02 Feb 2010

ROCK ISLAND, MERCER, HENRY County- "Do you need help with your utility bills?"

By Rick Martin

LIHEAP- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program

Project NOW, Inc would like to remind the public that appointments are still available for those needing assistance with their utility bills through the LIHEAP Program.  If you have not yet received LIHEAP assistance since September 1, 2009, please call the below numbers.  LIHEAP assistance is available to all low-income households throughout Rock Island, Henry, and Mercer counties. Please call your local project now office to make an appointment. Assistance will be available through May 31, 2010 or until funding is exhausted. Eligibility requirements apply, you must be at or below 150% of poverty, and income guidelines are as follows:

Project Now Office Locations:

Rock Island Office- 309-793-6391

Moline Office- 309-764-8092

Henry County- 309-852-4565

Mercer County- 309-582-2644

*Whether you have received LIHEAP Assistance or not since September 1, 2009, if you have a disconnect notice or are disconnected, please call any of the above offices as soon as possible.

Project NOW Community Action Agency provides a wide range of social services in Rock Island, Henry and Mercer Counties.  Programs include Head Start, Outreach, Housing, Utility Assistance, Homeless Services, Apartment and Commercial Property Rentals, Senior Services, Weatherization, Good Things NOW Clothing Stores, Business Start-Up Assistance and Revolving Loan Funds. Services are designed to help families with low income and senior citizens meet basic needs and achieve self sufficiency.  Project NOW was incorporated on May 15, 1968 and has been working to help low-income individuals improve their lives ever since.

--- END ---

01 Feb 2010

Assistance for Storm Ravaged Iowa

By Sen. Charles Grassley

HARKIN URGES OBAMA TO ISSUE A DISASTER DECLARATION FOR IOWA COUNTIES AFFECTED BY BLIZZARDS, ICE STORMS

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) sent a letter to President Obama today supporting Governor Culver's request that two federal disaster declarations be issued for areas of Iowa affected by December's blizzards and January's ice storms.

"These storms severely damaged businesses, homes and roads, isolating many rural residents and putting the welfare of thousands in jeopardy," Senator Harkin said. "Resources and manpower have been exhausted at the local, county and state level, and so I am urging the President to declare the affected counties disaster areas so that we can recover."

Iowa has had an unusually brutal winter, logging the most snowfall in over one hundred years and extremely low temperatures.  The counties requesting a federal disaster declaration are Adair, Audubon, Calhoun, Cherokee, Fremont,  Carroll, Emmet, Guthrie, Buena Vista, Cass, Franklin, Harrison, Ida, Monona, Palo Alto, Sac, Sioux, Madison, Lyon, Osceola, Pocahontas, Woodbury, Mills, Page, Pottawattamie, Shelby and Crawford.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley today asked President Barack Obama to grant requests made by the state of Iowa for federal assistance after several severe storms ransacked much of the state in December 2009 and January 2010.

"Parts of Iowa were brought to a standstill after ice and snow covered the state.  Iowans have had a terrible time restoring power and digging out after record snowfall and ice storms moved through," Grassley said.  "Quick approval of the requested assistance would go a long way in helping Iowans recover from these record storms."

Grassley sent separate letters on the state's requests.  A copy of the text of the letter regarding the January storm is below.  Copies of both letters can be found on Grassley's website.

January 29, 2010

The Honorable Barack Obama

President of the United States of America

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

I respectfully ask that you grant the request made January 28, 2010 by Iowa Governor Chet Culver for a declaration of a major disaster for the State of Iowa as a result of damages from a severe winter storm that began January 19 and continued through January 26, 2010.  The Governor determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and affected local governments to handle effectively and federal assistance is needed.

Thank you for your prompt consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Grassley

United States Senator

 

 


28 Jan 2010

HARKIN ANNOUNCES OVER $870,000 FOR GREEN ENERGY PROJECTS IN DAVENPORT

By Sen. Tom Harkin

WASHINGTON. D.C. - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that $871,300 in Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG) from the Department of Energy (DOE) are coming to Davenport.  These funds were awarded to help the city improve its energy efficiency, reduce energy use and fossil fuel emissions and create green jobs locally.  Harkin is a senior member of the panel that funds energy initiatives.

"Iowa is already a leader in clean energy production and energy conservation. This funding will further our efforts to reduce energy costs in Davenport," said Harkin. "Additionally, these projects will create good 'green collar' jobs in Iowa and support our local economy."

