Reported at www.iowalifechanging.com : July 2008

RENEW Energy Systems, a new company in the biomass energy industry, plans to move from Osage and lease larger premises in the St. Ansgar Industrial Park, where it plans a $1.2 million expansion that will create 16 jobs. The Economic Development Board approved $50,000 from the Community Economic Betterment Account (CEBA) to create 10 of the jobs. The project will also receive Enterprise Zone tax benefits. The company markets and distributes fuel briquettes that it compacts from wood, agricultural and industrial byproducts.