July 3, 2007 Senate committee OKs biofuel lab money The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee has approved $1million for a proposed biofuels testing lab in Fort Dodge. The money would pay for equipment for the lab, which would be part of Iowa Central Community College. The money was included in an energy and water appropriations bill approved by the committee on Thursday. The bill must be approved by the full Senate, the House and President Bush before the money could be disbursed. The lab would check the quality of ethanol and biodiesel samples and possibly establish national standards for biofuels. The Iowa Legislature approved $250,000 for the lab earlier this year. Construction is expected to begin this fall. -------- OPINION Make Iowa bike-friendly all year Regional vision, funding source could create world-class trails. In a few weeks, people from all over the world will be vacationing in Iowa. They'll be here to ride their bikes across our great state on RAGBRAI XXXV. They're coming from all 50 states, the Virgin Islands and 21 foreign countries, including Australia, Japan, Norway and Saudi Arabia. Ten thousand riders and thousands more support people will enjoy Iowa's small towns and hospitality for a week. http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070703/OPINION03/707030372/1035/archive -------------- Good trails would make cycling safe across region By ANDIE DOMINICK REGISTER EDITORIAL WRITER A few weeks ago, I biked from my house in northwest Des Moines to Jordan Creek Mall in West Des Moines. Someone told me there was a bike trail leading there. Hardly. I rode busy streets to get to a "trail head" that led to a patchwork of trails that sometimes ended abruptly, dumping me into residential areas without a clue as to where the trail might pick up again. There were no signs telling me where I was or which way to go. I didn't bring a compass along. http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070703/OPINION03/707030373/1035/archive -------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp