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Great things continue to happen as America moves forward in developing an "all of the above" strategy to become more energy independent.  For example, an agreement was signed between aviation industry leaders and Midwest stakeholders to develop and commercialize sustainable biofuels.  USDA will act as an advisor to this effort.

The Midwest Aviation Sustainable Biofuels Initiative (MASBI)  supports President Obama's goal of achieving greater energy independence. Increasing our reliance on sustainable, home-grown sources of energy is good for the nation, good for business, good for rural economies and good for the environment. And agreements like this increase the effectiveness of those efforts, as will, as the President has called for: maintaining the favorable tax treatments such as section 48C of the Internal Revenue Code which provides an investment tax credit of up to 30 percent of qualified investment in a qualifying advanced energy project;  the Producer Tax Credit (PTC) and the Accelerated Depreciation Allowance for cellulosic biofuel producers; and the biodiesel tax credit, all of  which  reduce investment risk. We know these work because accelerated depreciation has been offered for decades to the oil and gas industry to encourage investment and innovation.

The agreement calls for the parties to hold workshops with stakeholders to identify appropriate feedstocks, supply chain logistics and a set of sustainability principles.  It was signed by United Air Lines Inc., the Boeing Co., Honeywell UOP, the City of Chicago's Department of Aviation and the Clean Energy Trust. MASBI's Advisory Council will be comprised of national leaders in advanced biofuels including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of the Navy, other Federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, and academic institutions.

One of the group's principal tasks is to identify the challenges of creating viable markets in the Midwest for aviation biofuels. Specifically, it will determine:

  • The transportation and infrastructure needs to deliver biofuels
  • The growth potential for commercial aviation biofuels
  • The best fuel source(s)
  • Policies that are needed to stimulate private-market development of biofuels

The agreement calls for the parties to hold 4-6 workshops by April 2013.  The workshops will include feedstock growers, processors, fuel users, financiers, policy makers and non-government organizations.  A report will be produced at the conclusion of the workshops.

USDA's support of the Midwest Aviation Sustainable Biofuels Initiative builds upon USDA's ongoing work to further the development of biofuels. USDA already has several memorandums of understanding (MOU) on the subject and several programs to fund biofuels research and development. In January 2010, Agriculture Secretary Vilsack and Navy Secretary Ray Mabus signed an MOU to develop advanced biofuels and other renewable energy systems for commercial and military transportation needs. Also in 2010, Under Secretary Dallas  Tonsager signed an MOU with Airlines for America on the Farm to Fly project which has studied the feedstock and infrastructure needs for the development of aviation biofuels in the U.S.  In addition, Secretaries Vilsack, Mabus and Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu signed an agreement in January 2011 to work with private industry to develop drop-in biofuels for military and commercial uses.  Most recently, in January 2012, USDA, Boeing, and the Air Transport Association of America, Inc. (now Airlines for America), issued a report summarizing their agreement to work together to accelerate the availability of commercially viable and sustainable aviation biofuels.

For additional information on USDA's renewable energy programs and activities, check out the USDA Energy page or the Rural Development Energy Programs page on our website.

For more information about today's announcement click here.

SPRINGFIELD - May 23, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today released a statement regarding United States Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald's announcement that he will step down.

"I thank Patrick Fitzgerald for all the hard work he and the U.S. Attorney's office have done to root out and prosecute corruption in Illinois."

"He has made Illinois a more ethical state by bringing justice to those who betrayed the public's trust.

"On behalf of the people of Illinois, I hope his successor will live up to the high standard he has set for all public officials."

 

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The oceans do a lot of the Earth's dirty work. On a given day, they will absorb 22 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), a third of the global output. In doing so they help to keep climate change in check, but they also pay a heavy toll as a result.

