President Obama's New Budget Includes $10,000 EV Rebate

From EcoGeek:

Written by Megan Treacy on 16/02/12

President Obama's recently released new budget plan includes lots of incentives for cleantech industries and reportedly an exciting $10,000 rebate for electric vehicle purchases.

Currently, if you purchase an all-electric vehicle, you are eligible for a $7,500 tax credit that you receive when you file your taxes for that year, but this new rebate program would allow consumers to slash $10,000 off the top of the cost of an electric car, right at the time of purchase. That's a huge incentive for drivers who are on the fence and would likely support some large gains in sales of those vehicles.

Many of the first crop of mass market EVs are still in a price range that is just beyond what most consumers want to pay for a sedan or compact car, but with this rebate, the Chevy Volt would go from $41,000 to $31,000; the Nissan LEAFwould go from $36,000 to $26,000 and the newest to hit the market, the Mitsubishi i, would drop to under $20,000. Those are prices that would be much more appealing to a wider base of consumers.

The rebate would apply to other alternativ-fuel vehicles, too, like natural gas, hydrogen fuel cell or other high-tech green vehicles.

Though it's hard to hold out hope for things like this to make it through a very tough Congress, it's pretty exciting to think of the impact a rebate would have on the EV market.

Time to take a look at EV's.

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Sustainability in the Boardroom and Classroom

Here's a link to an interesting video that profiles Enid Cardinal, Senior Sustainability Advisor to the President at Rochester Institute of Technology,  ash she explores the role of sustainability in today’s society. The discussion ends with a look at sustainability in higher education:  http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/02/27/sustainability-in-the-boardroom-and-classroom/

We had a number of classrooms logged into our daylong broadcast yesterday, from the Compost Conference, and we'd love to have thousands more.  Help us get the word out to our next generation, and let them live a sustainable life.

Here's the URL on the video.  Enjoy and send us your comments:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=mJMXf2r5idA

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Great Day tomorrow

First, we will broadcast the 3rd Annual RI Compost Conference and Trade Show.  The show is sold out, so make sure you watch on the Arpin Broadcast Network, courtesy, of course, of Renewable Now and our fantastic sponsors, including Arpin Group, Cardi's, Atrion and RI College.  The broadcast will run from 9:30a to about 3p.

Here's the link with all of the information:  http://www.environmentcouncilri.org/compost2012.html

And the link to watch us broadcast the event:  http://www.arpinbroadcastnetwork.com/Arpin-RenewableNow.html

Then we will tape our first four shows on our Green America Hometown Tour.  Those shows will start airing next weekend on radio and TV.  Again, use the same link--http://www.arpinbroadcastnetwork.com/Arpin-RenewableNow.html--for information on the tour.

As we embark on our tour, and look back on our first year of broadcasting and blogging, it is with deep appreciation that we recognize the amazing effort put forth by so many unsung heroes in creating a better world.  Though you sometimes work alone and feel isolated in your fight, the truth is there's thousands, millions of people just like you bringing about positive change, sometimes very small, but taking definite steps in cleaning  our environment and preserving our natural resources.

We commend you and hope to highlight your story, and success, some day on Renewable Now.

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Germany is Powering Cars on Food Scraps

As we broadcast live from a Compost Conference on Monday, right before we film our opening four shows on our Green America Hometown Tour, which starts in RI, it is interesting to find and publish this very interesting use of food scrap in Germany.  Hopefully, this same possibility of converting scrap to energy will be discussed at the sold-out conference:

A pilot project in Germany is collecting food waste from wholesale fruit and vegetable markets and cafeterias to ferment and make methane, which will then be used to power vehicles that have been converted to run on natural gas.

The pilot plant has been developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology and is located next to Stuttgart's wholesale produce market for easy access to food waste. The plant will make methane from the waste by using microorganisms to break down the food in a two-stage digestion process over a few days.

Because the food waste being fermented on any given day can be more or less acidic depending on what was tossed out, the pH levels have to be constantly monitored in order for the microorganisms to best do their thing. The waste is held in several tanks that feature a management system that monitors many parameters, including pH level. The software then calculates how many liters of which waste should be mixed together to feed to the microorganisms.

The plant produces about two-thirds methane and one-third carbon dioxide from the process, but nothing goes unused:  the filtrate water which contains nitrogen and phosphorous, and the carbon dioxide produced from the fermentation are both used to cultivate algae for another project, while the sludge left behind from the fermentation is sent to other institutes that are capable of making methane from it.

The pilot project has been funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research and has partnerships with energy company Energie Baden-Württemberg, which is processing the biogas, and with Daimler, which is supplying natural gas-converted vehicles to run on the fuel.

Our thanks to Eco Geek for a great story.

Remember to watch us this Saturday on ABC 6, 2:30p, EST, and live on arpin.tv.com/renewablenow for the live broadcast on Monday, and to watch all of our many shows and specials on demand.

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Enjoy the show

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So Begins our tour

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From Bloomberg Business Week

Good news from Spain (who needs it, as does much of Southern Europe):

FEATURED BLOG

Spain's grid hits 30% renewables... Thanks to a windy and wet winter, Spanish windmills and dams cranked out so much juice that renewables supplied more than 30% of the country’s power in the past year. With GDP of about $1,500 billion and a population of 41 million, Spain is on par with California. But by comparison the Golden State--though one of the greenest in the US--met 23.5% of its electricity demand with renewables in 2007. President Obama has pointed to Spain as a role model for the US to follow. He wants the nation to to hit 10% renewables by 2010 and 25% by 2025, up from about 8% today.

Congratulations to Spain on a great renewable performance.  We believe, despite the current setbacks and struggles, they are setting the stage for a bright future.

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Hydropower – good to know

The worldwide use of hydropower is constantly growing, and has increased by 5,2% in period between 2009 and 2010. At the end of 2010 global hydropower capacity accounted to a record 3,427 terawatt-hours, contributing to more than 16 percent of globally produced electricity.

