(DES MOINES) - MidAmerican Energy Company is announcing its plans to add up to 1,050 megawatts of wind generation, consisting of up to 656 new wind turbines, in Iowa by year-end 2015. The wind expansion will enhance economic development and provide in excess of $360 million in additional property tax revenues over the next 30 years. Landowner payments totaling $3.2 million per year also are expected as a result of the expansion. In addition, the expansion is planned to be built at no net cost to the company's customers and will help stabilize electric rates over the long term by providing a rate reduction totaling $10 million per year by 2017, commencing with a $3.3 million reduction in 2015.

Gov. Terry Branstad, a champion for wind energy in Iowa, commented on the proposal. "As a leader in wind generation, the state of Iowa welcomes the opportunity to expand our renewable energy portfolio. MidAmerican Energy's proposed project will be the largest economic development investment in the history of the state, bringing needed jobs to Iowa, as well as significant economic benefits."

Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds reiterated that message. "MidAmerican Energy has been a long-standing partner with the state of Iowa, and we look forward to working with them on this wind proposal. In addition to helping boost our state and local economies, the expansion would create approximately 460 construction jobs over a two-year period and an estimated 48 permanent jobs in our state."

Greg Abel, chairman, president and CEO of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company - the parent company of MidAmerican Energy - recognized and thanked Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds for their unwavering support of renewable energy in Iowa.

"The administration has continued its focus on creating an environment that allows for significant investment in Iowa, and we are pleased to be working hand in hand with them to grow our state and create good jobs," said Abel.

Abel further thanked Iowa's congressional delegation for their strong support of the production tax credit extension.

"Iowa's congressional delegation created the opportunity for this investment through their support at the federal level and continued an environment that makes this type of investment possible," said Abel.

MidAmerican Energy began building wind projects in 2004. To date, 1,267 wind turbines have been installed in Iowa, representing a total investment of approximately $4 billion. In light of the recent federal production tax credit extension, the company is asking to expand its wind generation capacity to enhance its renewables portfolio. MidAmerican Energy estimates that by January 2016, when all new wind generation is expected to be operating, it may be capable of generating approximately 39 percent of its retail generation output through wind generation during that month.

"The proposed wind expansion will not only add to MidAmerican Energy's and Iowa's position as a national leader in wind generation capacity, it will help reduce future rates to our customers by as much as $10 million per year and further enhance our corporate principle of environmental respect by reducing our carbon footprint by 10.3 percent," said Bill Fehrman, president and CEO, MidAmerican Energy.

If the expansion is approved by the Iowa Utilities Board, MidAmerican Energy will own and operate approximately 3,335 megawatts of wind generation capacity in Iowa by year-end 2015. Currently, MidAmerican Energy owns and operates approximately 2,285 megawatts of wind generation capacity in Iowa and is No. 1 in the U.S. for ownership of wind generation capacity among rate-regulated utilities.

MidAmerican Energy Company, Iowa's largest energy company, provides electric service to 734,000 customers and natural gas service to 714,000 customers in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and South Dakota. It is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. Information about MidAmerican Energy is available on the company's website and its Twitter, Facebook and YouTube pages, which can be accessed via www.midamericanenergy.com<http://www.midamericanenergy.com>.

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Will Eliminate Seven Million Documents per Year and Reduce Client Response Time from Days to Seconds

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today announced a new digital record system at the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) that will eliminate more than seven million documents per year is already reducing response times for client service from days to seconds. The announcement is part of Governor Quinn's commitment to reduce government waste and save taxpayer money.

"Our human services caseworkers can best serve their customers by spending time with them, not battling wasteful paperwork," Governor Quinn said. "This system will allow us to increase accountability while eliminating millions of pieces of paper from the process, helping our caseworkers focus on the needs of their clients."

DHS is using IBM software to digitize three forms critical to the benefit eligibility determination process: calculation sheets, the combined application form and the chronological record of case processing. Digitizing these forms will eliminate more than seven million pieces of paper annually. With the new system, these forms are electronically filed, which produces an immediate paper savings. It also eliminates the need to wade through more than 100 million pieces of paper stored in case files at local offices and warehouses throughout the state when case workers need to retrieve and update information.

"This solution is an excellent example of state government and private industry working together to develop strategies for maximizing our limited resources," DHS Secretary Michelle R.B. Saddler said. "Just as important, it helps us streamline our local offices and improve efficiency, which in turn enhances the workplace, employee morale and service to our customers." 

The IBM system cost $325,000 but paid for itself in just three months with the savings that were realized from its use by more than 2,000 DHS caseworkers. Caseworkers input information into the system and the system automatically determines program eligibility and stores the electronic forms in a central repository for later retrieval. Caseworker time spent retrieving information has gone from days to just seconds, which has been a big boost to customer service.

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Health, Technology, Innovation at Chicago Will Provide Lab and Office Space, Crucial Support to Drive Life Science Innovation and Job Creation

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today was joined by officials from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) and the Illinois Medical District (IMD) Commission to announce a $3.4 million, 12,000-square-foot lab and office space that will serve as a new hub for Chicago's flourishing bioscience industry. Part of the governor's agenda to create jobs and drive Illinois' economy forward, the Health, Technology, Innovation (HTI) at Chicago Technology Park will bring scientists, clinicians, engineers and industry together and create the nexus for an interdisciplinary approach to drug, diagnostic, medical device and information technology development. The announcement comes as Chicago hosts the BIO Conference, the largest biotech conference in the nation.

"Illinois' thriving, cutting edge life sciences sector creates jobs while improving people's lives," Governor Quinn said. "The HTI will drive further growth in the field, serving as a key resource for our medical science researchers and providing a new platform through which innovative ideas can be developed and introduced to the marketplace."

