WASHINGTON – Senator Chuck Grassley today announced that the Department of Energy is awarding a $608,112 grant to Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation and Development in Postville.
“These funds will help this organization promote biomass as an alternative energy,” Grassley said. “Alternative energy forms like biomass are critical with the current high energy prices and an important part of a 3-pronged approach to solving our current energy crisis, conservation, alternative energy, and fossil fuels.”
Grassley has been a leader in the Senate in promoting renewable energy. As the former chairman and current ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, he has authored legislation to provide tax incentives for biomass, wind and ethanol.
Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation and Development will use the funds to provide technical assistance to woodland owners for biomass production, to promote biomass energy for new construction and retro-fit needs, to expand partnerships toward biomass energy utilization and land stewardship objectives and to gain recognition for the Driftless Area of the Upper Mississippi River basin as a special need area for environmental protection.