The hydropower still has relatively low costs, in average around 3 to 5 U.S. cents per kilowatt-hour and it is also one of

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Japanese Solar Panel Owners Sold $1.2 Billion Worth of Surplus Power Back to Grid Last Year

This from EcoGeek:

"Japanese home and business owners with solar power installations sold 2,150 GWh of electricity back to their power utilities last year, a huge 50 percent increase over the amount sold back to the grid in 2010.  The sellers collectively made a nice $1.2 billion off their surplus electricity.

The Japanese government has a feed-in-tariff scheme that requires the utilities to purchase the extra power which was small beans compared to the average 884,000 GWh of electricity that those utilities sell to customers per year.

The government is set to introduce even more subsidies for domestic renewable energy power developers. The new scheme will include electricity from solar, wind, small hydroelectric, biomass and geothermal plants, but only solar panel owners with systems of 10 kW or less will still be able to sell their excess power."

We would love to see our neighborhood look like that.  How about you?

Don't forget our show today at 2:30p on ABC 6.

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Enjoy the show on Saturday at 2:30p, EST on ABC 6 and on line

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Take a look at the new video we just posted...

On the perfect city car.  Amazing.

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A Cloudy Outlook for First Solar

Interesting article this month in Kiplinger's Magazine on difficulties faced by one of our leaders in renewable energy.  Here's part of it:

An alternative-energy leader comes under pressure as government subsidies shrink.

By Kathy Kristof, Contributing Editor, Kiplinger's Personal Finance

t was once one of the brightest lights in alternative energy. But the future has dimmed for First Solar (symbol FSLR), the nation’s largest producer of photovoltaic equipment.

The once-hot stock, which traded for as much as $317 a share in May 2008, fetched just $35 on January 6. Its descent accelerated in 2011 after the Tempe, Ariz., company ousted its CEO and started cutting earnings forecasts late in the year. It now sees a profit of $3.75 to $4.25 per share this year—roughly half of what it was expected to have made in 2011. The stock (which we recommended in our June 2009 issue at $142) now trades at just 9 times the midpoint of the forecasted-earnings range.

Yet even at this seemingly bargain-basement price, few analysts are bullish. There are just too many uncertainties facing the industry and the company, says Citi Investment Research analyst Timothy Arcuri, who rates the stock a “hold.”

“Developing solar projects is very capital-intensive, and the payback is a little unclear,” he says..."

Read more: http://www.kiplinger.com/columns/picks/archive/first-solar-FSLR-stock-alternative-energy-photovoltaic-equipment.html#ixzz1mVByVK51

And, so , we face the end of government subsidies.  Many would say that is a good thing, the industry should stand on its own.  But, I'm not sure I agree.  We know, long-term, renewable energy helps us in many ways, economic, bringing money back home from reduced imports, to cleaner air.  Isn't that worth subsidizing? 

Why should the oil companies and other traditional energy companies continue to get propped up the government with tax credits, grants for R & D, legal limits and protection?  Should we stand by while they risk our environmental future by digging aggressively into sands and rock while clean energy companies fade away?

No, we should not.  To do so is folly. 

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Are gas prices going to sink the recovery?/WARL show today 12-1p

Take a look at the video we posted last night and send us your comments.

Don't forget to listen in to our radio show today on WARL 1320 AM, 12-1p, EST.

More later.

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Thanks to Mark Learn

For another great article and for being a major contributor to Renewable Now:

Concentrated Solar Startup Sets a New Efficiency Record

Semprius makes solar modules using tiny cells that need less cooling

"Semprius, a startup that makes miniscule solar cells capable of capturing concentrated sunlight without costly cooling systems, announced this week that it had made the world's most efficient solar panel.

The company's solar panels use tiny solar cells made of gallium arsenide—the record-breaking solar module contains hundreds of such solar cells, each about the width of a line drawn by a ball-point pen, arranged under lenses that concentrate sunlight 1,100 times.

Gallium arsenide is far better at absorbing sunlight than silicon, the material used in most solar cells, but it's also more expensive. Furthermore, although concentrated solar modules use less semiconducting material, they usually require expensive optics, cooling systems, and tracking systems to keep them aimed at the sun. Semprius's microscaled solar cells are inherently much better at dissipating heat, making them cheaper..."

There's plenty more--here's the link:  http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/39624/page1/

Solar prices, as you probably know, have plummeted.  Yet, their production continues to spiral.  We just commissioned our 175kw solar array, and the energy produced, in the middle of winter on the East Coast of the US, has been terrific.  Our ROI is already ahead of schedule.

Imagine what is possible with solar cells that concentrate sunlight 1100 times and don't need expensive cooling systems to maintain their high production.  We we will get is amazing levels of energy at bargain prices.

Kudos to Semprius and other great innovators of the world.

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Our newest sponsor. Thank you

 

Rhode Island College Speaker Series

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New show this weekend on ABC 6

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Love this article

Here is the essence, looking at the consumer side, of the business side of green...the investment and return of branding green.

This from Environmental Leader:

Will Customers Pay More for ‘Green?’

"Will people pay to go green? That’s a key question – maybe the question – for any company committed to sustainability. At Walmart, we’ve learned that the answer is a bit nuanced: Basically, usually not – but it depends.

Some customers will pay more for certain products that are better for the environment, and their top purchases include chicken, milk, fruits and vegetables, household cleaners and laundry/dish care. The environmentally responsible products they are less likely to pay more for? TVs, cell phones, computers, beer, pork, mops and sponges and printers.

The economy remains a far more pressing concern. More than 70 percent of consumers say they worry more about price than whether a product is good for the environment or socially responsible, according to an October 2010 study by the Harrison Group.

What does that mean for us? Our approach to sustainability must be nuanced as well.

We’ve found that there is a group of shoppers who are fans of items such as free-range eggs and green cleaning products like Seventh Generation and Mrs. Meyer’s. We stock a full offering of those products in many of our stores. They can be more expensive but some people will pay more because they feel good about them.

But many shoppers cannot or will not pay more. That’s where we are getting creative and using our size and scale – and partnerships with suppliers – to drive down prices. We can do a lot of good by helping to make the products people are already buying more sustainable so they don’t have to make changes to what they buy to make a difference.

For instance: televisions, lettuce and laundry detergent.

