Director pleased with city's 'green' reputation

From a Business Journal interview with Ann Beier, Milwaukee’s director of environmental sustainability, conducted by Pete Millard:1. Since your appointment just over two years ago, what’s been your most satisfying achievement?“The most satisfying achievement has been the overall success of Mayor Barrett’s sustainability initiatives. I am also pleased with Milwaukee’s reputation as a ‘green’ city. Each year, Sustain Lane, a nonprofit group that provides information on sustainability practices for individuals, businesses and governments, ranks the 50 largest U.S. cities for their sustainability programs. In 2008, Milwaukee was ranked 12th. This a move up from 16th in the prior ranking. This is an important recognition and shows how well we are doing among much larger cities.We’ve also been named...

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Industry needs wind technicians, training standards

From a story by John Krerowicz in the Kenosha News:The need for wind energy technician training is not a lot of hot air, said those involved in a conference to be held here on the topic.The summit is expected to draw 50 participants from the industry and technical colleges on Jan. 6-7 at Snap-on’s Innovation Works. The renovated building, on the company’s headquarters site, 2801 80th St., was the production factory until it closed in 2004.Representatives from Lakeshore Technical College in Cleveland, Wis., Texas State Technical College in Sweetwater, Texas, and Iowa Lakes Community College are expected to attend.One goal of the gathering is to designate representatives to be liaisons with lawmakers in Madison and Washington, D.C., where the new administration is expected to be more receptive...

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Repower America and rebuild Wisconsin’s economy

From a guest column by Dan Kohler and Rep. Andy Jorgenson in the Janesville GazetteXtra:“We have the opportunity now to create jobs all across this country in all 50 states to repower America, to redesign how we use energy and think about how we are increasing efficiency to make our economy stronger, make us more safe, reduce our dependence on foreign oil and make us competitive for decades to come—even as we save the planet.” -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama, Dec. 8We couldn’t agree more. Our slumping economy is taking its toll, leaving all of us with a sense of anxiety about the future. But we have a tremendous opportunity to rebuild our economy across the country and here in Wisconsin, and to do it on a solid foundation.President-elect Obama and the new Congress should enact a green...

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Solar panels boost Milwaukee company

From a story by Ken Reibel in the Milwaukee Express:Jack Daniels, co-owner of Milwaukee-based Hot Water Products, one of the largest distributors of thermal solar panels in the Midwest, isn’t one to go with the flow. “We’re not waiting for business to come to us,” says Daniels, whose partner, Howard Endres, began selling high-efficiency water heaters and boilers in 1998. Daniels nudged his partner into the solar panel business three years ago, soon after Daniels became a partner in the company. Solar thermal panels circulate and heat water, an efficient supplement to natural gas or electric systems. Hot water can also be passed through a furnace or boiler to heat a house or business. Today, the company designs and engineers systems for homes and businesses, and hires contractors for installations....

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Big oil vs. big lakes

From an article by Dan Egan in the Superior Telegram:SUPERIOR — There is indeed a growing awareness of just how precious the Great Lakes are — and will be — in a century in which many are predicting fresh water will become more coveted than oil.The significance of this can’t be underestimated for a system of linked lakes that hold 20 percent of the world’s fresh surface water and 90 percent of the nation’s.Recognizing the lakes’ ecological and economic value, President George W. Bush this fall signed the Great Lakes Compact, which prohibits most water diversions outside the Great Lakes basin. Bush signed the measure after the compact received overwhelming bipartisan support from the eight Great Lakes state legislatures, as well as the U.S. House and Senate.Its passage is the latest example...

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Regional transit authority and a commuter rail line still deserve widespread support

From an editorial in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:Transit supporters have taken a couple of hits recently, casting doubt on both the creation of a regional transit authority and system, and the development of a critical element of such a system, a commuter rail line linking Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha. Nevertheless, the transit authority and the KRM line are still proposals that deserve widespread support if the region wants to build effective regional mass transit that would provide a number of benefits, including fostering economic development.A regional transit system could improve bus service in Milwaukee County and other areas, as well as help create better intercounty connections to help workers get to jobs. The KRM can help provide a reliable speedy mass transit link along the eastern...