Strategically located within the Illinois Medical District near the campus of UIC's Medical School, the new facility is funded through a $1.7 million state capital investment that was matched by $1.7 million of UIC funds. It is expected to open this summer and will house both shared wet and dry laboratory space, in addition to co-working office space. The HTI will be anchored by a fully-equipped meeting and classroom with high-definition video conferencing, recording and streaming.

The facility will provide the infrastructure where technology development work can take place outside of academic labs, with support and access to professional services to assist in commercialization planning and venture formation guidance. Access to talent, industry networks and connections to capital sources will be a future offering.

With a community based approach, HTI will serve University faculty, staff and students, Chicago area research institutions as well as the broader entrepreneurial community as a nexus of biotechnology commercialization. Laboratory and office space will be ready for occupancy in summer 2013.

HTI is an outgrowth of the Illinois Innovation Council which was created by Governor Quinn in February 2011 to identify and advance strategies that accelerate innovation, economic growth, and job creation. 

"Biotechnology start-ups have an often complicated road through development," University of Illinois President Robert Easter said. "With a fresh approach to incubating promising technologies, HTI will provide a foundation that aligns technology and market feasibility early on, even before companies are formed. Our aim is to produce not only more start-ups but more viable start-ups - companies that will advance both health care and economic development."

"IMD is very pleased to be able to work with our partners to deliver on Governor Quinn's vision of harnessing the brainpower of our researchers to advance medical science and create jobs," IMD Director Warren Ribley said. "The HTI will provide both a physical space and support services that will validate technology, convert innovation into products, and accelerate projects to venture readiness."

"Life science start-ups have unique challenges, including the need for major capital and long development lifecycles," Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Director Adam Pollet said. "We hope to create a platform that lowers barriers, addresses early stage risk and provides access to resources."

Governor Quinn announced earlier this week that a new independent study by Ernst & Young LLP ranked Illinois at the top of the nation's biotechnology industry, and the state is at the core of the most vibrant bioscience hub in the United States. The report, "The Economic Engine of Biotechnology in Illinois," shows the Midwest Super Cluster, which includes Illinois and the surrounding eight-state region, surpasses California and the East Coast in biotechnology-related employment, number of establishments and research and development expenditures.

According to the new report, within the Midwest Super Cluster there are more than 16,800 biotechnology establishments employing more than 377,900 people. In addition, the overall economic output of Illinois' biotechnology industry is more than $98.6 billion, accounting for 81,000 direct jobs and more than 3,500 biotechnology companies in the state.

The full report may be viewed at ibio.org/illinoisbiotechreport.

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Minimum $299.5 million investment coming to Altoona

 

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today joined Altoona's Mayor Skip Conkling in officially welcoming Facebook to Iowa.  The social networking company, which helps more than 1 billion people around the world connect and share with each other, announced that it will build a new, state-of-the-art data center in Altoona.

"Today's announcement further solidifies Iowa's position as a destination for tech companies - from major data center operations like Facebook's to the innovative start-ups we continue to see popping up around our state," said Gov. Branstad.  "Our productive workforce and our overall cost of doing business help us to win great projects like this."

Lt. Gov. Reynolds added, "We are so proud to add Facebook to our list of world-renowned tech companies located in Iowa. Facebook's investment continues sending the signal that Iowa is open for business and this administration is committed to attracting business and jobs here in all economic sectors."

Facebook will invest a minimum of $299.5 million in the project, which is expected to create hundreds of construction jobs and dozens of full-time operations jobs. The company evaluated several other sites before choosing the Iowa location.

The first phase of the project will result in a 476,000-square foot data center that will be among the most advanced and energy efficient of its kind. The data center will feature an innovative outdoor-air cooling system and the latest in Open Compute Project server designs, and it will be built to LEED Gold standards.

"I welcome Facebook to the Altoona community," said Altoona Mayor Skip Conkling. "Quality companies and development make our city and state an even greater place to do business and to live and play. I want to thank all parties for their endeavors in securing this project."

Earlier today the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) board approved $18 million in tax benefits through the High Quality Jobs program to Facebook to create at least 31 new jobs at a qualifying wage of $23.12 per hour. The project will have a minimum capital investment of $299.5 million. Local incentives from the city of Altoona were also approved today.

"We're thrilled to become a part of the Altoona community, and especially appreciative of all the partners who helped make this project happen," said Jay Parikh, vice president of infrastructure engineering for Facebook. "Facebook's mission is to connect the world. Thanks to Iowa, we're building the global infrastructure to bring the next billion people online."

The 194-acre site selected in Altoona could accommodate up to two additional data center buildings that may be constructed in future phases of the project.

Other elected officials weighed in on the announcement today.

"I regret that I cannot be there in person today to join with Mayor Conkling, City Council members, and officials from Facebook to welcome the news of Facebook's intention to expand into Iowa," said U.S. Senator Tom Harkin. "We have long known that Iowa is a great place to do business. Altoona in particular has been very focused on providing quality infrastructure at a fair cost to attract companies like Facebook, which add to our continued economic growth. So I welcome this announcement and I look forward to the improvements it will generate for our entire state."

"America knows that Iowa is one of the tech-friendliest states in the country with an outstanding workforce to match, and Facebook's announcement today firmly confirms that fact," said U.S. Congressman Tom Latham. "This new data center is unprecedented in scope and will bring jobs and economic development to Altoona, as well as further Iowa's reputation as a top-notch place to innovate and do business. I congratulate the good people of Altoona for being a part of this exciting project, commend Facebook for pursuing it, and look forward to seeing the immense benefits it brings."

 

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