Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.
A recently introduced bill could have far-reaching impact on the U.S. sugar industry, including American Crystal Sugar, a farmer-owned cooperative that locked out 1,300 Midwest workers on Aug. 1.
The chairman for Herman Cain’s Iowa effort says the campaign “relied more on the word of farmers than Washington regulators” in deciding to run an ad containing claims the Environmental Protection Agency says are false.
The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.
Despite government efforts to prop up the wind energy industry, financial uncertainty has been blamed for the loss of 58 more ‘green-collar’ jobs in West Branch.
Acciona Windpower, a subsidiary of Spain-based Acciona Energy, announced Friday that it would cut the jobs at its only U.S. plant.
“We’re members of this community, we continue to employ community members and we’ll continue to support the community however we can,” said Adrian LaTrace, vice president and general manager. “Acciona Windpower is one of the best products on the market, and with our West Branch facility, we will remain well positioned to fill orders for turbines when the demand inevitably increases.”
Company officials will continue limited production at the plant, and are hopeful that the economic stimulus package will lead to the West Branch facility returning to previous production levels and staffing.
The West Branch location became operational in 2007, and its production capacity is 450 units.
Although the American Wind Energy Association touted the creation of 35,000 jobs during 2008, there has been a significant downturn nationwide since the beginning of the year. Earlier this year, Clipper Windpower in Cedar Rapids laid off 90 workers.
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