Flat-panel TVs can use a lot of energy, but this is a category where many people don’t want to pay a premium for a more sustainable option. We committed to stocking only more energy-efficient panels, and because of our scale, the cost of the technology came down as did the prices for our customers..."

Here's the link for the rest: http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/02/07/will-customers-pay-more-for-green/

Our company has worked to brand as the greenest moving company in the world, and it has brought us new business, no doubt. However, we live it, breath it and invest heavily to make sure it is true.

The bottom line is passion for what you do, what goods or services you deliver, and giving customers, regardless of whether your product or service is green, the very best value they can fine.

With that, you will get a very good ROI on your investment in being a sustainable company.

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Wisconsin lawmakers weary of wind setback issue

From an article by Dan Haugen on Midwest Energy News:

Wisconsin’s politically contested wind-turbine siting rules would quietly go back on the books if the state’s legislature doesn’t take up the issue this session.

While it’s premature for wind energy supporters to declare victory, the rules’ opponents appear to have little appetite for reopening the controversy, according to observers.

“This is an issue they don’t want to have anything to do with right now,” says Michael Vickerman, director of Renew Wisconsin, a renewable energy advocacy group. “It’s kind of reached the radioactive phase.”
The first-in-the-nation rules were aimed at streamlining the messy, often shifting patchwork of local setback rules, which govern the distance wind developers need to leave between turbines and adjacent homes. A 2009 law instructed regulators to comes up with a statewide setback policy. After two years of hearings and debate, they issued rules restricting turbines from within 1,250 feet of neighboring residences.

On the day the rules were to take effect last March, however, a Republican-controlled legislative committee voted along party lines to suspend the statewide rules. Gov. Scott Walker instead proposed an 1,800-foot setback from the nearest property line, which the American Wind Energy Association said would essentially shut down the state’s wind industry.

Since then, wind developers have cited regulatory uncertainty in suspending or canceling five major developments totaling $1.6 billion in economic investment. Vickerman says wind energy supporters have successfully highlighted the economic consequences of Walker’s action, which is why party leadership seems to have lost interest in the fight.

“These guys are afraid because the issue has boomeranged on them,” says Vickerman. “Scott Walker does not really want to be known as someone who has killed jobs by basically shutting down the commercial wind industry in Wisconsin, and neither do the legislative leaders.”

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China Set to Vigorously Develop Green Economy

BEIJING -- "Due to growing urbanization and resulting environmental threats, China has invested nearly US$50 billion annually into its renewable energy sector since 2009. China's five-year investment in environmental protection is on track to reach 3.1 trillion yuan (US$454 billion). By 2015, its environmental protection industry is expected to top 2 trillion yuan (US$317 billion).

China will introduce favorable tax and financial policies to support the development of its green economy, according to its 12th five-year plan, which started last year. A strong “green” policy is essential if China is to maintain its rapid and sustainable growth. "China will build a good fund raising environment for companies to develop green technologies by establishing green technology investment and related equity funds," said Wang Yuqing, deputy director of the Committee of Population, Resources and Environment of the CPPCC National Committee.

The transition to a global green economy may generate a large market exceeding US$1 trillion. During the 12th five-year plan period, the Chinese government will invest US$468 billion in green sectors compared to US$211 billion over the previous five-year period, with a focus on three sectors: waste recycling and re-utilization; clean technologies; and renewable energy. With this amount of public investment, China's environmental protection industry is expected to continue growing at an average of 15 to 20 percent per year, and its industrial output is expected to reach US$743 billion, up from US$166 billion in 2010. The multiplier effect of this emerging sector is estimated to be 8 to 10 times larger than other industry sectors..."

Is this a challenge to the rest of the world? Is China the only country able and willing to invest these kinds of funds into a green economy? What will China look like in five years after investing US$50 billion per year into its renewable energy sector?

We hope that it will look less polluted, less noisy, less dependent on outside oil and energy reserves, and leaner with costs having been driven way down, particularly on energy costs.

Not a bad place to be in 5 years. What about you, your company, your state, country? Falling behind should not be an option.

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Super Bowl/Weekend Edition

Kudos to the NFL for working towards a greener event: A Pleasant Surprise: Super Bowl XLVI Goes Green!

Tom Szaky
Business / Corporate Responsibility
February 1, 2012

"When I went to check out the eco-cred of the Super Bowl, I’ll admit I was pleasantly surprised.

I learned about how the NFL is partnering with Green Mountain Energy Company, the nation’s longest serving provider of clean energy, to the Super Bowl this year.

That means that Green Mountain will provide 15,000 megawatt hours of renewable energy certificates (RECs) that will power everything at the Super Bowl: the lights, the computers, the scoreboard, everything. The company is also providing carbon offsets to balance out the greenhouse gas emissions created from the the Patriots' and Giants’ air and ground travel.

I was, admittedly, surprised and impressed.

This is a positive step in the right direction for an event and a business that don’t really need to market themselves. Everyone knows what the Super Bowl is, what the NFL is, and if they love football, they’re going to watch. The Super Bowl and NFL don’t really need to convert people to being football fans.

The point I’m trying to make here is that generally, as a consumer, I am an eco-skeptic, but I couldn’t help thinking to myself that this is something the NFL probably isn’t doing to gain new viewers. I suspect they’re doing it out of a larger sense of corporate responsibility. I then started thinking about other major events, including the campaigning events that stretch across small towns all over the country and culminate in the National Conventions for each political party. Super Bowl like events in their own respect!

I’m wondering what political parties and other corporations that stand to gain more than the Super Bowl are doing to offset their impact and make their event and cause more sustainable. The Super Bowl and NFL’s efforts deserve applause and respect, and I’m looking forward to seeing other corporations embrace sustainability efforts like the NFL has and work with solution providers like Green Mountain Energy.

What events, corporations or businesses have you spotted doing the “right-thing” recently? Frito Lay has partnered with TerraCycle and the NFL has partnered with Green Mountain Energy. Who else?

And what about you – what activities are you doing to lower your carbon footprint? The first step can come during this weekend’s Super Bowl – Green Mountain Energy offers a few tips on greening your Super Bowl party, but we’d love for you to go further."