Increasing levels of carbon in the ocean are making the water more acidic, and that's beginning to have an impact on shellfish, corals and some of the tiniest shell-making marine organisms that are essential to the ocean food web. The June 2012 issue of E - The Environmental Magazine (now posted at www.emagazine.com) takes a closer look at the phenomenon of "ocean acidification," the process by which levels of CO2 are rising, changing the chemistry of the ocean, and the ways this is impacting sea creatures on which mankind depends.

Shellfish farmers in Washington and Oregon were some of the first to sound the alarm about ocean acidification. In 2006, hatchery-produced oyster larvae began to die off, despite their controlled and monitored environments. The two largest oyster hatcheries -- which supply seedling to the majority of West Coast oyster farmers -- lost between 60% and 80% of their larvae. Through ocean monitoring, the farmers discovered that the pH had fallen enough to make the water too corrosive for the oysters to form shells.

Once the problem was identified, shellfish farmers were able to take precautions -- such as waiting to fill tanks following a north wind when upwelling causes corrosive water to rise to the surface. But in the open ocean, there are no quick fixes for ocean acidification.

"A lot of things we like to eat have these calcium carbonate shells and they're very sensitive to acidification," says Richard Feely, Ph.D., a senior scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and its Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL). "Just a small drop in pH can cause the shells to begin to dissolve. It turns out that for many of these species, the larval and juvenile stages are much more sensitive than the adults. And we're finding that they can die off quite rapidly even with the kinds of changes that we're seeing right now."

One of the most serious threats posed by ocean acidification is to corals -- marine animals that need carbonate ions to form their skeletons. During ocean acidification, CO2 sinks into the water and releases hydrogen ions which combine with carbonate ions, making them unavailable to the shell- and exoskeleton-making creatures that need them.

"There have been a lot of studies showing that under ocean acidification scenarios corals and other organisms on the reef calcify at a slower rate," says Davey Kline, Ph.D., a coral reef ecology expert at the University of Queensland in Australia. "Even with just a little less growth, the corals can be tipped into these situations where they're getting eroded faster than they can grow and the reefs start to dissolve."

Coral reefs are already at risk from pollution, development, overfishing and warming waters as a result of global warming. Ocean acidification may be the final stressor that pushes them into extinction. The most recent report on reef health -- Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2008 -- found that 19% of coral reefs were already lost, 15% were in a critical state with loss possible within a decade or two, and 20% could be lost in 20 to 40 years. "If we continue on the trajectory that we're currently at," says Kline, referring to unchecked global emissions, "we will lose reefs as we know them."

The impacts of a world without reefs would be profound. The estimated net global value of reefs is $29.8 billion per year, and reefs provide essential work in protecting shorelines from storm damage, providing a home to one million species and offering new sources of medicine to treat everything from cancer to arthritis.

There are certainly local solutions, including designating marine protected areas to at least minimize the stresses on coral reefs in light of global warming and ocean acidification. But any major solution to keeping ocean acidification from further threatening our oceans and its inhabitants needs to involve a global agreement for keeping emissions in check -- something that, despite the warning signs, seems oceans away.

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E - The Environmental Magazine distributes 50,000 copies six times per year to subscribers and bookstores. Its website, www.emagazine.com, enjoys 150,000 monthly visitors. E also publishes EarthTalk, a nationally syndicated environmental Q&A column distributed free to 1,850 newspapers, magazines and websites throughout the U.S. and Canada (www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/thisweek). Single copies of E's May/June 2012 issue are available for $5 postpaid from: E Magazine, P.O. Box 469111, Escondido, CA 92046. Subscriptions are $19.95 per year, available at the same address.

Representing one's nation at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Three Illinois Guardsmen received that opportunity by participating in the opening ceremony of the NATO Summit in Chicago May 20.

The Illinois Guardsmen, Army Capt. Oluwatoyin Hines of Chicago, Senior Airman Michael D. Citchens of Peoria, and Tech. Sgt. Jacob Curtis of Fairview Heights represented U. S. Armed Services in a color guard who performed for the Heads of State during the opening of the international conference. Military representatives from all 28 nations in NATO participated in the opening ceremony, which featured drill and ceremony, the playing of Taps and Reveille.