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Solar workshops planned for Milwaukee area

A media release issued by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association:Milwaukee, WI – Through a partnership with Habitat for Humanity and other funders, the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) is now offering a wide variety of solar courses in the Milwaukee area. These courses range from introductory seminars to hands-on installation training. “We are very excited to be working with our partners in the Milwaukee area to offer high quality solar training for home and business owners,” said Tehri Parker, Executive Director of the Midwest Renewable Energy Association. “Our goals for this program are two fold: to build a solid base of knowledge and enthusiasm for these technologies among Milwaukee residents, and to train a dependable workforce that can scope, install, and maintain these...

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Racine school adds solar electricity to sell to utility

From a story John Dobberstein in the Racine Journal Times:RACINE — Bringing a modern amenity to an aging building, contractors Thursday continued installing solar panels on the roof of Walden III School.The sun peeked out from the clouds during the frosty morning as electricians wired up two banks of solar panels that, when operational, will boost Walden’s certification with the state as a “Green and Healthy School.”Between three major grants and several student fundraisers, the community at Walden III, 1012 Center St., raised more than $140,000 in about a year’s time to have 70 205-watt panels purchased and installed on the roof.Walden will sell the electricity generated by the 14.4-kilowatt system back to We Energies at twice the rate the utility sells it for. The profits, estimated at $4,000a...

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New study questions commuter rail line; author's integrity quetioned

From a story by Larry Sandler in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:A new study by a libertarian think tank claims the projected economic benefits of a proposed Milwaukee-to-Kenosha commuter rail line have been inflated and questions its ridership estimates.But a business leader noted that the author of the study, Los Angeles-based transit consultant Tom Rubin, took a far more positive view of the $200 million project in June, when pro-transit business leaders were pushing the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Transit Authority to hire him as the authority's consultant. And a regional planner said the commuter rail projections were sound.The Reason Foundation study, being released today, says the transit authority should consider express buses as an alternative to the KRM Commuter Link, which would...

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Energy efficiency evaluation can save homeowners hundreds of dollars

From an article article by Deneen Smith in the Kenosha News:Shawn Henoch can’t wait for frigid weather and the first serious heating bills of winter.“I’m really looking forward to January and February to see,” Henoch said. “Who is excited to get their electric bill? But I am.”Henoch hired a company to do an energy efficiency overhaul of her 60-year-old Kenosha home this year. The work was completed in June, and she said she’s already seen a dramatic reduction in her energy bills and an improvement in the coziness-factor of her home.The project sealed air leaks in the house, added insulation in the walls and ceiling, and replaced an old, inefficient furnace and air conditioner.Before the overhaul, her typical winter heating bills were about $400 “and that was keeping my heat set at 67 or 68,”...

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Mini wind turbine proposal blows into West Allis

From an article by Mark Schaff in West Allis Now:West Allis residents will get the chance next week to tell the city if proposed restrictions blow too gently or too hard when it comes to an alternative energy source for local homes.A public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16, on an ordinance that would allow West Allis residents to install mini wind turbines on their properties. The public hearing will come at the beginning of the Common Council meeting at City Hall, 7525 W. Greenfield Ave.On Dec. 3, the Plan Commission unanimously recommended approval of the ordinance.Wind proponentEarlier this year, resident Conrad LeBeau asked the city to change its municipal code so he could install such a system at his residence.LeBeau, who has long been interested in alternative energy,...

