaner sources of electricity," and plan to showcase tomorrow afternoon those they've recently installed to produce renewable energy on their Clay County farm, located at 2110 370th St., Spencer...

Briefs 05-01 (05/01/08)
Master's Mile participants Spencer High School will be hosting a Master's Mile at the Spencer Relays tonight. The Master's Mile will take place at approximately 5:45 p.m., tonight following the 4x800 meter relay. It is open to all ages 18 and older, male and female. All competitors should report to the finish line by 5:30 p.m...

Briefs 4-29 (04/29/08)
Ladies Early Bird Golf sign up The Ladies Early Bird Golf League sign-up meeting will be at 9 a.m. today at Spencer Municipal Golf Course. n If unable to attend this meeting, call Bev Kimball at 262-6913 to reserve your team spot. New members and substitutes are needed. League play will begin at 8:30 a.m. May 13...

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