Enjoy the game.

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Kodak Switching from Camera Film to Thin-Film Solar Cells

Interesting that a company that just fell into bankruptcy, Kodak, is aspiring to a better future with a better, more eco-friendly product.

This from Eco-Geek:

Written by Megan Treacy on 20/01/12

"Kodak may be in the middle of some financial trouble -- it just filed for bankruptcy yesterday and has shut down almost all of its camera film production -- but they're looking at solar energy as a way to a fresh start. The camera and film maker is hoping to use its already existing manufacturing processes to produce thin-film solar cells.

Kodak is working with Natcore Technology to develop and produce flexible, thin-film solar cells made of nanotubes that could match the efficiency of conventional silicon cells. Thin-film cells haven't made as much of a splash in the market yet mainly because of the efficiency lag between them and silicon cells, but thin-film is catching up.

If Kodak can make a major improvement in efficiency, they have two major advantages compared to other manufacturers: cost and experience. Kodak could use its existing and proven film production equipment to produce the solar cells, potentially cutting costs in half.

It will likely be tricky transition for the company, but we'll be interested to see if Kodak can make this work and improve on the thin-film technology available today."

We've been using thin-film on the solar application to our trucks, and it has worked great. We look forward to testing the Kodak product. Good luck to them in their transition. Let's hope they, and they jobs they hold, stay in our economy.

Don'forget, if you are in RI, MA, CT, watch our show tomorrow at 1:30pEST as we move to ABC 6, then watch each Saturday at 3pEST. Also, look for us soon on the Living Well channel.

We'll have a report this weekend. Enjoy the game on Sunday.

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Nice site to visit

There are some great stories and videos on here: http://www.planetforward.com/.

Here is a story that caught our eye: City Trees Help Combat Urban Heat Islands
by American Society of Landscape Architects | 10:45 am February 2nd, 2012


"Nature provides solutions. Increasing the tree canopy in cities is one way to fight both poor air quality and urban heat islands. Research shows significant short-term improvements in air quality in urban areas with 100 percent tree cover. There, trees can reduce hourly ozone by up to 15 percent, sulfur dioxide by 14 percent, and particulate matter by 13 percent.

U.S. trees remove some 784,000 tons of pollution annually, providing $3.8 billion in value. Furthermore, a single large healthy tree can remove greater than 300 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every year. In fact, New York City’s urban forest alone removes 154,000 tons of CO2 annually. Through their leaves, trees also provide evaporative cooling, which increases air humidity. Shaded surfaces may be 20-45 degrees cooler, and evapotranspiration can reduce peak summer temperatures by 2-9 degrees."

There's a nice video on the site that accompanies the story. Take a look. Interesting number to think about: U.S trees remove carbon at an equivalent value of 3.8 billion. You can imagine the economic value, in terms of reduced medical costs, this process represents.

We look forward to covering more stories on Planet Forward.com.

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Small Businesses Request Resumption of Renewable Energy Support

For immediate release
January 31, 2012

Small Businesses Request Resumption of Renewable Energy Support

Over 150 small businesses, organizations, schools, and local officials appealed to the Public Service Commission (PSC) to restore full funding for a nationally recognized renewable energy program that reduces the cost of solar, wind, and biomass installations for Wisconsin utility customers.

In an open letter delivered to the PSC yesterday, the signers asked the PSC to “to exercise its oversight authority over Focus on Energy and restore funding, without delay, for renewables at a level consistent with previous years’ allocations.”

The impetus for the open letter arose from RENEW Wisconsin’s Energy Policy Summit held two weeks ago in Madison. At the summit, the 140 people who participated asked RENEW to make Focus on Energy funding restoration its highest policy priority for 2012.

Focus on Energy suspended its support for customer-sited renewable energy systems last July, when rising demand for renewables outstripped available funds. The program administrator said that incentives will be resumed later this year, but no firm timeline has been set.

“This problem needs to be fixed as expeditiously as possible before the funding interruption permanently damages Wisconsin’s renewable energy marketplace,” said Michael Vickerman, Executive Director of RENEW Wisconsin, a statewide, nonprofit renewable energy advocacy organization.

“A number of renewable energy installers and contractors are already feeling the effects of the funding hiatus, and the result is less new hiring and potential layoffs down the road. However, we remain optimistic that once funding is restored renewable energy development will once again become a dynamic economic sector and a source of new jobs here in Wisconsin,” said Vickerman.

An Open Letter to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
January 30, 2012

In 2002, the State of Wisconsin began offering incentives from Focus on Energy to encourage tangible and significant savings with the implementation of distributed renewable energy systems. By employing a small fraction of the funds available to Focus on Energy for this purpose, the vast majority of customer-sited solar, wind, biogas and biomass projects now operating in Wisconsin received critical financial support. In under 10 years, Focus on Energy succeeded in building an in-state marketplace that supported steady growth of new businesses and jobs in manufacturing, distributing, designing, installing and servicing renewable energy systems. It is no exaggeration to say that the renewable energy program run by Focus on Energy was a nationally recognized as a model for other states to follow.

It’s a very different picture today. For the first time since 2002, Wisconsin business and residential customers entered the new year without a functioning statewide renewable energy program in place. Focus on Energy said that it intends to resume offering incentives for renewables later this year, but has not set a timeline for restoration of funding or services. Nor is there any information available as to whether the renewable products and services supported in the past will be supported again, and, if so, at what levels. What was a successful engine for advancing small-scale renewables in Wisconsin is now, for frustrated businesses and customers alike, a source of vague assurances and little else.

Unfortunately, the ongoing lack of support and uncertainty is guaranteed to cause layoffs and business cutbacks. Furthermore, it is contrary to state law, which specifies that Focus on Energy support customer use of renewable energy as well as energy efficiency. Without the products and services to fuel the renewable market, 2012 will usher in a period of contraction that portends significant declines in installations, accelerated job losses, and increased business migration to markets in other states.