Curtis with the 126th Security Forces Squadron at Scott Air Force Base and 2011 Air National Guard Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, served as the primary U.S. military representative, while Citchens and Hines served as alternates.

"To be selected to be the person to represent our entire nation's military was an honor," he said. "I felt privileged and I couldn't image all of the military men and women who gave their lives, while I was up there representing them to show NATO leaders who we are."

Citchens, an integrated avionics specialist with the 182nd Airlift Wing in Peoria, said he appreciated the experience.

"I can't really put it into words," he said. "It is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I'm grateful to be a part of something of that magnitude. Being in the same room as the leaders of the 28 nations of NATO was indescribable."

Hines, a chaplain with the 108th Sustainment Brigade in Chicago works full-time as the Wounded Warrior chaplain for the Illinois Army National Guard and said she was honored to have been selected to participate.

"It was powerful to be able to connect with other servicemembers internationally," Hines said. "It made me perceive my job as a chaplain differently. It made me more patriotic for our country."

All three Guardsmen were selected a month before the summit took place.

In an amazing story showing his faithfulness and dedication to the troops, actor and 4-time Troopathon participant Gary Sinise is making news again from his astounding level of dedication to our American troops.

Cpl. Joshua Benjamin "J.B." Kerns (USMC)..., lost both his legs below the knee as well as his right arm below the elbow during combat operations in Afghanistan while the then 21-year-old Marine was serving his third combat tour of duty in "The 'Stan" as that nation is referred to by Marines.

In an Associated Press article via Fox News, Sinise promised J.B. that a benefit concert scheduled on March 31st by Sinise's "Lt. Dan Band" would help raise money to construct a "smart home" for the wounded warrior.

Unfortunately, Sinise had to postpone the gig due to an automobile accident he was recently involved in.

True to his word, the concert is back on for this upcoming Thursday.

Sinise, who has raised millions of dollars to aid wounded military vets and first responders, was quoted by the AP:

"These are young guys that have ...given a lot for their country and they're going to have to go for the rest of their lives with a real challenge.

We're trying to do as much as we can for as many of them as possible."

GARY SINISE IS KEEPING HIS PROMISE TO A MARINE. LET'S MAKE GOOD ON OUR PROMISES TO SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!

These brave troops are deployed in some of the most dangerous provinces in Afghan war zone, including Sangin and Helmand Province.

Updating our progress towards reaching our goal, it looks like we have raised enough funds to support 411 of our 800 Marines. That means we're more than half-way to our goal! 

This is an amazing outpouring of support! But we have to keep the momentum going and get all the way to our goal! 

We have already collected enough to help over half of our Marines, however there are still  389 Marines out there who need YOU to sponsor a care package for THEM! Please Help today!

MOLINE, ILLINOIS - The Cities with Jim Mertens, WQPT's public affairs program interviews all of the candidates for Iowa's 2nd Congressional District. Incumbent Dave Loebsack(D) and his primary challenger, State Senator Joe Seng, and Republican candidates attorney John Archer and builder Dan Dolan talk about why they are running for office and the current state of Washington politics.

"We always want to add more light than heat to any political discussion," said host Jim Mertens.  "The Cities will be focusing on all of our local contests, both on the Illinois and Iowa sides of the river."

The Cities can be seen on WQPT on Thursday nights at 6:30 pm and Sundays at 5:30 pm. Each episode is also available at wqpt.org after the program airs on WQPT.

WQPT is a media service of Western Illinois University located in Moline, Illinois. The Cities is taped at Stratus Broadcasting.

ROCK FALLS, IL - Blackhawk Hills Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) would like to announce that the annual meeting will be held Thursday, May 24, 2012 at the Freeport Country Club in Freeport, IL. The public is welcome to attend the event with a cost of $20.00 per person.

