FIRST US OFFSHORE WIND FARM OFF MASS.

BOSTON — A whole new way of generating electricity in the U.S. drew a big step closer to reality Wednesday, and it could look like this: 130 windmills, 440 feet tall, rising from the ocean a few miles off Cape Cod.

After more than eight years of lawsuits and government reviews, the Obama administration cleared the way for the nation’s first offshore wind farm.

“We are beginning a new direction in our nation’s energy future,” U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar declared in announcing his approval of the $2 billion Cape Wind project, which would finally allow the U.S. to join the list of major countries that are producing electricity from sea breezes.

Strong Opposition Possible

The project has faced intense opposition from environmentalists, antwo Indian tribetribes and some environmentalists and residents, including the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, who warned that the windmills could mar the ocean view. They would be visible from the Kennedy compound at Hyannis Port.

Salazar said the project’s developers can protect local culture and beauty while expanding the nation’s supply of renewable energy.

Salazar said the project’s developers can protect local culture and beauty while expanding the nation’s supply of renewable energy.

Members of the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe of Martha’s Vineyard have vowed to go to court, saying the project would interfere with sacred rituals and desecrate long-submerged tribal burial sites. Other groups said they would sue immediately.

“It’s far from over,” Cape Cod resident Audra Parker of the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound. “Nantucket Sound needs to be off limits to Cape Wind and any other industrial development.”

Salazar said the project had been exhaustively analyzed and added: “This is the final decision of the United States of America. We are very confident we will be able to uphold the decision against legal challenges.”

The windmills would be about five miles off Cape Cod at their closest point to land and 14 miles off Nantucket at the greatest distance. According to simulations done for Cape Wind, on a clear day the turbines would look as if they were about a half-inch tall on the horizon at the nearest point and appear as specks from Nantucket.

Funding For Green Jobs

The costs will be covered with private funding as well as potentially millions in federal stimulus money and tax credits. Cape Wind is negotiating to sell the electricity generated to a local utility.

Cape Wind eventually hopes to supply three-quarters of the power on Cape Cod, which has about 225,000 residents. Cape Wind officials say it will provide green jobs and a reliable domestic energy source.

The announcement came after a pair of deadly disasters earlier this month in West Virginia and the Gulf of Mexico illustrated the risks in extracting oil and coal to meet the country’s energy needs.

Advocates are hoping Cape Wind can jump-start the entire U.S. offshore wind industry.

US Still Lags Behind

America has the world’s largest onshore wind industry but lags behind other countries in offshore electric generation because of high upfront costs, heavy regulation and technological challenges.

Denmark installed the world’s first offshore wind turbine 20 years ago.ago, and there are offshore wind farms around Europe. China has built a commercial wind farm off Shanghai and plans several other projects. The Netherlands also has offshore turbines.

Major U.S. projects are on the drawing board for the waters off New Jersey, Delaware and Texas. The U.S. Department of Energy envisions offshore wind farms accounting for 4 percent of the country’s electric generating capacity by 2030.

Changing Cape Cod’s Landscape

Kennedy, who loved to sail the waters off Cape Cod, fought Cape Wind until the weeks before his death last summer, calling it a special-interest giveaway that could harm the ocean vista. Others say it could interfere with air and sea traffic and endanger birds and other wildlife.

The lead federal agency reviewing the project, the Minerals Management Service, issued a report last year saying the project poses no major environmental problems.

Rep. William Delahunt, D-Mass., whose district includes Cape Cod, warned that the project will raise the region’s power costs, disrupt an ocean sanctuary and set back the wind-power industry, all to benefit a private developer.

“Cape Wind is the first offshore wind farm to be built in the wrong place, in the wrong way, stimulating the wrong economies,” Delahunt said Wednesday.

Home to some of the best-known beaches in the Northeast, Cape Cod has long been a destination for summer vacations and is famous for its small towns, colonial-era fishing villages and weathered, gray-shingled homes in its namesake architectural style.

Earlier this month, a federal panel, the Advisory Council on Historic Properties urged Salazar to reject the wind farm, saying it would have destructive effects on the view from dozens of historic sites.

Salazar said he worried that if the project were killed for such reasons, then no offshore wind farms would be possible on the Eastern Seaboard.

___
JAY LINDSAY | April 28, 2010 | AP

Associated Press writers Glen Johnson in Washington and Steve LeBlanc in Boston contributed to this report.