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Doyle adds Milwaukee-Madison rail to wish list

From a story by Mark Pitsch in the Wisconsin State Journal:The start of a commuter rail line between Madison and Milwaukee, a new UW-Madison medical research tower and expansion of Interstate 94 are among the local projects Gov. Jim Doyle says could be started within months if federal lawmakers pass a massive economic stimulus bill for states.Doyle met with members of President-elect Barack Obama's economic team and incoming chief of staff Rahm Emanuel on Wednesday and presented them a list of those and other projects he says the state has ready to go, his office said.Over all, the state has nearly 1,800 projects worth $3.7 billion that could be ready to start within 120 days if it receives funding under the bill being worked on in Congress — though it's too early to say how much Wisconsin...

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More waste could generate more electricity at Jones Island

From an article by Don Behm in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:Sun seekers and swimmers put off by slimy, foul-smelling cladophora algae covering Lake Michigan beaches and rocky shorelines in summer have a pair of new allies in the ongoing battle with the nuisance plant: Daniel Zitomer and hungry microbes.Where some see a putrid eyesore, Zitomer sees a sweet opportunity to make energy.Allow bacteria and other microbes known as archaea to digest the stringy algae in enclosed tanks and the end product is methane, said Zitomer, an associate professor of engineering and director of the Water Quality Center at Marquette University.The same goes for animal droppings at the Milwaukee County Zoo, as well as waste from food processing, candy making or even distilling liquor. Each is rich in organic...

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Milwaukee-Madison train service cost soars

From an article on Milwaukee Rising:The capital cost of developing Milwaukee-Madison train service has soard 25% to 50% in just two years, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.The cost was estimated at $400 million when the 2007-09 budget was developed, according to the agency’s budget request.“As with all other infrastructure projects, the estimated cost has increased significantly in the last two years due to high fuel and materials costs,” the department said. ”While the final cost will not be known until the final design and engineering are completed, the project cost is currently estimated at $500 – $600 million, including all design, engineering, capital infrastructure costs, and equipment costs.”WisDOT is seeking $40 million in new bonding authority for the project,...

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Transit construction creates more jobs than highways

From a fact sheet of the Surface Transportation Policy Partnership:Transportation policy has a strong, positive relationship with job creation and access. The transportation system should support job creation and grant all people access to good jobs. Unlike past transportation decisions that have focused on short-term solutions and have ignored large sections of the population, modern transportation investments must expand opportunities and improve quality of life. . . .In recent years, proponents of increased investment in new highway capacity have used job-creation as a rallying cry for their cause, saying that money spent on these new roads will lead to a surge in new jobs. While transportation investment should not be seen as primarily a jobs program, economic studies indicate that transit...

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Sustainable homes in Milwaukee

"Pragmatic Construction is building two sustainable homes in the Riverwest neighborhood of Milwaukee. These homes are targeting LEED-H Platinum certification," including passaive solar design and options of solar hotwater and solar electricity, according to its Web site which calls the company a "green design-build firm specializing in the integration of multiple green principles and technologie...

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An interview with Eco-hatchery owner Adam Borut

From a post on the Greener Milwaukee blog:I conducted a short interview on a local business owner, Adam Borut and his partner's start-up called, Eco-hatchery. Their focus is on Green gift packs that could come in handy this holiday season... what do you think?0. Who are you?Eco Hatchery is a Milwaukee based company dedicated to helping homeowners reduce the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.1. How did you get started with this Hatchery business?My business partner and I were discussing the challenge of moving from environmental consciousness to action. In talking with friends and family, we found most were environmentally conscious, but had done little in their personal lives to take action. They were overwhelmed by information, and short on time. We sought to develop a collection...

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Regional transit bill dead for now

From a story Paul Snyder in The Daily Reporter:The special legislative committee charged with creating a regional transit authority bill is dead.State Rep. Alvin Ott, chairman of the Legislative Council Special Committee on Regional Transportation Authority, on Tuesday informed the Joint Legislative Council by letter that he would not convene any more committee meetings.Citing changes in political leadership, economic conditions and the projected $5.4 billion state budget deficit, Ott said it would not be prudent to set up a new taxing authority until the economy improves. But Len Brandrup, a committee member and director of Kenosha’s Transportation Department, said the state can’t afford to wait any longer for an RTA bill.“We have no choice but to get a bill this session,” he said. “We can’t...

