While Iowa might be best known for its ethanol and biodiesel industries, the Hawkeye State is also a leader in wind energy (with more than 1,100 wind turbines across the state) and would like to become bigger in solar. So it only makes sense that Iowa State University Extension will be sponsoring a Wind and Solar Energy Conference on March 2 at the Le Mars Convention Center, in Le Mars, Iowa (not too far from the Northwest Iowa wind turbines in the photograph):
“The conference addresses the latest research in Iowa’s alternative energy,” said Sherry McGill, ISU Extension regional director. “It gives Iowans the opportunity to learn how these alternative energy methods affect them legally and financially.”
Speakers from the Iowa Energy Center, USDA Rural Development and Iowa State University will address various wind and solar energy topics, including legal considerations, planning and zoning, financing Iowa’s energy industry and utility companies information.
Presentation highlights include Bill Haman of the Iowa Energy Center with an overview of wind and solar energy resources in “Wind Energy Resources in Iowa-The Bolts and Nuts” and “Solar Energy Resources in Iowa-An Alternative to Wind Energy”.
Other conference speakers include Aaron Chittenden, city of West Des Moines; Erin Herbold, Iowa State University Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation; Bill Menner, USDA Rural Development; Mark Reinders, MidAmerican Energy Co. and entrepreneurs Gregg Heide and Paul Rekow.
Registration is just $35 before Feb. 22 ($45 after that). More information and registration is available here.
During the National Biodiesel Conference some of the latest biodiesel powered vehicles are on display inside the trade show. Like last year, a presentation was made that included comments from various auto company and vehicle representatives.
Be skeptical of phony “science.” Good advice and I wish more people who take it, especially when it comes to biofuels and issues like climate change. Today’s National Biodiesel Conference keynote speaker provided lots of examples of how people are easily fooled. He was Michael Shermer, 
Maybe this will become a tradition. At this year’s National Bioediesel Conference we got a repeat of last year’s petroleum industry experts panel. Included this year are Ron Marr – Minnesota Soybean Processors; David Blatnik – Marathon Petroleum Company; John Cusick – Morgan Stanley Capital Group.; Bruce Heine – Magellan Midstream Partners; Jim Lelio – Kinder Morgan Pipeline Group and C. Mike Reed – NIC Holding Corp. 
To help ensure that safety remains top priority for those who transport and bring ethanol to the marketplace, the 
As a part of the Alternative Fuels Trade Alliance, the RFA and CCCs are able to hold these Ethanol Safety Seminars through the $1.6 million grant received from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This grant has been used to raise public awareness and foster understanding of alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies across the country. The goal of these seminars is for attendees to gain a full ethanol emergency response training experience that they can put to use immediately in the field, as well as pass along to other first response teams. A majority of this training is based on the Complete Training Guide to Ethanol Emergency Response, a training package created by the Ethanol Emergency Response Coalition (EERC) that has been distributed throughout the United States and to several countries worldwide.
The American Ethanol marketing agreement, led by Growth Energy in partnership with the 
The opening general session of the National Biodiesel Conference is now taking place and NBB CEO Joe Jobe just left the stage. Joe gave us a rousing opening speech and I’ve recorded it for you so that you can listen or download below.
After the opening Super Bowl Party at the National Biodiesel Conference we had music on stage from Emily Richards and Jason Brock, long time attendees and performers. Joining them were several members of the Biodiesel Jam Band. Here’s NBB CEO Joe Jobe with Scottie Nisula on guitar. We had a number of other folks join in on stage too.