Eds: CLARIFIES other European nations have offshore turbines, not just Netherlands. CORRECTS some environmentalists, not all, and 2 Indian tribes, not 1, oppose project. Moving on general news and financial services. AP Video.

Low-Stressed Johnson County

Stable Employers Help County Weather Economy

Few counties across the nation have gone untouched by the economic recession, but according to an Associated Press report, few have weathered it better than Johnson County.

According to the Associated Press’s Economic Stress Index — a formula that combines the effect of unemployment rates, bankruptcies and foreclosures — Johnson County was the 14th least economically “stressed” county in the nation with a population of 25,000 or greater.

Local experts say there are a number of reasons why the county was able to handle the recession better than most, but all point to the stability exhibited by the county’s largest employers, particularly the University of Iowa and the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

“I think there are a number of reasons,” said Joe Raso, president of the Iowa City Area Developers Group. “Probably the one people recognize the most is the stability of the University of Iowa and University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. That provides us a very stable economic base for the market. That can’t be overlooked.”

Charles Whiteman, interim-director of the Institute for Economic Research and professor of economics at UI, said the Iowa City area is unique in that it has one “enormous and very stable employer.” Whiteman said the fact that the county does not rely on many large, diverse employers also helped.

“Light manufacturing was hit hard, housing was hit hard,” Whiteman said. “The economy in Johnson County is not dominated by those industries that were hit so hard.”

That’s not to say some of the area’s largest employers have emerged from the worst of the recession unscathed. Officials with those employers said some belt tightening and restructuring were necessary to survive.

Sue Buckley, vice president of human resources at the University of Iowa, said constant change at the UI was beneficial.

“Different parts of the university often grow and contract at a different pace and time,” Buckley said. “This is actually good. Even with extreme financial challenges, because we are diverse and complex, it allows us to, overall, have a more stable workforce.”

For instance, research enterprise at the university exhibited strong growth in the past year while the hospitals and clinics faced some “severe financial challenges,” Buckley said.

“They have taken a number of actions, including significant expense reduction,” she said. “But the picture at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics is really turning around. It’s much more positive than it was a year ago.”

Denice Connell, director of marketing and community relations at Mercy Iowa City, said the county’s other hospital has done well during the economy. Connell said the hospital has seen an increase in the number of applications for positions but a decrease in employee turnover.

“There’s certainly been some belt-tightening,” Connell said. “I feel that we’ve held our own.”

Iowa City Community School District Superintendent Lane Plugge said the district has had to make some staff reductions in the past few years, though most of that has been through attrition and early retirement. Plugge said he doesn’t like having to turn to early retirement as a means to cut costs.

“The reason I don’t like that is it encourages some of our very best teachers and staff members to retire,” Plugge said.

In addition to cutting staff, Plugge said the district has made attempts to make transportation more efficient and has increased class sizes “across the board.”

Iowa City interim City Manager Dale Helling said the city has lost approximately $1.2 million in revenue income from investments. However, he said the loss has been offset by tax revenues from tax increment financing downtown.

“That enabled us to pretty much make up for the lost interest income revenue,” Helling said.

The city also has relied on additional income from the 1 percent utility franchise fee and federal stimulus funding. While the city has made increasing public safety funding a priority, other departments, such as parks and recreation, have had to make do with what they have, Helling said.

“There are a number of areas where we certainly could use more staff, but I can’t say the recession has hit one area harder than the other,” he said.

Whiteman said the economy is expected to rebound and employment is expected to improve in the coming months.

“It’s not a dramatic turnaround, but things are moving in the right direction with respect to income and respect to employment,” he said.

Lee Hermiston • Iowa City Press-Citizen • April 26, 2010

Little something for everyone at RiverFest

Whether you’re anticipating the end of the school year, celebrating the beginning of spring or have nothing to do this weekend, there’s something for you down by the river.

The 31st annual RiverFest runs today through Sunday at Hubbard Park on the University of Iowa campus, its traditional location. Because of the 2008 flood, last year’s RiverFest was held for only two days in downtown Iowa City. This year, RiverFest Executive Director Molly Golemo said, it’s a longer event with more activities, thanks to the expanded space.

“I’m looking forward to bringing it back to campus,” Golemo said. “It’s kind of nice bringing back the tradition.”