Nationally, this block grant program provides funds for energy audits and building retrofits in the residential and commercial sector, the development and implementation of advanced building codes and inspections and the creation of financial incentive programs for energy efficiency improvements.

21 Jan 2010

HARKIN ANNOUNCES NEARLY $6 MILLION IN RECOVERY ACT DOLLARS FOR IOWA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

By Kate Cyru

Funding will Grow Iowa's 'Green' Workforce

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that $5,997,000 will be coming to Iowa Workforce Development to train people for jobs in energy efficiency and renewable energy industries.  This Department of Labor State Energy Sector Partnership and Training Grant will help dislocated workers, unemployed individuals and incumbent workers learn the technical and occupational skills necessary to obtain industry recognized credentials.

"Iowa has one of the best workforces in the nation and it is important that we continue to do all we can to keep and improve our state's competitive advantages.  The green energy sector is creating good jobs in Iowa and today's funding will teach people the skills necessary to be a part of this growing industry," said Harkin.  "In addition to creating jobs, the renewable energy sector is bringing down energy costs, reducing our dangerous reliance on foreign fuels and helping prevent global climate change."

"The State Energy Sector Partnership and Training Grants will help workers gain access to good jobs, while supporting the sort of statewide energy efficiency strategies that play a crucial role in building the green economy of the 21st century," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

According to the Department of Labor, the Iowa Energy Sector Partnership will use this funding to implement a state? driven green workforce development plan with prioritized training needs, as identified by the State Green Jobs task force.  The project will develop a statewide sector plan for the emerging energy economy that will focus on sustainable jobs in the energy sector and train workers with portable skills.  Training will be provided for both new and incumbent workers.

Today's funding comes through the Department of Labor and was authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  Nationwide, 34 similar grants were announced today, with Iowa receiving close to the maximum any state could receive under this award. Harkin secured these funds through his role as a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, which wrote the Recovery Act.

14 Jan 2010

Karl Brooks selected to lead EPA's Region 7

By Rick Martin

(Kansas City, Kan., Jan. 13, 2010) - Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson announced President Barack Obama's selection of Karl Brooks to be the Agency's Regional Administrator for EPA's Region 7. This region encompasses Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and 9 Tribal Nations.

"I look forward to working closely with Karl on the range of urgent environmental issues we face, in region 7 and across the nation," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "At this moment of great challenge and even greater opportunity, I'm thrilled that Karl will be part of our leadership team at EPA. He will certainly play an instrumental role in our Agency's mission to protect our health and the environment."

Regional Administrators are responsible for managing the Agency's regional activities under the direction of the EPA Administrator. They promote state and local environmental protection efforts and serve as a liaison to state and local government officials. Regional Administrators are tasked with ensuring EPA's efforts to address the environmental crises of today are rooted in three fundamental values: science-based policies and programs, adherence to the rule of law, and transparency.

Karl Boyd Brooks has taught History and Environmental studies at the University of Kansas for the past decade. Previously, Brooks was the Executive Director of the Idaho Conservation League and served six years in the Idaho State Senate. Brooks holds a B.A. from Yale University, a Masters in International Relations from the London School of Economics, a law degree from Harvard University and a Ph. D. from the University of Kansas.

# # #

EPA web link, go to:

www.epa.gov

23 Dec 2009

Iowa American Water Offers Cold Weather Tips To Prevent Freezing Pipes

By Lisa Reisen
Davenport, Iowa (December 23, 2009) - It's official ? Winter is here! Iowa American Water reminds homeowners to take precautions now, if they haven't already, to protect their home's plumbing system from freezing winter temperatures that can cause frozen pipes and water meters. Acting now can prevent costly plumbing repairs and headaches for homeowners.
"During winter weather, water pipes need special care to keep them from freezing, so homeowners should take reasonable precautions to help protect their property from damage," said Randy Moore, president of Iowa American Water. "Weatherproofing your home against the cold will pay dividends on energy bills in the winter and will also help protect your indoor plumbing against the threat of breaks."
Iowa American Water encourages its customers to take the following precautions to reduce the risk of freezing pipes that can burst.
Before cold weather sets in:
· Know what areas of your home, such as basements, crawl spaces, unheated rooms and outside walls, are most vulnerable to freezing.
· Eliminate sources of cold air near water lines by repairing broken windows, insulating walls, closing off crawl spaces and eliminating drafts near doors.
· Know where your main water shut-off valve is. If a pipe freezes or bursts, shut the water off immediately.
· Protect your pipes and water meter. Wrap exposed pipes with insulation or use electrical heat tracing wire; newspaper or fabric may also work. For outside meters, keep the lid to the meter pit closed tightly and let any snow that falls cover it. Snow acts as insulation so don't disturb it.
When temperatures fall below zero:
· If you have pipes that are vulnerable to freezing, allow a small trickle of water to run overnight to keep pipes from freezing. The cost of the extra water is low compared to the cost to repair a broken pipe.
· Open cabinet doors to expose pipes to warmer room temperatures to help keep them from freezing.
If your pipes freeze:
· Shut off the water immediately. Don't attempt to thaw frozen pipes unless the water is shut off. Freezing can often cause unseen cracks in pipes or joints.
· Apply heat to the frozen pipe by warming the air around it, or by applying heat directly to a pipe. You can use a hair dryer, space heater, or hot water. Be sure not to leave space heaters unattended, and avoid the use of kerosene heaters or open flames.
· Once the pipes have thawed, turn the water back on slowly and check for cracks and leaks.
When you are away:
· Have a friend, relative or neighbor regularly check your property to insure the heat is working and the pipes have not frozen.
· Also, a freeze alarm can be purchased for less than $100 and will call a user-selected phone number if the inside temperature drops below 45 degrees.
Currently, Iowa American Water is including cold weather tips information in all of its customer billings. In addition, more cold weather tips can be found at www.amwater.com.
Iowa American Water, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), provides high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 200,000 people. Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest investor-owned U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs more than 7,000 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to approximately 15 million people in 32 states and Ontario, Canada. More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.
###
22 Dec 2009

enlighten technologies incorporated™ offers FREE videoconferencing for 6 months to Iowa companies affected by the flood of 2008.

By Rick Martin

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, December 18th -- enlighten technologies incorporated is excited to announce that it has fully recovered from the flood of 2008 and is completely operational after a year and a half of rebuilding the business and the office space.  enlighten was forced to relocate for over a year while it reconstructed after the flood had devastated the building it called 'home' for 15 years at the corner of 4th Avenue and 1st Street.

enlighten™, a videoconferencing and networking provider, is giving back to the community by offering some 'holiday cheer' in the form of 6 months free of their web based videoconferencing service to any business that was affected by the flood of 2008.

If you are a business in eastern Iowa and you were directly impacted by the flood, you can go to the following link: www.enlightentech.net/iowaflood and fill out the online form with your business name, address affected, and a brief description of your recovery efforts, including contact information. enlighten™ will then contact you to set up the web based videoconferencing on your website for free.

For more information about the enlighten technologies incorporated™ videoconferencing system, products, and services, please call 1-800-529-5121 or e-mail info@enlightentech.net.  Also visit the enlighten™ website at www.enlightentech.net.

02 Dec 2009

Local Activists and 1Sky Ask President Obama to Stand Strong Against Climate Change on International Stage

By Randy Stalsberg

Davenport Event is Part of Nationwide Week of Action to Call for Fair, Ambitious and Binding International Deal

Davenport, IA - Local activists representing 1Sky Iowa today gathered outside the office of Senator Grassley to urge him to support clean energy legislation and to ask President Obama to fight for a fair, ambitious, and binding international treaty on climate change when he attends the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark on Dec. 9.

"President Obama can use his international prestige to be the driving force behind true progress on climate change," said Matt Denner, of 1Sky Iowa. "The rest of the world will follow if America leads and President Obama campaigned - and won - on a platform of domestic and international leadership to fight climate change. It is vital that Senator Grassley join him in these efforts."

The rally, which included the delivery of postcards to Senator Grassley from around the state, was one of over 30 1Sky events nationwide and one of four taking place across the state this week.  Many of the events highlighted art work made by activists in the 1Sky network who participated in over 200 "art gatherings" during November where participants created murals and other works of art that expressed the urgency of the climate crisis. The artwork was designed to push the Obama administration to take a strong stance in Copenhagen, where representatives of most world nations will gather starting on Dec. 7 to discuss an international treaty to stop the greenhouse gas pollution that causes global warming. A culminating event is scheduled to take place in front of the White House in Washington D.C. on Dec. 4 that will incorporate works of art from all over the country.

The Copenhagen conference is expected to run from December 7 to December 19. 1Sky and other groups dedicated to fighting climate change are calling for a fair, ambitious and binding treaty and warning that failure to generate an effective, working agreement soon could have disastrous consequences for the planet, which is already suffering from the effects of climate change.