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Transit backers' quest for financing may get results soon

From an article by Larry Sandler and Patrick Marley in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:Wisconsin's public transit supporters have their best chance in years to win long-sought funding for buses and proposed commuter trains.But that's no guarantee they'll get it - or that what they get will pay for everything they want.Heading into next year's state budget debates, key elements are in place to overhaul transit finance: the passage of a Milwaukee County advisory referendum seeking a local sales tax for transit and other services; growing support from legislators, Gov. Jim Doyle and the business community for buses and KRM Commuter Link trains; a sense of urgency that the cash-strapped Milwaukee County Transit System is running out of time; and a statewide coalition that reaches beyond southeastern...

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Congress for the New Urbanism meeting, Dec. 3

Congress for the New UrbanismCNU Wisconsin GroupInvites you to attend a great local opportunity to become involved in CNU and meet professionals and others with similar interests. Presenting: “New Urbanism and You” With Guest Speaker: Steve Filmanowicz, Communications Director, Congress for the New Urbanism Steve will speak about the benefits of walkable urban development, ranging from more livable communities, to reduced carbon emissions – plus, how CNU is working to remove the barriers that stand in the way of great neighborhoods and sound transportation systems. MILWAUKEE Wednesday, December 3, 2008 5pm (light snacks served) Office of Engberg Anderson Design Partnership 320 E. Buffalo - Corner of Milwaukee & Buffalo Streets, 53202 Take elevator to 5th Floor Doors open until 6pm Note:...

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Dependable transit vital to Milwaukee’s future

An opinion piece by Michael Grebe in The Business Joournal:As gas prices fluctuate and the economy trudges along, sustainable, dependable modes of transit will be critical to keeping our local economy from stagnating. If southeastern Wisconsin desires economic growth and prosperity for citizens, we must follow peer cities nationwide and invest in our current transit systems and new initiatives encouraging economic development in the region.The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) must be properly funded so it can continue to provide critical service and access to jobs and educational opportunities in this community. Routes should be restored and frequency of buses increased. Continuing to cut funding and service to this system is an added blow to the populations hardest hit by these economic...

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Coal to sustain We Energies bills

From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:The falling price of natural gas could result in a small refund to We Energies electricity customers early next year, but the Milwaukee utility is forecasting a big jump in the price of another fuel it uses in its power plants - coal.The utility is forecasting a jump of $100 million, or 25% in the amount of money it plans to spend on coal next year, utility spokesman Brian Manthey said.The key drivers of the higher cost: rises in market prices for coal and transportation expense by rail from Wyoming and Colorado. Also factoring in, to a lesser degree, Manthey said, is the need to buy more coal next year as the first of two new coal plants under construction in Oak Creek prepares to start generating power.Two months ago, the utility...

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US energy facts

Though accounting for only 5 percent of the world's population, Americans consume more than 21.7 percent of the world primary energy (2005). Total world energy consumption is a bit more than 462 quadrillion (1015) Btu and US consume almost 101 quadrillion (1015) Btu.The United States was self-sufficient in energy until the late 1950s when energy consumption began to outpace domestic production....

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Climate change a priority for Conservation Lobby Day, Feb. 25

From an announcement issued by the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters:With a new legislative session comes new opportunities AND new Conservation Priorities! At the 11 Listening Sessions held around the state, local groups and citizens like YOU had a lot to say about which issues should be top priorities. In the end, only 4 can rise to the top. In 2009-2010, the conservation community will be fighting to make sure:+ Wisconsin adopts a strong statewide plan to tackle global warming. + Wisconsin returns to an Independent DNR Secretary and has timely DNR Board Appointments by the Senate. + Wisconsin develops a statewide plan to protect our drinking water. + Wisconsin creates standards for safe agricultural, industrial and municipal waste-spreading. . . .On February 25th, 2009, join citizens...