There will be three stages at the festival, so “there will always be music happening at one time,” she said. One stage features student groups, including dance troupes, a juggling team and karate kids from a local tae kwon do studio. After 7 p.m., the stage turns into DJ territory, where up-and-coming disc jockeys will perform.

RiverFest also is bringing back carnival rides and bumper cars, along with an obstacle course and a station for bungee jumping.

“It’s all-age friendly,” she said. “College kids will like it and so will 3-year-olds.”

According to the RiverFest website, however, this year’s festival efforts are focused on bringing back “quality music,” including The Tanks, Avian Sunrise, History on Repeat and this year’s headliner, Matt Nathanson.

Nathanson’s show, sponsored by UI’s SCOPE Productions, is an acoustic finish to RiverFest. Nathanson performs at 7:30 p.m. Sunday in the Main Ballroom of the Iowa Memorial Union.

“We’re very excited about this show in particular. Matt’s a great performer,” SCOPE marketing director Carly Susral said. “He’s very interactive … and makes sure everyone has a great time.”

Nathanson will perform songs from his newest album, “Some Mad Hope,” which was released in 2007.

Along with the music, visitors can get a taste of Iowa City at RiverFeast from 4 to 8 p.m. today on the pedestrian mall downtown. Nearly two dozen local restaurants will feature taste portions of their menu in exchange for food tickets, which cost $1 each.
Stephanie Wise • Iowa City Press-Citizen • April 22, 2010

4th Annual Dance Fest is supported by Summer Of The Arts

What better way to celebrate the start of spring than with dance!

Summer of the Arts is proud to help support the 4th annual Dance Fest!  They continue to gather performers from all over the State of Iowa to share their passion for dance with the Iowa City community.  Everyone is working pro-bono for the love of dance!

Help us spread the voice! April 16-24: Art Installation at the Deadwood (6 S Dubuque Street, upper level).

Bring your favorite performance art articles to exhibit: costumes, videos, music, old dancing shoes, pictures, photos, pictures, lights, props, masks.  April 5th is the deadline for entry.  Please contact Deanne at electricjumpinghorse@hotmail.com to apply.

April 16: Set-up, 5-10pm

April 17: Set-up, 12-4pm

April 18: Opening Reception at 7pm, $5 donation at the door (BYOW)

April 19-22: Installation will be open 7-10; space is available for workshops, performance, readings, etc.

Reserve your evening NOW!

First come-first serve.  Remember: Black walls, carpeted room, small stage, funky space, and Free.

April 23: Concert at Robert A. Lee Rec Center IC., 7pm, $5 at the door.  Dance groups from Ames, Des Moines, Cedar Falls, Fairfield, Davenport, West Branch, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City-Coralville have already saved the date! For more information, please contact Nora Garda at (319) 400.4695 or email at iowadancefest@gmail.com

The Iowa City metro area has made the grade again

Forbes Magazine ranks the Iowa City area No. 2 in its annual listing of “Best Small Places for Business and Careers.” Iowa City was edged out from the number one spot by Sioux Falls, SD.

Iowa City Area Development Group President Joe Raso said the ranking is a validation of recent national studies recognizing the Iowa City area’s economy, workforce and other factors important to businesses and professionals.

“It’s always great news when we’re recognized,” Raso said. “It just validates a lot of things we talk to people about when we talk to people about the Iowa City area.”

Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Nancy Quellhorst said Iowa City has a history of being recognized as a place to start a business, so the ranking came as no surprise. She said new businesses are a key component of economic recovery.

“This recognition is well-timed and relevant,” Quellhorst said.

Cost Of Living Still High

The ranking included sub-rankings in categories such as colleges, cost of doing business, cost of living, crime rate and other factors. The Iowa City area was ranked third out of 184 communities in the percent of the population over 25 with a bachelor’s degree or higher, eighth in income growth and 18th in crime rate. Colleges, cost of doing business and job growth ranked in the 30s, as well.

According to the rankings, 95.6 percent of the metro area’s population has a high school diploma, 46.9 percent have a college degree. The median household income is $50,934 and income growth was projected to be 4 percent.

“The subcategories help to define what we tend to hear,” Raso said. “This is kind of a gem within the Midwest…the biggest challenge we have is not enough people know about it. We have the challenge to overcome the mindset of what the Midwest or Iowa is like.”

Iowa City fell short in the cost of living and projected economic growth categories, ranking 103 and 126, respectively. Raso said many employers or professional who come from the coasts or large cities do not notice a dramatic change in the cost of living. However, it’s still an issue that can improve, he said.