In our view, the most economically efficient way to transition Wisconsin to a sustainable energy future is to pair an aggressive conservation and efficiency program with products and services that increase the market drivers for on-site renewable energy production. Both approaches mutually reinforce each other while delivering economic benefits to customers. Adopting energy efficiency enables customers to reduce the size of their renewable energy investments, and on-site renewables allow customers to lower all or part of their energy bills going forward.

We support the conclusions reached by Commissioner Eric Callisto regarding the economic returns to ratepayers and the public generated by Focus on Energy’s programs. As part of a recent proceeding on Focus on Energy, Commissioner Callisto wrote:

Focus programs save energy, help offset the need for new power generation, lower utility bills, create jobs, reduce fossil fuel emissions, and support broad-based economic development in Wisconsin. And in study after study, it is shown that these benefits are produced at a ratio that far exceeds program costs. As the LAB report points out, the benefit-cost ratio for Focus programs is as high as 7.2 to 1, when taking into account economic metrics like job creation and increased business sales. That is more than seven dollars in benefit to Wisconsin for every dollar invested. http://psc.wi.gov/apps35/ERF_view/viewdoc.aspx?docid=158228

The impressive payback from Focus on Energy is sufficient reason for restoring the renewable energy funding that had been a key feature of that program. Given the near certainty of rising electric rates as the price of delivered coal continues to climb, as coal pollution equipment is mandated to meet new regulations, and to pay for new transmission, we cannot afford any more backsliding by not supporting in-state, distributed renewables. The ongoing funding hiatus for renewables is inconsistent with state law. The Commission has a responsibility to fix this problem immediately, before the lack of support for renewables permanently damages Wisconsin’s renewable energy marketplace. We the undersigned call upon the Public Service Commission to exercise its oversight authority over Focus on Energy and restore funding, without delay, for renewables at a level consistent with previous years’ allocations.

