Iowa Biodiesel Board supports House and Senate bills as strong energy policy

DES MOINES - The Iowa Biodiesel Board registered today in support of legislation that would raise the state's fuel tax. A provision of the legislation would give a partial exemption to the new tax for diesel blended with at least 11 percent biodiesel (B11).

The proposed tax increase (HF 351 and SF 257) is 10 cents a gallon for both diesel and gasoline as part of a plan to address Iowa's infrastructure needs. A provision provides a 3 cent exemption for biodiesel blends of B11 and above for 5 years.

The IBB, whose membership includes biodiesel producers, soybean farmers and other stakeholders, called the biodiesel nod a bold leadership move.

"This is smart policy on the part of our state leaders that will benefit the entire state, and we thank them," said Grant Kimberley, executive director of IBB. "Doing everything we can to encourage biodiesel production and usage generates significant economic activity for Iowa. Every gallon of biodiesel we use at home is one less equivalent gallon from the Middle East, and keeps money in our state."

Kimberley added that IBB members are hopeful the 5 year sunset will be extended to 10 years down the road.

Iowa biodiesel plants produced 227 million gallons in 2014, down slightly from the 2013 record of 230 million gallons. Yet the state's 10 operating biodiesel plants have an annual capacity of more than 300 million gallons, showing a lost economic opportunity for Iowa.

Moreover, encouraging the blending of biodiesel into the state's diesel supply can help Iowa meet its own renewable fuel goals, Kimberley said. According to a recent Iowa Department of Revenue report, "...the study forecasts that approximately 13 percent of Iowa's petroleum...will be replaced by biofuels in 2020, falling short of the Legislative goal of 25 percent."

Currently in Iowa, gasoline is taxed at 21 cents per gallon with ethanol blends containing at least 10 percent taxed at only 19 cents per gallon. Diesel is taxed at 22.5 cents per gallon with no incentive for biodiesel. The ethanol differential would continue.

"Unfortunately, federal legislation has proven to be unreliable for biodiesel," Kimberley said. "The states that create the most supportive environment for biodiesel will be the most successful in reaping the industry's economic benefits."

New research shows in 2014, the increase in economic activity generated by biodiesel production supported more than 4,300 full-time equivalent jobs. It contributed more than $471 million to the state's Gross Domestic Product. Other research shows biodiesel adds 74 cents a bushel to the price of soybeans, lowers soybean meal feed costs for livestock producers by $25 - $40 a ton and also adds value to livestock production.

Biodiesel is an advanced biofuel made from agricultural byproducts and co-products, such as soybean oil. The Iowa Biodiesel Board is a state trade association representing the biodiesel industry.

Springfield - Governor Bruce Rauner and U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) today released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Energy's decision to end federal funding of FutureGen, the public-private clean coal project in Meredosia, Ill.:

"We are thoroughly disappointed in the Administration's decision to hastily end the bipartisan FutureGen project. This decision will block advancements in clean coal and more than 1,000 new jobs in Central Illinois. We will not give up on this state-of-the-art technology and bringing new jobs to the state."

DAVENPORT, Iowa - Jan. 29, 2015 -- Genesis Health System has entered into a new strategic partnership with Kansas City-based Cerner Corporation to optimize and advance the patient care and enterprise management benefits of the health system's already award-winning information technology solutions and services.

According to Genesis President and CEO Doug Cropper: "This new, more integrated partnership is a natural progression of our 15-year-old relationship with Cerner that has earned Genesis the distinction of being named the only provider in the Quad Cities region and the State of Iowa among the nation's "Most Wired" health care systems each year for more than a decade."

Specifically, the more integrated relationship with Cerner calls for the establishment of a "Value Creation Office." This collaboration will help Genesis innovate and optimize care processes with Cerner, ensuring patients receive the best possible care and the organization earns a greater return on its technology investment. By increasing access to expert Cerner resources in Kansas City, the agreement will enhance Genesis' ability to implement new Cerner applications, which includes application services, help desk operations and optimizing IT service delivery across the health system.

"Genesis entered into this relationship with Cerner due to the growing complexity and higher costs of maintaining these services on an 'in-house', independent basis," Cropper said. "Cerner is widely recognized as a health care IT industry leader, and this opportunity to partner ensures our future as a national leader in the use of these technologies to help meet our patients' needs in the most efficient and effective way possible."

"As the Quad Cities' only locally governed health care provider, Genesis has a unique obligation to balance the demands of our mission of 'compassionate, quality health care services for all those in need' with the growing number of regulatory requirements to improve the quality of care while lowering costs. These challenges have encouraged us to search for creative and innovative solutions that maximize efficiencies," said Cropper. "This agreement with Cerner will enhance our ability to keep pace with change, manage costs and accelerate our position as the leading health care provider in the region."

As part of the agreement, 43 Genesis IT employees will become Cerner associates, effective April 1, 2015. Cerner will transition these associates at their current compensation levels, including recognition of their length of service with Genesis, and provide additional training, resources and professional development. Cerner also provides a highly competitive benefits package.

Mike Nill, Cerner executive vice president and COO, said Cerner has seen Genesis as a "true partner" in advancing health and care in the Quad Cities for more than a decade. "We are very pleased and proud to strengthen our relationship with Genesis through this agreement to help ensure both organizations continue to create value together," Nill said. "By working together right where care is being delivered, we can continue to empower organizations like Genesis to know, manage and engage better in the health of their communities."