About Blackhawk Hills RC&D

Blackhawk Hills RC&D is a not-for-profit corporation based in Rock Falls, IL, that serves Carroll, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, and Whiteside counties in northwest Illinois. Blackhawk Hills RC&D's services include community planning, development assistance, natural resources conservation and protection support, and grant writing and administration. Blackhawk Hills RC&D is sponsored by local county boards and Soil and Water Conservation Districts and is overseen by an 18-member council, consisting of three representatives from each of the six counties.

Questions about Blackhawk Hills may be directed to Julie Jacobs at (815) 625-3854 or info@blackhawkhills.com.

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Prestigious award based on consistent outstanding customer reviews

Davenport, IA - Hotel Blackhawk has just been named a 2012 TripAdvisor ® Certificate of Excellence Award Winner.

The prestigious award honors hospitality excellence and is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor ®, and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide. Approximately 10 percent of accommodations listed on TripAdvisor ® receive this prestigious award.

To qualify for the Certificate of Excellence, businesses must maintain an overall rating of four or higher, out of a possible five, as reviewed by travelers on TripAdvisor. Additional criteria include the volume of reviews received within the last 12 months.

"TripAdvisor is pleased to honor exceptional businesses for consistent excellence, as reviewed by travelers on the site," said Christine Petersen, president of TripAdvisor for Business. "The Certificate of Excellence award gives highly rated establishments around the world the recognition they deserve. From exceptional accommodations in Beijing to remarkable restaurants in Boston, we want to applaud these businesses for offering TripAdvisor travelers a great customer experience."

"We are pleased to receive this award from TripAdvisor," said Hotel Blackhawk General Manager Tim Heim. "We strive to offer our customers a hip and historic experience, and this accolade is evidence that our hard work is translating into positive traveler reviews on TripAdvisor."

TripAdvisor® is the world's largest travel site, enabling travelers to plan and have the perfect trip. TripAdvisor ® offers trusted advice from real travelers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features with seamless links to booking tools. TripAdvisor ®-branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 50 million unique monthly visitors, and over 60 million reviews and opinions.

Hotel Blackhawk re-opened December 15, 2010. The hotel retains its 95-year-old historic character while featuring modern conveniences throughout the 130 guestrooms and extended-stay suites, eight meeting rooms and up to 300-person banquet capacity in the signature Gold Room.

Other features include wireless internet, a fitness center, business center, swimming pool, hot tub, Spa Luce (lu-CHAY), Milan Flower Shop, the Bix Bistro restaurant, the Beignet (been-YAY) Done That coffee shop and Blackhawk Bowl & Martini Lounge. The hotel is part of the Summit Hotels & Resorts group (www.summithotels.com) and the Historic Hotels of America network (www.historichotels.org).

For more, visit www.hotelblackhawk.com or find us on www.facebook.com (Search: Hotel Blackhawk).

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Dear Friend,

As you may know, the Supreme Court is in the process of deciding whether or not the federal government can require all Americans to purchase health insurance under the Constitution.  This mandate, included in the President's health care reform law, is an unprecedented form of federal action and government overreach.

When the health care reform law was pushed into law more than two years ago, we were told that the more Americans learned about it, the more they would like it.  That has not happened.  Americans remain strongly opposed to the health law and its expansion of the role of government in their lives.

Your input is important to me, and I want to hear your thoughts.


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Remember that you can always send me a more detailed message with your thoughts or questions regarding any issue that is important to you by clicking here.

Thank you for taking the time to share your views with me.  My staff and I always appreciate your feedback, and are here to help.  If there is anything we can do to assist you, please do not hesitate to give any of my offices a call.  Contact information for each of them can be found at the bottom of this email.

Thank you for placing your trust in me.  It is an honor to serve you.

Sincerely,
Bobby Schilling
Member of Congress

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