Sincerely,

• John Ahles Solar System Owner Neenah, WI 
• Jeff Anthony American Wind Energy Association Milwaukee, WI 
• Steve Arndt, Director of Facilities Management UW-Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI 
• Michael Arney, Green Neighbor, Inc. Wauwatosa, WI 
• Peter Bakken, Public Policy Coordinator Wisconsin Council of Churches Sun Prairie, WI 
• Rich Bannen, Owner Prairie Solar Power & Light Prairie du Chien, WI 
• Bruce Barker, President Chippewa Valley Technical College Eau Claire, WI 
• Barb Basaj SunSpe, LLC Milwaukee, WI 
• David Behnke-Seper First Affirmative Financial Network Chili, WI 
• Rick Bergman Aquilo Wind Development Glendale, WI Oscar Bloch Arboretum Co-Housing Madison, WI 
• Hans Jr. and Katie Breitenmoser Breitenmoser Family Farms Merrill, WI 
• Thomas Brown, Architect Stevens Point, WI 
• Brent Brucker, General Manager Helios Solar Works Milwaukee, WI 
• Justin Castleman Castleman & Sons Plumbing Franklin, WI 
• Chris Collins, Marketing Director H&H Solar Energy Services Madison, WI 
• Becky Comeau Southwest Community Biofuels LaFarge, WI 
• Lisa Conley, President Town and Country RC&D Jefferson, WI 
• Lisa Daniels, Executive Director Windustry Minneapolis, MN 
• Mark Dawson Sand Creek Solar Amherst, WI 
• Susan De Vos Madison Area Bus Advocates Madison, WI 
• Tom DeBates, Owner Habi-Tek Geneva, IL 
• Michael Dearing, Owner Driftless Solar Spring Green, WI 
• Trang Donovan Unlimited Renewable Energies Prairie du Sac, WI 
• Thomas Duffy, President Commercial Air, Inc. Madison, WI 
• Jeff Ehlers, President Renewegy LLC Oshkosh, WI 
• Jim Erdman Solar Electric and Small Wind Certified Site Assessor Menomonie, WI 
• James Erickson, Owner Antech Properties Janesville, WI 
• Brian Evans, Production Manager Associated Housewrights Madison, WI 
• Jerry Eyler, Executive Dean Fox Valley Technical College Appleton, WI
• Randy Faller, Owner Kettle View Renewable Energy Random Lake, WI 
• Jay Farnsworth, Teacher Waunakee School District Waunakee, WI 
• Pete Flesch, Chair, Crawford County Board of Supervisors Prairie du Chien, WI 
• Scott Freier Freiers Electric and Heating Ellsworth, WI
• Greg Fritsch, CEO Clean Energy North America Glendale, WI 
• Jim Funk, Owner Energize LLC Winneconne, WI Mark Furst Grading Spaces LLC Fort Atkinson, WI 
• Rex Gillespie Wisconsin Solar Energy Industries Madison, WI 
• David Goepfert, President Thermal Design, Inc. Stoughton, WI 
• Grant Grinstead Northern Biogas Fond du Lac, WI 
• David Hansen, Owner Lake Country Energy Oconomowoc, WI 
• Daniel Harkins, Manager Trantow Properties LLC Stoughton, WI 
• Ryan Harkins, Project Manager Synergy Renewable Systems LLC Stoughton, WI 
• Michael Harvey Able Electric Co. River Falls, WI 
• Mark Heffernan, President CBT Wear Parts, Inc. Bio-Products Engineering Corp. Richland Center, WI 
• Charlie Higley, Executive Director Citizens Utility Board Madison, WI 
• John Hippensteel, President Lake Michigan Wind and Sun Sturgeon Bay, WI 
• Lou Host-Jablonski, Architect Design Coalition Madison, WI 
• John Imes, Executive Director Wisconsin Environmental Initiative Madison, WI 
• Greg Jahnke, Manager, Renewable Energy Pieper Electric Milwaukee, WI 
• Micah James, General Manager Energycraft Synergy Systems, LLC Stoughton, WI 
• Jennifer Jenkins, Executive Director Distributed Wind Energy Association Flagstaff, AZ 
• Brad Johnson, Director, Business Development Green Sky Energetics Manitowoc, WI 
• James Jozwiak Black Magic Organics Spencer, WI 
• Andrea Kaminski League of Women Voters Wisconsin Education Network Madison, WI 
• Roger Kanitz ECOS – Fox Valley Menasha, WI 
• James Kerbel Photovoltaic Systems LLC Amherst, WI 
• Duane Kexel Duane Kexel Consulting Madison, WI 
• Chris Klein Town of Dayton Waupaca, WI 
• Joe Klein Applied Plastics Oak Creek, WI 
• Mark Klein Gimme Shelter Construction Amherst, WI 
• Richard Klemme, Dean and Director UW Extension - Cooperative Extension Madison, WI 
• Randy Knox Solar PV System Owner Whitewater, WI 
• Jeff Knutson, Owner A-A Exteriors, com Waupaca, WI 
• Kurt Koepp, Manager Hot Water Products Milwaukee, WI 
• Fritz Kreiss Community Green Energy LLC, Lake Geneva, WI 
• Eco-Vision Sustainable Learning Center, Inc., Lake Geneva, WI Green Leaf Inn LLC, Delavan, WI 
• Larry Krom, Principal L&S Technical Associates Spring Green, WI 
• Christopher LaForge, Owner Great Northern Solar Port Wing, WI 
• Alicia Leinberger, Marketing and Development Manager Seventh Generation Energy Systems Madison, WI 
• Jesse Lerner Sustain Dane Madison, WI 
• Doug Lindsey Lakeshore Technical College - Energy Education Center Cleveland, WI 
• Timothy Linn, Partner/Builder Edge Grain LLC Milwaukee, WI 
• Vicki Lipinski, Marketing and Sales Coordinator Procorp Enterprises Milwaukee, WI 
• Jeanne Lisse Madison Computer Works Madison, WI 
• Mark Lydon Artisan Energy LLC Marshall, WI 
• Randy Mader Faith Technologies Sun Prairie, WI 
• Tom Martin, CEO Convergence Energy Lake Geneva, WI 
• Neil Matthes Duck Creek Engineering, Inc. Helenville, WI 
• Nick Matthes Midwest Photovoltaics, Inc. Milwaukee, WI 
• Heather McCombs Wisconsin Green Building Alliance Milwaukee, WI 
• Natalie McIntire enMac Energy Consulting Viroqua, WI 
• Christine Merritt, Ph.D TAPCO – Traffic and Parking Control, Inc. Brown Deer, WI 
• Eric Meyer Werner Electric Wisconsin Neenah, WI 
• Jesse Michalski Eland Electric Corporation Green Bay, WI 
• Randy Moberg Werner Electric Minnesota Cottage Grove, MN 
• Gerd Muehllehner Retgen Solar LLC North Freedom, WI 
• Ingrid Nahm Appleton Solar Appleton, WI 
• Dan Nemke US Biogas LLC Mequon, WI 
• Andy Olsen Environmental Law & Policy Center Madison, WI 
• Jim Olson E3Coalition Viroqua, WI 
• Burke O’Neal, Director Full Spectrum Solar Madison, WI 
• Robert H. Owen, Jr. Consulting Engineer/Meteorologist Middleton, WI 
• Hon. Joe Parisi Dane County Executive Madison, WI 
• George Penn Global Energy Options Madison, WI 
• Katie Peterman, Manager, Cooperative Affairs Organic Valley Family of Farms LaFarge, WI Ted Petith Greenlink Projects, LLC Madison, WI 
• Greg Phillips American Power, Inc. Electrical Contractors Janesville, WI 
• Eric Pipkin Pipkin Electric, Inc. Sparta, WI 
• John Price Access Solar LLC Waukesha, WI 
• Chris Quandt, Senior Project Manager Bachmann Construction Madison, WI 
• Bob Ramlow Artha Sustainable Energy Center Amherst, WI 
• Alex Rein Verona, WI 
• Kurt Reinhold Solar Connections LLC Madison, WI 
• Ed Ritger Ritger Law Office Random Lake, WI 
• Cathy Robinson Chippewa Valley Alternative Energy Chippewa Falls, WI 
• Rik Rosenlund Midwest Solar Power Madison, WI 
• Mick Sagrillo Sagrillo Power & Light Forestville, WI
• Kris Schmid Legacy Solar LLC Frederic, WI 
• Brian Schwaller EcoManity LLC, Owner The Sustainable Living Group, President Elkhart Lake, WI 
• Al Schulz, Owner/CEO Safe Work La Crosse, WI Jeff Seidl, President I-Quip Seymour, WI 
• Roy Settgas, Owner Sunrise Energy Services Washburn, WI 
• Carl Siegrist Carl Siegrist Consulting Whitefish Bay, WI 
• Wes Slaymaker WES Engineering Madison, WI 
• Chuck Smith, President Current Electric Company Brookfield, WI 
• Judy Spring Sustain Sauk County Baraboo, WI 
• Zeus Stark, Owner Next Step Energy LLC Eau Claire, WI 
• Doug Stingle, Development Director Midwest Renewable Energy Association Custer, WI
• Josh Stolzenburg North Wind Renewable Energy, LLC Stevens Point, WI 
• Amy Taivalkoski, Principal ALT Energy Sussex, WI 
• Craig Tarr, President Energy Concepts Hudson, WI 
• Dave Tebo, Administrator Town of Greenville Greenville, WI 
• Neale Thompson Janesville Home and Solar Janesville, WI 
• Todd Timmerman Timmerman’s Talents LLC Platteville, WI 
• Melissa Van Ornum DVO, Inc. Chilton, WI 
• Michael Vickerman, Policy Director RENEW Wisconsin Madison, WI 
• Jerry Viste Door County Environmental Council Sturgeon Bay, WI 
• Larry Walker Walker Energy Systems Madison, WI 
• Ray Walter, Ph.D, President MyEnergy, LLC Pewaukee, WI 
• Michael Ward E & W Heating and Air Conditioning Middleton, WI 
• David Washebek, President/CEO Lemberg Electric Company Brookfield, WI Frank Weeks 
• D H Solar Prairie du Chien, WI Robert 
• Weier, Vice President ELEXCO, Inc. Seymour, WI 
• Laura West, West Winds Renewable Resources, LLC Plover, WI 
• Sr. Janet Weyker, Director Eco-Justice Center Racine, WI 
• Terry Wiggins Earth Justice Ministry of the First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI 
• Sally Wiley, Gaea’s Farm Walworth, WI
• Tom Wilson HOME REMEDIES Residential Energy Services, Viroqua, WI 
• Northern Thunder, Eau Claire, WI 
• Dona Wininsky American Lung Association in Wisconsin Milwaukee, WI 
• Dean Wolff Milwaukee Solar Milwaukee, WI 
• Niels Wolter, Owner Madison Solar Consulting Madison, WI 
• Mark Yeager Sun & Daughters Solar, LLC Rhinelander, WI 
• Jim Yockey, CEO Seventh Generation Systems Integration Madison, WI 
• John Young Resource Solar Madison, WI 
• Bruce Zahn, Architect Milwaukee, WI 
• Michael Zander, CEO Biogas Direct Sauk City, WI
• Ed Zinthefer, President Arch Electric, LLC Plymouth, WI

