Iowa

A bill to require E-15 at Iowa gas stations is advancing in the Senate

Published

2 years ago

April 25, 2022

A bill to require E-15 at Iowa gas stations is advancing in the Senate

Gov. Kim Reynolds’ proposal to require Iowa fuel stations to promote gas with greater blends of ethanol superior Monday after being stalled within the Senate for months.

The governor’s lobbyist, Molly Severn, mentioned the invoice will assist reinforce Iowa’s financial system.

“This invoice is the results of important compromise from everybody alongside the gas provide chain, from farmers to gas retailers,” Severn mentioned. “If we’re to stay the nationwide chief in agriculture and renewable gas manufacturing, we should ship a robust message in opposition to the fixed uncertainty that we have now confronted from the federal authorities and the EPA.”

Greater than half of the corn grown in Iowa goes to ethanol manufacturing. President Joe Biden just lately introduced he would enable using E-15 by this summer time when it is usually not allowed, and Severn mentioned Reynolds is working to make that change everlasting.

Below the invoice within the Iowa Legislature, fuel stations that open after Jan. 1, 2023, must promote E-15, fuel blended with at the very least 15 % ethanol, from at the very least half of their dispensers. Current fuel stations with suitable infrastructure must promote E-15 from at the very least one dispenser by 2026. If a fuel station upgrades its underground infrastructure, it must supply E-15 from at the very least 50 % of its dispensers.

The Iowa Home handed the invoice in early February. That model included two completely different waivers fuel stations may use to get out of the E-15 mandate. One would apply to stations which have particular underground infrastructure that’s outdated and incompatible with E-15. The opposite waiver would go to stations that get an inspection to certify it might value greater than a specific amount to improve their gear.

The Senate Methods and Means Committee amended the invoice Monday so as to add a 3rd alternative for fuel stations to keep away from the E-15 mandate. Fuel stations that promote lower than 300,000 gallons of fuel per yr would be capable of get a waiver.

“We’re actually making an attempt to assist out these small retailers right here within the state understanding that these assist lots of our rural communities,” mentioned Sen. Dan Dawson, R-Council Bluffs. “And there’s a distinction between a high-volume station having the capital to make investments…versus a small station which may not have as a lot capital.”

The Senate invoice would additionally give extra monetary help to small fuel stations that need to improve their gear to have the ability to promote E-15.

The committee handed the invoice with a voice vote, so it’s not clear who supported the invoice and who didn’t.

Sen. Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa Metropolis, was the one senator who requested to be recorded as voting in opposition to the invoice.

“My considerations are in regards to the mandate—the requirement that state authorities goes to inform enterprise house owners that they must promote a selected product,” he mentioned.

Bolkcom mentioned it’s ironic that Republican leaders refuse to enact mandates for farmers to assist enhance water high quality, however they’re keen to concern an E-15 mandate to fuel stations.

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Iowa

Northwest Iowa communities preparing for potential flooding

Published

1 hour ago

June 21, 2024

Press Room

Northwest Iowa communities preparing for potential flooding

HAWARDEN, Iowa (KTIV) – The Big Sioux River at Hawarden could see some major flooding, which has spurred the community to take action.

Out in Hawarden, Iowa, volunteers and officials put together sandbags for potential flooding of the Big Sioux River. As of 12:30 p.m., the Big Sioux was at 23.5 feet, and Sioux County officials say it will crest at 36.8 feet on Sunday evening. The flood stage for the river is 20.5 and this crest will break the 35.2 feet record the Big Sioux has at Hawarden.

Several other communities like Hawarden are preparing just in case.

Another Iowa town, Akron, is anticipating the river to crest at 24.3 feet, which is getting close to its record of 25 feet. Akron officials and volunteers also plan to prepare sandbags Friday for what may come tonight and into the weekend.

Out in Rock Valley, sandbags have been delivered to the local police department and city officials are alerting residents that evacuations may be needed.

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Iowa

Cause of death revealed in case of once missing Iowa trucker David Schultz

Published

8 hours ago

June 21, 2024

Press Room

Cause of death revealed in case of once missing Iowa trucker David Schultz

SAC CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – The once missing Iowa trucker found dead on a farm in rural Sac County about two months ago died from hypothermia related to acute meth intoxication, the Sioux City Journal reports.

The report, which cites a death certificate for David Schultz, says he ingested the drug, then died when he was exposed to the cold temperatures outside.

Schultz went missing in November 2023, sparking a massive search effort.

His body was found in April 2024 in the 1900 block of Union Avenue, which is close to the location his truck was found. It’s unclear why his body wasn’t recovered sooner.

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Iowa

Election 2024: How libertarians could affect Iowa congressional races

Published

16 hours ago

June 21, 2024

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Election 2024: How libertarians could affect Iowa congressional races

DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Television Iowa Capitol Bureau) – Libertarians will be on the ballot statewide for the first time since 2018.

Incumbent Republican Congressman Zach Nunn will face off against a well-funded Democrat, and now a Libertarian entering the field may make it even tougher.

Marco Battaglia says his candidacy gives voters a choice to break away from the two-party system.

“We got Polk County pretty much where people just show up and check, you know, the D next to the name. And we got a lot of the other counties where people just show up and check the R next to the name. A good goal would just to be get people thinking about those three options rather than just knowing they’re going to show up and vote for a color,” Battaglia said.

In 2022, Nunn won by 2,145 votes against Democrat Cindy Axne.

With yet another tight race on the horizon, Battaglia says he’s not worried about being labeled a spoiler.

“I think that’s a really shortsighted way of looking at politics. The sooner that Iowans and the people of the district get used to a multi-party system, a system where someone can just run as no party as an independent and have a fair race the better I think it’ll be for everyone that lives here,” Battaglia said.

Iowa State University Political Science Professor Dave Peterson says if Battaglia has any impact on the race, it would be as a spoiler.

“The margins matter, right? If the Libertarian pulls a couple of points from Nunn – if that takes him from 53 to 51, not a big deal. But if it takes him just over the edge where the Democrat, you know, has slightly more then it matters, but I think that’s unlikely. I think Nunn is likely to win this race,” Peterson said.

Peterson says the effects of a third-party candidate may be muted since Donald Trump being on the ballot will lead to higher Republican turnout.

Battaglia isn’t the only Libertarian running for Congress. In Eastern Iowa, Nicholas Gluba is running in Iowa’s 1st congressional district. In Northwest Iowa, Charles Aldrich is running in the 4th district.

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Conner Hendricks covers state government and politics for Gray Television-owned stations in Iowa. Email him at conner.hendricks@gray.tv; and follow him on Facebook at Conner Hendricks TV or on X/Twitter @ConnerReports.