Contact: Jessica Zopf

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 10, 2009

 

Iowa Power Fund Board Finalizes $677,000 in Contracts

 

(Des Moines, IA) – The Iowa Power Fund Board met and finalized contracts for four projects requesting a total $676,419, with nearly $1 million in matching funds.

“The broad range of projects that were finalized demonstrates the commitment of the Board to meeting the energy needs of all Iowans,” said Roya Stanley, Director of the Iowa Office of Energy Independence.  “This new energy economy will require a well-rounded approach that includes energy efficiency, renewable energy, and biofuels as options.”

About the Projects

Carbon-Free Energy Vertical Wind Turbine Manufacturing     

Award: $250,000      Matching: $171,885

The Board approved the contract terms to help Carbon-Free Energy design and test vertical axis wind turbine prototypes.  The turbine prototypes would be for small scale wind energy (5kW to 25kW) such as: households, commercial enterprises, small farming, and for export.  Carbon-Free will also be utilizing the research and development expertise provided by Porsche Engineering Services.

 

City of Cedar Rapids 21^st Century Green Energy Project        

Award: $253,406.50             Matching: $253,406.50

The Board approved the contract terms to help the City of Cedar Rapids conduct a detailed assessment of a range of energy solutions, using a renewable energy mix, to replace the flood-damaged steam plant.

 

Consumers Energy Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)

Award: $19,000        Matching: $81,205

The Board approved the contract terms to help Consumers Energy Cooperative to purchase, retrofit, and test a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.  Consumers Energy will be testing the performance levels of the PHEV in Iowa’s climate and will evaluate the viability of converting gasoline-powered engines to PHEVs.

 

Iowa State University

Award: $172,994      Matching: $242,334

The Board finalized the contract to help Iowa State University research the nutritional limitations of distillers grains and work to increase the use in a variety of livestock diets.  If successful, the project could help widen the distribution of distillers grains that are produced as a co-product at ethanol plants.

 

Other Projects Moving Forward in the Application Process

• Trees Forever project to work with 10 Iowa communities affected by the 2008 natural disasters to develop long-term tree planting programs that focus on maximizing energy savings and carbon sequestration, among other economic and environmental benefits.

·         Amaizing Pioneer Biomass project that will construct a pilot scale advanced biofuels reactor and biomass processing system to produce butanol.

·         I-Renew project to host its annual Energy & Sustainability Expo to educate Iowans on the various renewable energy and energy efficiency technology options.

 

The Office of Energy Independence (OEI) sets the strategic direction for Iowa's clean energy future by identifying goals to achieve desired results. The office will align state government efforts for achieving energy independence through partnerships with business and industry, community leaders, government and public agencies, and other stakeholders.

 

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