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MATC-Mequon dedicates wind turbine

From a media release issued by Milwaukee Area Technical College:A ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the erection of a wind turbine at Milwaukee Area Technical College’s Mequon Campus was held at the campus Nov. 12. The 160-foot tall unit with a blade diameter of 56 feet is the largest wind turbine on a college campus in the state. It is part of a sustainability initiative designed to educate students and the public about renewable energy technologies. . . .Located at the south end of the campus building, the 90-kilowatt, V-17 turbine is a remanufactured unit made in Denmark by Vestas, the world’s largest manufacturer of turbines. It does not feed electricity to We Energies but supplies power directly to the Mequon Campus. . It will directly provide about 8 percent of the campus’ electricity,...

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Easy to understand fact sheets on energy tax credit

The Web site awkwardly called the Database for State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency hosts two useful fact sheets for any individual or business considering a renewable energy installation.Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit covers these eligible renewable enrgies and technologies: Solar Water Heat, Photovoltaics, Wind, Fuel Cells, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Other Solar Electric Technologies Business Energy Tax Credits covers these eligible renewable enrgies and technologies: Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Solar Thermal Electric, Solar Thermal Process Heat, Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Geothermal Electric, Fuel Cells, Geothermal Heat Pumps, CHP/Cogeneration, Solar Hybrid Lighting, Direct Use Geothermal, Microturbi...

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RTA takes a good first step, but more is needed

From an opinion piece in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:Cooperation among transit authority board members should be lauded, but many obstacles remain in keeping regional transit on track in southeastern Wisconsin.After a vote last week to resolve a funding issue for regional mass transit, members of the board of the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Transportation Authority broke into applause. It was well deserved.On a 6-1 to vote, members representing the cities and counties of Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee (one from each city and county, plus one appointed by the governor) agreed to ask the Legislature for authority to levy a sales tax of up to 0.5% for mass transit, including a commuter rail line, in the three counties.Considering the time and effort it took to get this far and the fact...

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Eligibility relaxed for energy-efficiency assistance

From a media release issued by Focus on Energy:More Wisconsin residents may now be eligible for Focus on Energy's assistance program which offers limited-income homeowners low-cost efficiency improvements to improve the comfort, safety and affordability of their homes. The assistance program called Targeted Home Performance with ENERGY STAR®, is now seeking applications from homeowners with incomes between 150-250 percent of the poverty level, which is a significant increase from the past maximum of 200 percent. To put the new maximum into perspective, a family of four's maximum eligible annual income increased to $53,000 from the previous $42,400. . . .Targeted Home Performance with ENERGY STAR, is part of Focus on Energy, Wisconsin's energy efficiency and renewable energy program. Targeted...

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$16 nearly gets you the effect of a wind turbine in your backyard

From an article by Julie Lawrence at OnMilwaukee.comWhile new fuel efficient cars and home solar panels are some of the most powerful ways to reduce our carbon footprint, a $25,000 investment is usually out of the question for most college students who are already battling rapidly increasing education costs. But what about spending $16? Two University of Wisconsin student entrepreneurs say it can go further than you might think. Mechanical engineering major Ted Durkee and business partner Brandon Gador, a recent graduate of Madison's School of Business, launched Powered Green this past October to provide an economical way for anyone to support renewable energy. Their product, Energy Seal, is a recycled aluminum laptop sticker that funds carbon offsets. At $16, the cost of the sticker covers...

