(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad today authorized a proclamation of disaster emergency to extend the original proclamation signed on July 26, 2012. The extension is effective immediately and will last for 30 days from today.

The extended proclamation allows overwidth and overweight loads of hay, straw and stover. As a result of the drought experience by the state of Iowa, the effects of the drought continue and circumstances and reasons for issuance of the proclamation remain and continue.

Specifically, this proclamation, as did the original, allows for:

• Overweight loads: Hay, straw and stover may be transported in loads weighing up to 90,000 pounds gross weight without obtaining an overweight permit normally required by the Iowa Department of Transportation. Overweight loads cannot travel on the interstate without a permit.  This proclamation applies to noninterstate roadways.  Specific axle weight limits do apply. Visit the Iowa DOT's website www.iowa.dot.gov to see the maximum gross weight table and determine the legal limits for your vehicle/trailer combination.  A vehicle that is overweight, but not overwidth, can travel at all hours.
• Overwidth loads: A vehicle transporting these goods can be overwidth, without an Iowa DOT permit, if they do not exceed 12 feet 5 inches wide.  An overwidth load can travel on any road, including the interstate, as long as its gross weight does not exceed 80,000 pounds.  Movement must occur between the hours of 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset.  All flags, signs and lights normally required are still needed.
• Overweight and overwidth loads: A vehicle transporting these goods can be both overwidth, up to 12 feet 5 inches, and overweight, up to 90,000 pounds.  However, these vehicles cannot travel on the interstate.
• Driver hours of service: The driver hours-of-service regulations pertaining to persons transporting these specific agricultural goods are suspended. Certain rest periods must be provided to drivers to prevent fatigued or ill drivers from operating on the roadways.

For additional details, call 1-800-925-6469 or visit the Iowa DOT's website at www.iowadot.gov where a question and answer sheet can be found.

Quinn: CHP cuts manufacturing costs, air pollution

CHICAGO - September 13, 2012. Illinois is one of four states chosen by the National Governors Association (NGA) for a prestigious "Best Practices Policy Academy" grant to boost industrial productivity through use of energy efficiency and Combined Heat and Power (CHP).

The bipartisan NGA said Illinois earned the award due to its, "...approach to advancing industrial energy efficiency by engaging a wide range of stakeholders across the state to develop solutions linked to the state's energy efficiency goals."

"Industry is part of Illinois' heritage, from the stockyards and blast furnaces of our parents' generation to the high tech corridors of today," Governor Quinn said. "Manufacturers can trim energy costs and sharpen their competitive edge by using CHP and other homegrown measures."

Combined Heat and Power (CHP) is an efficient and clean approach to on-site power generation. Under conventional CHP, fuel is burned in a "prime mover" such as a gas turbine, with the waste heat "recycled" to provide heating, cooling and/or dehumidification. Under "Waste Energy Recovery" (WER), the fuel is burned in a furnace or boiler to provide heat to an industrial process, with excess heat "recycled" to generate electricity on-site.

Following a national trend, energy expenditures by Illinois' 14,700 manufacturers have increased by 25 percent since 2000.

The NGA grant will address ways to enhance Illinois industry through energy efficiency and CHP in nine manufacturing sectors: primary metals, petroleum and coal products, chemical, food, nonmetallic mineral products, paper, fabricated metal products, machinery, and plastic and rubber products.

There are currently 139 CHP units in Illinois - accounting for 1,367 MW of electricity generation - powering factories, farms, schools, hospitals, museums, wastewater treatment plants and more. Large CHP facilities include the Archer Daniels Midland plants in Decatur and Peoria, University of Illinois campuses in both Champaign and Chicago, Eastern Illinois University and U.S. Steel's Granite City Works. Others include the Brookfield Zoo, M&M Mars Candy Company, Great Lakes Naval Training Center and three veterans' facilities.

Among the newer Illinois CHP installations is a 3 MW CHP system at the Illinois River Energy Ethanol Plant in Rochelle which was installed with the help of Federal stimulus funds and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The DCEO also provided assistance to build CHP plants at a Stephenson County dairy farm, and at wastewater treatment plants in Danville, Decatur, Downers Grove and Fox Lake.