“We want to do everything we can to address workforce housing and transportation costs…so that we don’t become a Chicago or other major market where they’re having issues with infrastructure and costs along those lines,” Raso said.

As for economic growth, Raso said the ranking’s projected 1.8 percent job growth for the area is a strength, rather than a weakness. Rather than job growth rates sharply rising and falling, job growth has generally crept steadily higher over the years, Raso said.

“It’s a very steady growth over time,” he said. “What might be tabbed as a concern, I don’t see that.”

via Press Citizen 4/14/10

Model Your Town Competition: Cast your vote!

The first-ever Google Model Your Town Competition has entered the public voting phase. It’s now up to you to help decide which of the five finalist towns should be the overall winner. Cast your vote before May 1.

* Barranco (Lima, Peru)
* Braunschweig (Niedersachsen, Germany)
* Donostia – San Sebastián (Gipuzkoa, Spain)
* Dursley (Gloucestershire, United Kingdom)
* West Palm Beach (Florida, United States)

These five teams used Google SketchUp and Google Building Maker to create beautifully detailed 3D models of their communities — and now they’re viewable in Google Earth by everyone in the world. To see all of the towns who entered the competition, check out the Google 3D Warehouse collection.

The winning town will receive an event hosted by Google in their honor, US $10,000 for their local schools and more. Don’t forget to vote by May 1, and we’ll announce the winning town by May 15.

And if you’re interested in learning how you can model your town, check out our Your World in 3D website for examples and other tools to help you get started.

Posted by Allyson McDuffie, SketchUp for Education Program Manager

via Google Blog

JOHN WEBER,

CO-OWNER OF DWELL HOME FURNISHINGS & INTERIOR DESIGN

A Local Business With A Passion

The owners of Dwell Home Furnishings and Interior Design in Coralville, Iowa, adhere to a philosophy that consists of three words: renew, refresh and excite.  Founded in 1991 and co-owned by John Weber and 3 hands on partners, the 5,500-sq-ft, two level operation is a balance of design and retail with a merchandise mix John describes as casual, organic and modern.

Wide Appeal & Niche Markets

“There is very eclectic feel to the store, Asian and Middle Eastern influences mixed with antiques in both traditional and contemporary settings,” said Weber.  “We try to keep our displays fresh, sometimes changing weekly.

The design aspect of our store is the more profitable with the emphasis on large design jobs.  This mixes so will with our retail because we have the ability to instantly create the design by bringing our area rugs in large 9×12 sizes and placing the accessories and lamps to show the feel we want to create.  We also have our own delivery staff and trucks which allows us to deliver quickly.

The Dwell Philosophy

The Dwell philosophy of Renew, Refresh,and Excite lets you explore the multitude of texture and color including a wide variety of unique, traditional and eclectic styles. We include upholstered styles from carefully selected Manufacturers as well as beautifully designed casegoods in unique and exotic woods. You will find interesting and inspiring art and accessories with Asian and other strong ethnic influences. You will be inspired by the wonders of one of a kind antique doors and columns from India as well as pieces made from eco-friendly raw materials, including plantation grown woods, reclaimed wood and metal. We recognize that it is not only our social responsibility to keep the planet green, but good business as well. Browse our online store or visit us at 250 12th Ave Suite 100 Coralville, IA and view our products in an inviting and comfortable setting.

Explore our Revolution of Style and let us Inspire your Soul.

One On One With John Weber

Q: Do you see any trends emerging or remaining “hot” in home accents?

A: Living green with reclaimed, re-purposed accessories, case goods, lamps and area rugs.  Finding a use for old pediments, doors and columns.

Q: How do you describe your customer?

A: Our customer base is very diverse.  The university community brings in a wide range of clients.  Clients from each coast, many continents, young and retired.  What they have in common is a desire to create a home that is uniquely theirs.

Q: What sets Dwell apart from the competition?

A: It’s more of a combination of ideas that stem from being passionate about our business.  We develop personal relationships with our customers and provide exceptional merchandise with superior service.

The Unauthorized TechCrunch iPad Review

For some strange reason we weren’t invited to test drive the iPad early. But easy-to-get stories are never fun anyway. And there has always been another way to spend time with the iPad other than a freebie loaner from apple – the third party developers.