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Milwaukee company prez says biogas producers need buy-back rates that cover costs

A Clear Horizons' employee (in the red shirt) leads a tour of the biodigester on the Crave Brothers Farm near Waterloo. The bags along the low wall contain potting soil that includes fiberous material left after the digestion process.Michael Vickerman previously addressed the need for higher buy-back rates in two proceedings at the Public Service Commission -- the first in a rate case for Alliant Energy and the second in a WPS rate case. The rate issue ranks high on RENEW's agenda for the next two years.The excerpts below from a guest editorial by Richard R. Pieper Sr., chairman of Milwaukee's PPC Partners Inc., in The Capital Times re-enforces Vickerman's argument:I'm told the following: the world is going green and Wisconsin wants to grow...

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Transit board suggests sales tax for rail, buses for Kenosha, Milwaukee & Racine counties

From a story by David Steinkraus in The Journal Times (Racine):A group representing three local counties and the governor is proposing a sales tax of up to .5 percent to fund public transit.It’s easy to get lost in the details, but no one should ignore the magnitude of what happened on Monday morning, said Jody Karls, the city of Racine representative on the Regional Transit Authority.What the RTA voted to do on Monday was ask the state to make it the permanent transit oversight body for southeast Wisconsin and to give it power to levy local sales taxes of up to 0.5 percent in each member area. That tax would fund the extension of Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee commuter rail service from Kenosha through Racine and to Milwaukee, and would fund other transit modes such as city bus systems.Beyond those...

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Solar heating system attracts renewed interest at Urban Ecology Center in Washington Park

From an article by Dustin Block in The Daily Reporter:Solar power, a renewable-energy casualty of the early 1990s slain by cheap fossil fuels, is showing signs of life.The Urban Ecology Center in Milwaukee is reviving a solar-powered heating system at its community center in the county’s Washington Park.The solar-thermal system was built in the late-1970s as an alternative source of energy during the oil boycott. But as energy prices fell in the U.S. in the 1980s, interest in renewable energy waned and the Washington Park system was shut down. Joey Zocher, the Urban Ecology Center’s Washington Park program manager, estimated the solar power system is worth about $250,000. But it will take at least $100,000 to get the community center system running again, she said. The building also needs...

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Support Mass Transit and Fuel-Efficient Vehicles

One of several open letters in the Sheperad Express to President-elect The first priority for the next administration regarding transportation needs to be correcting the serious imbalance between huge federal funding and support for highway expansion and automobile use, compared to only modest support for public transportation. Just months ago, billions of dollars were shifted from the federal mass transit fund into the highway fund to cover our national highway spending binge. Greater federal support for transit infrastructure (longdistance rail, commuter rail, light rail, and bus), as well as for operating expenses, is needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to improve air quality in densely populated cities and to reduce the national insecurity that results from our overwhelming dependence...

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Our public rail system and the jobs it provides are at risk

From a column by State Senator Dale Schultz:As Wisconsin employers increasingly turn to our state’s rail roads to get their goods to a global market, state residents and communities enjoy the benefits of keeping jobs here, cleaner air from less truck emissions, and safer roads with less truck traffic.Those benefits make our state owned railroad system a great investment and explain why I believe, despite a tough fiscal climate, we should increase funding to preserve the infrastructure of our public rail system in the next state budget.Our public railroad system, which serves numerous communities, has been a great benefit by helping employers compete in the global market and keep family supporting jobs in Wisconsin.The system also helps many villages and cities with their community development...

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Biggest wind turbines in UK

Wind energy is one of leading renewable energy sectors with many experts believing in its potential to become one of the leading energy sources in future. There has been very little criticism related to wind energy though some environmentalists believe that wind energy could have negative impact on biodiversity, especially on bird population. But as this latest study showed negative environmen...

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ConocoPhillips' chief calls for long-range energy policy

From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:James Mulva, head of the nation's third-largest oil company, said it's time for politicians to develop an energy policy that addresses both energy security and climate change.Mulva, a native of De Pere who is chairman and chief executive of ConocoPhillips, said the economic crisis has resulted in an unexpectedly rapid drop in oil and gasoline prices that serves as a "temporary timeout" in a longer-term trend of rising demand for energy.The economic crisis is resulting in flattening or dropping demand for energy."But our experts tell us that this represents really a temporary timeout in what we see as a global competition for development of energy around the world," Mulva told more than 400 students and businesspeople Wednesday...