Illinois is a leader in sustainability and energy efficiency, with efforts like the Green Governments Coordinating Council, 'Illinois Energy Now Trade Ally Program' and other energy-saving initiatives. In addition to the $12,000 grant, NGA will provide specialized assistance and work closely with the "Illinois team" to develop an action plan by April 2013 for use in other states. The Illinois team - still in formation - will include the University of Illinois at Chicago's Energy Resources Center, Illinois Commerce Commission, Illinois DCEO's State Energy Office, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Pollution Prevention, Office of the Governor and representatives of the State's manufacturing and power utilities sectors.

The bipartisan National Governors Association has been the voice of the nation's Governors since 1908. The NGA's Center for Best Practices is the research and development arm of NGA that directly serves the nation's governors. Through the Center, governors may learn what does (and doesn't) work, obtain tailored assistance in designing new policy programs and receive timely information about cutting-edge programs in other states.

(DES MOINES) - On the 11-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States, Governor Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds are reminding Iowans of the importance of being prepared for emergencies and disasters.

"The anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks is an opportunity to encourage Iowans to take steps now to prepare themselves, their families and their communities for any emergency," said Branstad.

Governor Branstad has proclaimed September as Family Preparedness Month in Iowa. Preparedness Month was created in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in an effort to educate the public on how to prepare for emergencies.

The Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division (HSEMD), Safeguard Iowa Partnership (SIP) and Iowa Emergency Management Association (IEMA) are partnering to encourage Iowans to take a Pledge to Prepare by taking just one simple step to be more prepared for emergencies. The pledge can be found at www.beready.iowa.gov, www.safeguardiowa.org or www.iowaema.com.

"We hope that taking the Pledge to Prepare will encourage Iowans to think about what they will need to do if they are in an emergency situation," said Reynolds.

In addition to the evident benefits of being better prepared, those who take the pledge may be eligible to win prizes by entering the Pledge to Prepare contest. Individuals, families and groups are invited to record and submit a video showing how they are taking the pledge. Videos must be submitted by Sept. 20. HSEMD, SIP and IEMA will choose the top five videos and ask the public to select their favorite in an online vote Sept. 24-28.

Iowans who don't submit a video may still enter their Pledge to Prepare in a random drawing. Pledges may be submitted online or via FAX through Sept. 30. Winners for the contest and drawing will be announced Oct. 1. Target has joined HSEMD, SIP and IEMA in this effort and will provide gift cards and a NOAA weather radio as prizes for the contest and drawing. SIP is also providing emergency preparedness kits to contest and drawing winners.

For more information on Family Preparedness Month and the Pledge to Prepare contest and drawing, visit www.beready.iowa.gov, www.safeguardiowa.org or www.iowaema.com.

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Refurbished Condos Will Feature Huge Green Space On Roof

Muscatine, IA (September 2012) - Installation of green roof on the The Pearl View Condos of Muscatine, Iowa is happening now through the end of the day on Friday.  The condos, located in the newly refurbished Hotel Muscatine, will feature over 2,000 square feet of green roof. The roof will be covered with the LiveRoof® 6" Deep System. It will feature two custom sedum base mixes with over 30 unique varieties.  Walkways and a patio will create an enjoyable space for both entertaining and enjoying the exquisite views of the Mississippi River. Four custom grass and wildflower mixes are being used, totaling 26 different perennial accent varieties.

Besides being beautiful, the green roof's vegetation soaks up rainfall and reduces storm water runoff.  The green roof helps reduce rooftop temperatures during summer, thereby protecting and extending the life of the roof membrane.  Green roofs are estimated to double the life of roofing materials and they work as insulation to reduce heating and cooling costs.  In addition to using plants that are well-established in soil specially engineered for the extremes of a rooftop environment, the LiveRoof® System also features a patent-pending hybrid design combining the best features of all green roof systems. The LiveRoof® System reduces labor costs to maintain compared to most systems, since the established plants thrive as their own living mulch.

About Roof Top Sedums: Roof Top Sedums was established in 2007 and is a Regional LiveRoof® Licensed Grower servicing Iowa, Western Illinois, Eastern Nebraska, Eastern Kansas, and most of Missouri.  The business is 100% women-owned and certified nationally as a Women's Business Enterprise.  Co-founder Roxanne Nagel explains, "Green roofs have become widely accepted as an integral part of sustainable renovations. We are equally excited about the future of LiveWall® and our role to provide an exceptional product in our region."  For more information on projects previously grown by Roof Top Sedums or information about the LiveRoof® System, visit www.rooftopsedums.com.

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