Recent Articles

You are here:

You are here

Home / Pages / Recent Articles

IUB staff raises red flags about nuclear power plant legislation

on Thu, 01/26/2012 - 02:09   by Editor

The Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) staff has raised several warning flags about legislation sought by MidAmerican Energy to shift the risk of building a new nuclear power plant to utility ratepayers.

In a memo sent to the IUB and state legislators in December, the IUB staff warns that "some of these (bill) provisions could create incentives for the company to engage in behavior that could be contrary to the public interest in certain situations."

To illustrate what might happen, the staff report gives this possible scenario:

Lee earns $14.5 million in 1st quarter despite 4 percent revenue decline

on Tue, 01/17/2012 - 23:12   by Editor

Lee Enterprises -- owner of the Quad City Times and 47 other daily newspapers -- earned $14.5 million in its first quarter ended December 25 despite a 4 percent drop in revenues for the period.

The 32 cents per share in earnings compares to net income per share of 42 cents in the first quarter of 2011. Revenues fell from $207.7 million in the first quarter of last year to $199.6 million this year.

Coal-fired power plants top greenhouse gas emitters in Iowa

on Mon, 01/16/2012 - 22:59   by Editor

Coal-fired power plants comprise seven of the top 10 emitters of greenhouse gases in Iowa, according to a new online database of large stationary sources compiled by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

On a national level, coal-fired electric generating plants make up 96 of the top 100 emitters of so-called greenhouses gases which trap some of the Earth’s outgoing energy, thus retaining heat in the atmosphere.

Power plants are the largest source by far of greenhouse gas stationary source emissions, totaling some 2,324 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually, according to the EPA. Petroleum refineries are a distant second emitting 183 million metric tons of CO2 each year.

Alcoa expansion: construction dollars, new jobs and higher air pollution emissions

on Wed, 01/11/2012 - 00:40   by Editor

The heralded expansion of Alcoa's Davenport Works will add $300 million in new construction, an estimated 150 new jobs, and a significant increase in the facility's emission of volatile organic compounds (VOC's).

The increased emission of VOC's -- which lead to the formation of ground-level ozone -- is high enough to require the company to obtain a modification in its Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permit. The plant's air quality construction permit is under review by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), which will hold a public meeting on the issue at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday (1/17) at the Bettendorf Public Library.

The aluminum manufacturing facility at 4879 State Street currently emits an estimated 240 tons of VOC's each year, and that would be increased by an additional 247 tons with the planned expansion announced last September.

All 39 air pollution 'exceedances' in 2011 recorded in Muscatine

on Mon, 01/09/2012 - 21:20   by Editor

National air quality standards were exceeded 39 times in Iowa during 2011, a significant drop from the 85 exceedances recorded in 2010, according to the latest report from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).

All 39 exceedances last year were recorded in Muscatine - 37 for high SO2 (sulfur dioxide) levels and two for high PM 2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 microns).

In 2010, 33 air quality exceedances were recorded in Muscatine, 10 in Clinton and nine in Davenport.

Tax Increment Financing (TIF) likely to face legislative scrutiny

on Fri, 01/06/2012 - 01:21   by Editor

A tax increment financing (TIF) deal to entice a Von Maur department store to move from Iowa City to Coralville appears to have triggered renewed efforts to reform state TIF laws.

One developer group, the Professional Developers of Iowa (PDI), is warning members about "a strong bipartisan effort to curtail TIF" in the upcoming legislative session, blaming the recent Coralville incentive for the renewed attention.

QC Times paid circulation falls below 60,000, off 15% over last five years

on Thu, 12/29/2011 - 22:38   by Editor

The paid circulation of the Sunday Quad City Times fell below 60,000 in 2011, a 15 percent decline from five years ago.

According to figures from the Lee Enterprise, Inc. 10K (annual report) filings, paid circulation of the Sunday Quad City Times has fallen from 68,562 in 2007 to 59,482 in 2011. Ten years ago, the Sunday paper's circulation was just above 71,000.

Pages

Go to top