DES MOINES – Governor Chet Culver today announced the award of $1.39 million to help implement eight innovative energy ventures. These projects will advance progress toward a clean energy economy in Iowa.

The Office of Energy Independence funding supports pioneering energy projects that will benefit a variety of organizations including Community Colleges, the State Fair, Iowa-based businesses, the University of Iowa, and State Agencies. To fund the projects, OEI will use money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“The projects announced today embody Iowa’s continued leadership in the clean energy economy and demonstrate the novel approaches needed for us to achieve dramatic increases in our energy efficiency and renewable energy generation,” said Culver. “The projects that emerge from these initiatives will help create jobs and develop the tools needed to help us mitigate our impact on the environment for the next generation.”

“The extraordinary quality of the proposals submitted for this program signals exciting progress in the development of Iowa’s clean energy economy,” said OEI Director Roya Stanley. “The partnerships we are forming and strengthening with these funds will solidify Iowa’s standing as an energy leader, and make progress necessary to achieve the ambitious energy goals set by Governor Culver.”

The funds will support demonstration projects, educational displays, renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements.  Awardees will provide cost share of $1,498,930.  Projects funded are:

Eastern Iowa Community College, Davenport - $185,000 to develop displays for the Iowa Sustainable Energy Center that focus on wind, solar and hydrogen energy. The planned displays include experiments and information on how wind turbines work; solar powered hydrogen fueling station for a fuel cell powered forklift; solar thermal water heating system with three types of collectors; and electric car and solar powered recharging station.

Flex Fuel USA, Mason City - $47,332 to install 25 flex fuel conversion kits on vehicles owned and operated by the Iowa Department of Transportation, Cerro Gordo County Sheriff and Police Department from Clear Lake, Charles City and Mason City; and to train North Iowa Area Community College students in the installation of fuel conversion equipment.

Iowa State Fair Association, Des Moines - $250,000 to install renewable energy features at Expo Hill on the State Fairgrounds including:  solar cooling benches, photovoltaic array on the visitor center roof, solar lighting, and a solar powered portable tent.

Iowa Utilities Board, Des Moines - $25,427 to install an integrated energy management system in 74 workstations at the new IUB building on the Capitol Complex. This system will control non-critical power usage when individual workstations are not occupied.

Kum & Go, Statewide - $249,150 to retrofit 151 convenience stores in 95 communities with Light Emitting Diode (LED) display cooler lighting.

Ovation Networks, Cedar Rapids - $81,033 to install an energy management system in six Iowa hotels. The system uses Wi-Fi architecture and carbon dioxide sensors to manage the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system based on occupancy.

Sun Prairie Apartments, West Des Moines - $354,000 to install Energy Star metal shingles over existing asphalt shingles on buildings and garages and install induction light fixtures throughout the apartment complex.  Both projects will reduce energy costs and will be used to train contractors on product installation.

University of Iowa, Medical Research Facility, Iowa City - $205,000 to replace a standard air make-up ventilation air handling unit with a new system that incorporates energy recovery wheels to reduce energy consumption.