Scores of developers have had iPad’s for weeks now. They’ve had to sign non-disclosure agreements, and have the iPad locked in a separate room that random employees couldn’t access. And even that wasn’t enough. The iPads are literally chained to the desk with steel cable and a lock. Apple comes by the office with a suitcase, installs the iPad in a bolted case, chains it to the desk and locks it there. And they they do occasional surprise visits just to make sure it’s still there.

What’s more, Apple has told developers that they are monitoring the location of the device as well. We tried (oh how we tried) to find a way to break into a company that had one and just steal the whole desk that it was chained to to bring it back here and wait for Apple or the police or whoever to show up. It would have made an excellent April Fools joke. But CEO Heather vetoed the idea.

But one thing I have had the chance to do is test iPads at developers who’ve been willing to bend the rules a little. Well, actually, a lot. This is exactly what Apple didn’t want – bloggers and other outsiders to get access to and play with the devices.

But play I did. I’ve surfed the net on the iPad. I’ve played games on the iPad. And I’ve done email on the iPad. Yes, those iPads were chained to desks and in a bolted on steel case. And even so, the experience was stunning. It’s a nearly flawless device.

And the iPad beats even my most optimistic expectations. This is a new category of device. But it also will replace laptops for many people. It does basic computer stuff, like email and web surfing, very well. Applications load quickly and are very responsive – think iPhone 3GS with a 50% speed boost.

That’s what surprised me the most. The iPad isn’t just for couch computing when you want to look something up on Wikipedia or send a quick email. It’s a perfectly usable business device. And the form factor just happens to work far better for cramped places like airplanes than a normal laptop. I doubt I’ll ever open a laptop on a plane again after tomorrow.

I am easily able to type 50 words per minute on the large virtual keyboard. A physical keyboard is a nice add on when I’m in my office or hotel room, but it works just fine without it, too.

The iPad will put significant pressure on laptop sales, particularly second device laptops. And it will also have a devastating effect on single-use devices like the Kindle, unless the price of those devices drops substantially. I will quite happily read books on the iPad, and the battery really does last for up to ten hours.

And then there are the apps. Some of the iPads best uses are yet to be imagined. This is certainly an amazing game device and productivity tool. And I’ll happily consume massive amounts of music and video content on the iPad. Third party apps, and there are a ton of them coming, will make this even more useful.

I suspect I’ll rarely be away from this device. In fact it will make my phone far less important for non-calling uses. I may not have the iPad in my pocket with my phone, but it will certainly be in my bag over my shoulder. With a 3G data plan I’ll use it to read the news, look up movie times and reviews, send instant messages and emails, and lots of other things that I do with my phone. I’m not so sure I need to have the latest and greatest phone device any more, knowing that there’s an iPad within reach.

I’d pay $1,000 for a chained to the desk iPad. The fact that tomorrow I’ll get the one I pre-ordered for just $500, chain free, makes me very happy indeed.

by Michael Arrington on Apr 2, 2010

via Techcrunch.com

Chamber Orchestra Bursting With Brio

When Interpreti Veneziani made its U.S. debut at the University of Florida in January 2007, the chamber orchestra was rewarded with a resounding standing ovation—before intermission. Positively bursting with brio, Interpreti Veneziani specializes in baroque music and performs on period instruments for rapturous audiences at Venice’s San Vidal Church and around the world. The ensemble kicks off a new tour of the United States with a performance in Iowa City that will feature the exuberant virtuosity for which the group is known. Seating is limited so order your tickets now. At the concert, expect thunderous applause early and often.

PROGRAM

Arcangelo Corelli
Concert Grosso for 2 violins, cello, string, and harpsichord, op. 6, no. 1

Antonio Vivaldi
Concert for violin, strings, and harpsichord (“Il Favorito”)

Antonio Vivaldi
Concert for 2 violins, strings, and harpsichord, op. 3, no. 5 (“Estro Armonico”)

Gaetano Pugnani / Fritz Kreisler
Preludio e Allegro for violin and strings

Intermission

Pablo de Sarasate

Zingaresca for violin and strings

Antonio Vivaldi
Concert for 4 violins, cello, strings, and harpsichord, op. 3, no. 10 (“Estro Armonico”)

Niccolò Paganini
La Campanella for violin and strings

Where & When

Interpreti Veneziani
Saturday, April 10, 7:30 pm
St. Mary’s Catholic Church

For Tickets

Hancher OnLine, click here