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Lower demand lowers Wisconsin Energy profits

From an Associated Press article posted on INO.com News:(AP:MILWAUKEE) Electric and natural gas utility Wisconsin Energy Corp. said Wednesday its third-quarter profit fell 7 percent as cool summer weather lowered demand for air conditioning.For the quarter ended Sept. 30, Wisconsin Energy earned $77.5 million, or 65 cents per share, compared with $82.9 million, or 70 cents per share, for the same quarter in 2007.Earnings from continuing operations _ which excludes results from businesses that have been, or are in the process of being sold _ totaled $77 million, or 65 cents per share, compared with $83.1 million, or 71 cents per share, in the year-ago quarter.Revenue declined 3 percent to $852.5 million from $881.5 million in the 2007 period.On average, analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected...

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Solar thermal incentives for non-profits

From a page on the Web site of We Energies:This program assists qualified not-for-profit customers install solar water-heating systems. Customer incentives are provided from We Energies Renewable Energy Development Program. The incentive amount is a dollar-for-dollar match of the Focus on Energy Solar Water-Heating System Cash-back Reward Program or the Solar Water-Heating Implementation Grant for larger systems. Supporting solar water-heating system installations helps We Energies demonstrate to customers the benefits of solar water-heating energy systems. Eligibility: Applicants must be We Energies retail electric customers located in Wisconsin, and one of the following: + Not-for-profit organization. + Not-for-profit educational/academic institution, unit of government, or special district...

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Electric vehicles and US car industry

With unpredictable gasoline prices, oil limits, and negative effects standard gasoline powered cars have on environment, there is tendency for new solutions in transport sector, and one of those solutions are electric vehicles. One of the vehicles that got a lot of talk lately was Chevrolet's Volt extended-range electric vehicle that is permanently driven by electricity, but also uses a small...

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Doyle dedicates first turbine project in seven years

Govenor Doyle chatted during the dedication program with students from Lakeshore Technical College's Wind Energy Technican program.A report from Jeff Anthony of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA):At the first wind project dedication ceremony for a major wind project in the state of Wisconsin in over seven years, Governor Jim Doyle (D) and other state government officials dedicated the Forward Wind Center in Brownsville, WI. Governor Doyle gave remarks at the ceremony on Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at the Brownville Community Center, noting that “the project represents a clean energy milestone for Wisconsin, meaning greater energy security, better wages in green jobs, and clean air and water for generations to come”. He also emphasized...

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Mayor will accept $400,000 grant at solar conference

From a media release issued by Milwaukee Shines:On Thursday, October 23rd, Milwaukee will host the fourth annual Solar Decade Conference at the Midwest Airlines Center, expected to draw 400 people. Sponsored by We Energies, Focus on Energy and the Wisconsin Green Building Alliance, the conference will focus on reducing the informational, economic and procedural barriers to solar energy proliferation in the region.“The benefits of solar energy are great,” said Mayor Tom Barrett, “Not only does solar energy provide power from a secure domestic source, promote sustainable urban development, and support greenhouse gas reduction targets, but advancing solar technology creates new economic opportunities for our residents and businesses.”Also during the conference, Mayor Tom Barrett will accept a...

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Habitat for Humanity Open House features solar installation, Oct. 22

From a media advisory issued by Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity:Focus on Energy, along with a coalition of renewable energy organizations, have partnered with Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity in an effort to build sustainable and affordable homes by installing 11 solar hot water systems and nine photovoltaic systems on 20 Habitat homes. In celebration of the completed project, there will be an Open House on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008 from noon to 3 p.m. at 3022 N. 7th Street in Milwaukee.The incorporation of solar technology on MHH homes was a pilot project which offered the unique opportunity to train future contractors in the solar industry by allowing them to gain hands-on experience. The goal was to help build a stronger solar base in the greater Milwaukee area and bring those in the industry...