ABOUT CERNER: Cerner's health information technologies connect people, information and systems at more than 14,000 facilities worldwide. Recognized for innovation, Cerner solutions assist clinicians in making care decisions and enable organizations to manage the health of populations. The company also offers an integrated clinical and financial system to help health care organizations manage revenue, as well as a wide range of services to support clients' clinical, financial and operational needs. Cerner's mission is to contribute to the improvement of health care delivery and the health of communities. Nasdaq: CERN. For more information about Cerner, visit cerner.com, read our blog at cerner.com/blog, connect with us on Twitter at twitter.com/cerner and on Facebook at facebook.com/cerner.

Certain trademarks, service marks and logos set forth herein are property of Cerner Corporation and/or its subsidiaries. All other non-Cerner marks are the property of their respective owners.

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Total of 14 STEM programs to serve thousands of students across the state

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - A statewide program of the Iowa Governor's Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Advisory Council selected four new PreK-12 STEM education programs to serve thousands of students across the state in the 2015-2016 academic year.

The STEM Council voted to add "Ten80 National STEM League," "ST Math," "Project Lead the Way Launch" and "Project Lead the Way Computer Science and Software Engineering" to the Scale-Up program menu. These programs demonstrated their appeal to diverse youth, their success in improving academic performance and evidence of integrating STEM concepts, fostering of school-business-community partnerships and track records of sustainability.

This year, the STEM Council partnered with the national organization, Change the Equation, to select programs that meet the organization's "rigorous principles for effectiveness." With this partnership, the four new Scale-Up programs earned dual status within its "STEMWorks Database" and the STEM Council's Scale-Up program menu.

Iowa's Scale-Up initiative will now offer 14 programs that range from building robots and wind turbines to virtual reality, agricultural science, STEM career awareness and more. The new additions to last year's menu of 10 exemplary options for teachers will expand the elementary mathematics, engineering and computer science offerings.

"Bringing the best STEM learning opportunities to children everywhere in Iowa is the mission of Scale-Up. To be selected for partnership with Change The Equation on the process both complements and strengthens this important work," said Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, STEM Council co-chair. "Feedback from our evaluators documents the far-reaching and significant impact of the program on students and their teachers."

In the last three years, several thousand educators have implemented Scale-Up programs, including PreK-12 teachers, homeschoolers, after-school club leaders, Extension and 4-H professionals, daycare providers and church group sponsors. Almost all of Iowa's 348 school districts take part, reaching more than 100,000 youth each year. Results from the 2013-2014 Iowa STEM evaluation report show nearly 90 percent of students who participated in a Scale-Up program reported higher interest in at least one STEM subject or career with nearly 75 percent of past Scale-Up teachers continuing their program after the STEM Council's financial support ends.

"The STEM Council decided early on that the most efficient path to our goal for outstanding STEM in every classroom was to find and grow best practices rather than to reinvent the wheel," said Vermeer Corporation CEO and STEM Council co-chair Mary Andringa. "Scale-up is that vehicle, driven by our outstanding team of regional network managers, delivering proven and exciting hands-on learning across the state."
Beginning on Monday, January 26, the STEM Council invites all PreK-12 educators to apply for these STEM learning programs for the 2015-2016 academic year at IowaSTEM.gov/2015-16Scale-Up. That application window will close on Monday, March 9 and recipients will be announced at the end of March.

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About the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council

Established in July 2011 via Governor's Executive Order, the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council is a public-private partnership of educators, companies, and Iowa students and families addressing policies and programs designed to improve Iowa's educational system focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The Council works to engage and prepare students for a career-ready workforce path, regain our State's historic leadership position in education, and provide a vital competitive economic advantage now, and for the future, to ensure that every Iowa student has access to world-class STEM education opportunities. The 47-member Council is chaired by Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds and Vermeer Corp. CEO Mary Andringa. For more information, visit www.IowaSTEM.gov.

About Change the Equation

Change the Equation works at the intersection of business and education to ensure that all students are STEM literate by collaborating with schools, communities, and states to adopt and implement excellent STEM policies and programs. CTEq's coalition of members are working toward universal STEM literacy by advocating for state policies and practices that are known to produce STEM-literate high school graduates; ensuring high standards for all students; and supporting evidence-based high quality STEM learning programs.

About Project Lead The Way Computer Science

Project Lead the Way Computer Science is an innovative 4-year computer science pathway that prepares high school students for the growing number of jobs that require computational thinking. For more information, visit https://www.pltw.org/our-programs/pltw-computer-science.

About Project Lead the Way Launch

Project Lead the Way Launch is a rigorous problem-based program in which K-5 students use structured approaches, such as the engineering design process and scientific method, to solve real-world problems. For more information, visit https://www.pltw.org/our-programs/pltw-launch.

About ST Math

ST Math uses instructional software to teach math concepts visually to elementary school through computer games, while developing critical problem-solving and reasoning skills essential for tomorrow's workforce. For more information, visit http://www.mindresearch.org/programs/.

About Ten80 National STEM League

TEN80 National STEM League inspires students to collaborate, create and compete in ways that mirror professional innovators in engineering, software and hardware integration, enterprise, marketing and sustainable development.

For more information, visit http://www.ten80education.com.