- END -

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Good work from our UK office

The Arpin Group is, we believe, the greenest moving company in the world. Not only have we remodeled our headquarters into an efficient space, powered mostly by solar energy, but we've extended the transformation to every corner of the world through the help of our global offices.

Here's the most recent work done by our staff located in Kent: "ENVIRONMENTAL

The Environmental Protection Act 1990 (sec. 34) places a duty of care on businesses, companies and other organisations who produce waste to be responsible for the safe disposal or recycling of their waste.
Organisations must:
§ Ensure that the waste they produce is suitably contained while awaiting collection, ensuring it does not get blown away causing litter.
§ Ensure that the waste they produce is collected by a registered waste carrier and disposed of at a licensed site (you can check if a collection company is registered or a disposal site is licensed with the Environment Agency by telephoning 0845 933 3111). This system of licensing is designed to prevent waste being fly tipped in areas such as country lay-bys.
www.tmbc.gov.uk

UK OFFICE ACHIEVEMENTS - TONER RECYCING – We now donate all our empty toners to Infotone. We receive £10 credit for each toner recycled. At the end of each month we donate our credit to charity ‘Action for Sick Children’. We receive a certificate once per year.

PAPER AND CARDBOARD RECYCLING – We have enlisted Veolia Environmental Services (UK) Plc to assist with the disposal of our commercial waste. Twice a month pick ups inorder to recycle all our used paper and cardboard.

CSR:

We have donated a Playstation console with games to the Comard Mondello Nursery in Uganda Raffle taking place at The 2012 Corporate Relocation Conference & Exhibition on Monday 6th February at Hotel Russell, Russell Square –"


Small steps, we know, but multiplied times ten, times a thousand times...adds up to a significant impact on the world, and is the foundation for building a sustainable company.

Our thanks to Natalie, Phil, John and our team in the UK. We welcome Natalie as a member of our green team, and look forward to teaming with her on a cleaner, brighter future in the moving industry.

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PSC must establish wind energy rules

From an editorial in the Green Bay Press-Gazette:

A committee wants Brown County to ask the state to pay medical bills for anyone becoming sick because of wind turbines, but we don't think it's the county's place to make such a move.

The human services committee voted last week to seek emergency aid for families near the Shirley Wind Farm in the town of Glenmore, blaming the state for allowing what supervisors said was "irresponsible placement" of wind turbines. Several people testified to the committee that they or their neighbors have experienced conditions such as anxiety, depression and weight loss and fear they have been exposed to a greater cancer risk.

We feel for local residents who believe their health has been compromised by wind turbines. But until the state establishes setback rules and other regulations governing wind turbines, the county's effort in this case is futile. . . .

If county supervisors want to make recommendations on setback limits or other issues involving wind turbines, they should do that and forward their opinions to the state. But a resolution seeking compensation for medical bills comes with the assumption that the wind turbines caused the problems in Glenmore. That's a conclusion that hasn't been determined.

Brown County has been a focus area for wind energy companies in recent years. The landscape is conducive to the placement of turbines because the topography helps produce a steady wind flow. An advocacy group — Brown County Citizens for Responsible Wind Energy — has lobbied for greater setback distances, saying turbines too close to residences and schools pose potential health problems.

The opposition led Illinois-based Invenergy Inc. to withdraw its plans to build a 100-turbine wind farm in the towns of Morrison and Glenmore.

The wind energy industry cites, with good reason, the fact that wind turbines provide a useful and necessary energy source. They also provide financial compensation for land owners who agree to have wind turbines erected on their property.

Still, some opponents say the negatives outweigh the benefits. Some have also claimed the turbines lower property values.

The responsibility for establishing wind energy rules rests with the Public Service Commission. A legislative committee suspended the PSC's proposed turbine siting rules 11 months ago and instructed the state agency to work on a compromise that would be acceptable to both sides. PSC spokeswoman Kristin Ruesch told the Green Bay Press-Gazette Monday that no such compromise has been reached. She also said she doesn't think the issue of medical bill payments has been part of the discussions.