Specifically 1Sky is calling on the Obama administration to:

- Push for stronger action on short term targets for greenhouse gas emission cuts than the 17 percent currently offered by the United States since 17 percent is simply not enough to stave off the worst effects of global warming

- Acknowledge a degree of U.S. responsibility for climate change by making financial investments in the transition

- Use the Copenhagen trip to pressure the U.S. Senate to build the political will to pass a strong bill in the Senate this spring.

"Unfortunately the planet cannot wait," said 1Sky Campaign Director Gillian Caldwell. "We need to see serious progress in Copenhagen and from the United States Senate over the next few months. The economic benefits to acting are very clear and the result of no action is also, unfortunately, very clear."

List of planned events in the Midwest:

Des Moines, Iowa; 12/1/2009 - Climate artwork will be on display at a climate rally in front of the Neal Smith Federal Building.

Ames, Iowa; 12/3/2009 - Climate artwork will be on display at a climate rally on the Iowa State University campus.

Indianapolis, Indiana; 12/2/2009 - Climate artwork will be on display at a climate rally stressing the importance of a strong international climate agreement.

Lansing, Michigan; 12/3/2009 - The event will draw upon Michigan State University students to pin messages to a climate banner being taken to Copenhagen the next day.

Minneapolis, Minnesota; 12/1/2009 - 1Sky and Sierra Club co-host a rally where passersby and attendees can sign a banner reading 'All Hands on Deck for Climate Action', which will be delivered to Senator Klobuchar before he goes to Copenhagen.

Kansas City, Missouri; 12/2/2009 - 1Sky and Green Drinks KC will co-host a climate rally and press conference including speakers from Eco-Talk Radio and the Kansas City Star.

St. Louis, Missouri; 12/4/2009 and 12/5/2009 - 1Sky and allies will host two climate art parties at local coffeehouses including action stations with phone calls and LTE-writing, speakers, and live music.

Fargo, North Dakota; 12/1/2009 - This event features an e-conference hosted by NDSU Department of Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering calling on the world's farmers to convert their agricultural residues to biochar.

Omaha, Nebraska; 12/2/2009 - 1Sky will host a press conference outside of Dale Clark Library to discuss the implications on a global climate treaty on Nebraska.

Sioux Falls, South Dakota; 12/2/2009 - Attendees will gather at a press conference featuring local leaders talking about the importance of a strong climate agreement in Copenhagen.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin; 12/2/2009, 12/6/2009, 12/12/2009 - 1Sky will host events including a pancake breakfast to talk about Copenhagen, a 'Bon Voyage' press conference, and a climate crisis rally.

1Sky is a collaborative national campaign for strong federal action to tackle global climate change and invest in building the clean energy economy of the future. As one of the largest national campaigns in the country, 1Sky combines the force of 500 allied organizations, 178,000 committed climate advocates, 2,700 volunteer Climate Precinct Captains covering more than 390 congressional districts in 50 states, and a team of 52 including 41 organizers in 30 states working to mobilize constituent support.

For more information on 1Sky contact Alex Posorske at (301) 270-4550 x 230 or Alex@1sky.org

28 Oct 2009

ZiptoGreen Gives Consumers Tools to Reduce Energy and Save Money with the Click of the Mouse

By Beth Hawks
Washington, D.C (October 6, 2009) -- In today's world, consumers are looking to save money and become more responsible for themselves and the environment.  Simple steps to reduce energy consumption can equate to savings in the bank as well as savings of precious natural resources.  To provide consumers the tools needed to make decisions with economic and environmental benefits,

ZiptoGreen has created a consumer friendly website that aggregates a multitude of information on energy efficiency and the environment.

As a comprehensive, user-friendly website addressing energy efficiency, www.ziptogreen.com, is currently a featured website of the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy of the U.S Department of Energy. Consumers will quickly find that ZiptoGreen is a one-stop online resource that makes it easy to reduce residential energy consumption and connects to an array of energy efficiency, renewable energy and environmental resources.

During the national launch in Washington D.C., ZiptoGreen founder Julia Glenn Carter and Emerald Planet President Dr Samuel Hancock called on individuals, businesses and governments across the country to commit to reducing energy consumption.

"The nation is at a crossroads of a looming energy and environmental crisis. If every person takes simple steps now to become more energy efficient, we, as a collective whole, will slow the rate at which our natural resources are depleted in order to feed the growing energy market," said Carter.  "Many of the actions set forth on the ZiptoGreen website can be easily implemented by most homeowners and do not involve a change in lifestyle or large investment.  With ZiptoGreen, saving money and our resources go hand-in-hand."

ZiptoGreen helps consumers realize their intentions to become more energy efficient by making it easy to create and implement a customized action plan.  A robust content management system gives all stakeholders; businesses, government, utilities, green groups and consumers; the opportunity to connect either nationally or locally via ZIP codes. The website engages the public by presenting information in an unbiased format and offers links to additional resources for users who want to delve into areas of interest.

The ZiptoGreen website's five key areas; an Energy Reduction Plan, ZipSource, Zip-Ed, How To and Why; allow consumers to navigate the website quickly to find specific information or spend time exploring its content.

The interactive Energy Reduction Plan feature enables users to create a personalized reduction plan according to their zip code, climate zone and pertinent housing and energy information. This personalized plan tracks a user's progress and easily links to savings on products and services.  Users can even schedule to have email reminders sent directly to their inbox.

Other resources on the site connect users to tips, tutorials, educational materials, original articles jobs and more.

Access to www.ziptogreen.com and all resources, including the energy reduction plan, is free of charge. Communities can provide links to sustainability resources at no charge. Users may become Premium Members for $4.99 annually to receive ZiptoGreen's best discount rewards.

ZiptoGreen abides by the safe harbor framework as set forth by the U.S. Department of Commerce regarding the collection, use, and retention of data and will never share or sell personal information of users without prior written permission.

Founding Charter Members of ZiptoGreen include the City of Decatur, GA; Green Energy Council, IEO Energy, Pinnacle Customer Builders, Ocham Information Services, Price & Partners, GeoLogic Energy Services, Real Energy Writers and Kodac Harrison, Jane Howe, Dr. David W. Messer, Carol McCullough, Jody Usher, Ph.D., Dinakar Manchikalapudi, John Howe, Jan Goodloe, Cathy Keeler, Robert McCarthy, Jocelyn Davis and Bill Selman.

About ZiptoGreen

ZiptoGreen, www.ziptogreen.com, is dedicated to making home energy reduction easy for consumers.  Its user-friendly format allows consumers to quickly create an energy reduction plan, connect to energy efficiency and renewable energy providers, save money, and learn more about the impact of energy consumption. Its robust content management system enables businesses, government, utilities and green groups to connect with consumers on both a national and local level using ZIP codes. ZiptoGreen is a privately-held corporation based in Decatur, Georgia. For additional information visit www.ziptogreen.com.

###

09 Oct 2009

Repower Iowa Hails Senate Progress To Put America Back In Control With Clean Energy

By Doug Niemela

Des Moines, Iowa - The Climate Protection Action Fund's Repower Iowa today issued the following statement on the Senate introducing the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act:

"By passing comprehensive clean energy and climate policies we'll put America back in control of our economic and security future, make our nation more energy independent and create millions of new jobs by harnessing clean energy sources that are made in Iowa and that work for Iowa," said Douglas Niemela, Repower Iowa State Director. "Our dependence on foreign oil hurts our economy, aids our enemies, and puts our national security at risk. The
big oil companies, their lobbyists, and their front groups spend millions to protect their record profits and maintain the status quo, but Iowa knows it's time for change. This is an incredible opportunity to declare America's energy independence, put our economy back on track and leave a healthier planet for future generations."

A Zogby International poll released in August showed that a majority of American voters ? 71 percent ? strongly support House-passed clean energy and climate legislation, citing the job growth that would result from enacting new clean energy policies. According to the Center for American Progress, transitioning to a clean energy economy will create more than 18,000 jobs in Iowa. And a recent report by the Union of Concerned Scientists found that comprehensive clean energy and climate policies can save Iowa households $800 a year by 2030. Iowa's wind energy resources could produce more than
three times the state's current electricity production and enough to power 15 million U.S. homes, according to the American Wind Energy Association.

###

Pages

Subscribe & Listen to Reader Podcasts

On Stands Now

 

Tagged Content

    

Two Ways to Subscribe

1. Subscribe to free weekly e-mail content updates.

You'll get both the current official narrative challenge and What's Happenin' in the Quad Cities.
(Did you know we publish a new Real Astrology and RCR Crossword every week?) 

Subscribe!

* indicates required

2. Get 12 monthly issues mailed first class for $48

Get 12 issues mailed monthly for $48 per year.

Get the printed Reader edition mailed to you (or anyone you want) first-class for 12 months for $48.
$24 goes to postage and handling, $24 goes to keeping the doors open!

Click this link to Subscribe now.