We urge the PSC to accelerate the discussions to reach a compromise that will be acceptable to both sides and the state Legislature. Sincerely, Jeff Anthony American Wind Energy Association Milwaukee, WI Peter Bakken, Public Policy Coordinator Wisconsin Council of Churches Sun Prairie, WI Rich Bannen, Owner Prairie Solar Power & Light Prairie du Chien, WI Barb Basaj SunSpec, LLC Milwaukee, WI Thomas Brown, Architect Stevens Point, WI Brent Brucker, General Manager Helios Solar Works Milwaukee, WI Justin Castleman Castleman & Sons Plumbing Franklin, WI Chris Collins, Marketing Director H&H Solar Energy Services Madison, WI Lisa Conley, President Town and Country RC&D Jefferson, WI Lisa Daniels, Executive Director Windustry Minneapolis, MN Mark Dawson Sand Creek Solar Amherst, WI Susan De Vos Madison Area Bus Advocates Madison, WI Tom DeBates, Owner Habi-Tek Geneva, IL Michael Dearing, Owner Driftless Solar Spring Green, WI Trang Donovan Unlimited Renewable Energies Prairie du Sac, WI Jeff Ehlers, President Renewegy, LLC Oshkosh, WI Jim Erdman Solar Electric and Small Wind Certified Site Assessor Menomonie, WI James Erickson, Owner Antech Properties Janesville, WI Brian Evans, Production Manager Associated Housewrights Madison, WI Randy Faller, Owner Kettle View Renewable Energy Random Lake, WI Pete Flesch, Chair, Crawford County Board of Supervisors Prairie du Chien, WI Scott Freier Freiers Electric and Heating Ellsworth, WI Greg Fritsch, CEO Clean Energy North America Glendale, WI Jim Funk, Owner Energize, LLC Winneconne, WI Mark Furst Grading Spaces, LLC Fort Atkinson, WI David Goepfert, President Thermal Design, Inc. Stoughton, WI David Hansen, Proprietor Lake Country Energy Oconomowoc, WI Daniel Harkins, Manager Trantow Properties, LLC Stoughton, WI Ryan Harkins, Project Manager Synergy Renewable Systems, LLC Stoughton, WI Michael Harvey Able Electric Co. River Falls, WI Charlie Higley, Executive Director Citizens Utility Board Madison, WI John Hippensteel, President Lake Michigan Wind and Sun Sturgeon Bay, WI John Imes, Executive Director Wisconsin Environmental Initiative Madison, WI Micah James, General Manager Energycraft Synergy Systems, LLC Stoughton, WI Andrea Kaminski League of Women Voters Wisconsin Education Network Madison, WI James Kerbel Photovoltaic Systems, LLC Amherst, WI Joe Klein Applied Plastics Oak Creek, WI Richard Klemme, Dean and Director UW-Extension, Cooperative Extension Madison, WI Randy Knox System Owner Whitewater, WI Jeff Knutson A-A Exteriors, com Waupaca, WI Fritz Kreiss Community Green Energy, LLC, Lake Geneva, WI Eco-Vision Sustainable Learning Center, Inc., Lake Geneva, WI Green Leaf Inn, LLC, Delavan, WI Larry Krom L&S Technical Associates Spring Green, WI Alicia Leinberger, Marketing and Development Manager Seventh Generation Energy Systems Madison, WI Vicki Lipinski Marketing and Sales Coordinator Procorp Enterprises Milwaukee, WI Randy Mader Faith Technologies Sun Prairie, WI Tom Martin, CEO Convergence Energy Lake Geneva, WI Neil Matthes Duck Creek Engineering, Inc. Helenville, WI Heather McCombs Wisconsin Green Building Association Milwaukee, WI Natalie McIntire enMac Energy Consulting Viroqua, WI Christine Merritt, Ph.D TAPCO – Traffic and Parking Control, Inc. Brown Deer, WI Eric Meyer Werner Electric Wisconsin Neenah, WI Randy Moberg Werner Electric Minnesota Cottage Grove, MN Ingrid Nahm Appleton Solar Appleton, WI Andy Olsen Environmental Law & Policy Center Madison, WI Jim Olson E3Coalition Viroqua, WI Burke O’Neal, Director Full Spectrum Solar Madison, WI Robert H. Owen, Jr. Consulting Engineer/Meteorologist Middleton, WI George Penn Global Energy Options Madison, WI Katie Peterman, Manager, Cooperative Affairs Organic Valley Family of Farms LaFarge, WI Ted Petith Greenlink Projects, LLC Madison, WI Greg Phillips American Power, Inc. Electrical Contractors Janesville, WI Eric Pipkin Pipkin Electric, Inc. Sparta, WI John Price Access Solar, LLC Waukesha, WI Bob Ramlow Artha Sustainable Energy Center Amherst, WI Alex Rein Verona, WI Kurt Reinhold Solar Connections, LLC Madison, WI Ed Ritger Ritger Law Office Random Lake, WI Cathy Robinson Chippewa Valley Alternative Energy Chippewa Falls, WI Rik Rosenlund Midwest Solar Power Madison, WI Mick Sagrillo Sagrillo Power & Light Forestville, WI Kris Schmid Legacy Solar, LLC Frederic, WI Brian Schwaller, Owner EcoManity, LLC (owner) The Sustainable Living Group (president) Elkhart Lake, WI Al Schulz, Owner/CEO Safe Work La Crosse, WI Roy Settgas, Owner Sunrise Energy Services Washburn, WI Carl Siegrist Carl Siegrist Consulting Whitefish Bay, WI Wes Slaymaker WES Engineering Madison, WI Judy Spring Sustain Sauk County Baraboo, WI Zeus Stark, Owner Next Step Energy Eau Claire, WI Doug Stingle, Development Director Midwest Renewable Energy Association Custer, WI Josh Stolzenburg North Wind Renewable Energy, LLC Stevens Point, WI Amy Taivalkoski, Principal ALT Energy Sussex, WI Craig Tarr, President Energy Concepts Hudson, WI Todd Timmerman Timmerman’s Talents Platteville, WI Melissa Van Ornum DVO, Inc. Chilton, WI Michael Vickerman, Policy Director RENEW Wisconsin Madison, WI Larry Walker Walker Energy Systems Madison, WI Ray Walter, Ph.D, President MyEnergy, LLC Pewaukee, WI Michael Ward E & W Heating and Air Conditioning Middleton, WI David Washebek Lemberg Electric Company Brookfield, WI Robert Weier, Vice President ELEXCO, Inc. Seymour, WI Laura West West Winds Renewable Resources, LLC Plover, WI Tom Wilson HOME REMEDIES Residential Energy Services, Viroqua, WI Northern Thunder, Eau Claire, WI Dona Wininsky American Lung Association (Wisconsin) Milwaukee, WI Niels Wolter, Owner Madison Solar Consulting Madison, WI Mark Yeager Sun & Daughters Solar, LLC Rhinelander, WI Jim Yockey, CEO Seventh Generation Systems Integration Madison, WI John Young Resource Solar Madison, WI Michael Zander, CEO Biogas Direct Sauk City, WI Ed Zinthefer Arch Electric, LLC Plymouth, WI

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