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Hydrogen – Fuel of the future?

Many energy experts speak of hydrogen as the fuel of the future. Hydrogen already has number of industrial uses and has potential to one day replace fossil fuels to power vehicles without emitting harmful carbon dioxide responsible for global warming. There is one problem though, namely finding an environmentally friendly way to produce hydrogen in large quantities because current production...

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SC Johnson touts renewable energy commitment

From a media release issued by SC Johnson:RACINE, Wis., Oct 17, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Innovation isn't just the hallmark of SC Johnson's products, it's also fundamental to how its products are made. That's why when consumers reach for a can of Pledge(R) furniture polish produced with green energy, or a Ziploc(R) bag made with wind power, they can feel good knowing their purchase is from a company that's doing what's right for people and the planet. In fact, one in every two U.S. households(1) is making a difference by using an SC Johnson product around their home, such as Windex(R), Pledge(R), Ziploc(R), Glade(R), Raid(R) or Scrubbing Bubbles(R), all of which are made using renewable energy. That's nearly 57 percent of U.S. households -- or 66.2 million families -- making a difference...

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Geothermal energy and EIS in US

While there is no doubt (apparently) between both politicians and experts that world needs more energy from renewable energy sources, in order to avoid the dependence on fossil fuels that have negative impact on environment by causing global warming and climate change, so far very few people believed in the potential of geothermal energy as one of the leading renewable energy sectors, especially...

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Milwaukee urban farmer recogized for vision of food future

From an article by Karen Herzog and Lee Berquist in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:Will Allen was cutting heads of lettuce in a farm field when his cell phone rang. The caller told him to put down his knife. He had good news: The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, known for its annual award of “genius” grants, was giving Allen $500,000 — no strings attached.Allen is not your typical farmer. He is the founder of Growing Power, a nonprofit farm in the middle of Milwaukee that raises fresh produce for underserved populations with high rates of obesity, diabetes and heart disease.The son of an illiterate laborer, Allen has been a leading figure in urban agriculture for a decade. Thanks to the growth of the local foods movement, and now the MacArthur fellowship, his approach of melding...

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Racine wants green for housing project

From an article by Dustin Block in The Daily Reporter:Ken Lumpkin cautions against poor timing as Racine closes in on building an environmentally sound housing development in one of the city’s poorest neighborhoods. “The whole area needs to be cleared out, new sod put down, and the lot should be utilized as a park until the economy makes a turnaround,” said Lumpkin, a member of the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Racine, about the site of a former homeless shelter torn down earlier this year to make room for development. “It’s a fragile area directly across the street from an elementary school,” he said. . . .The city hired Pragmatic Construction LLC, Milwaukee, for preliminary work on the site, and the city is reviewing the results, O’Connell said. He said he wants to give a report...

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Milwaukee's Hot Water Products picked by State for solar hot water services

From a media release posted on marketwatch.com:TORONTO, Oct 15, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Mondial Energy Inc. of Toronto, Canada and Hot Water Products of Milwaukee, Wisconsin are pleased to announce that their partnership was selected as one of two renewable energy providers for solar thermal energy services to State of Wisconsin facilities. The state facilities which could potentially purchase solar thermal services from this contract include the 26 campuses of the University of Wisconsin, Department of Correctional institutions, and other State owned buildings....

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Renewable energy needed to cut mercury pollution

A letter by Kristin Charipar to the editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:The Oct. 5 article "Strict mercury rules likely to take effect" did not mention a key element: According to the Energy Information Administration, two-thirds of Wisconsin's electricity comes from coal-fired generation. If Wisconsin used more sustainable and less polluting forms for electricity, this mercury rule would not be so controversial.Wisconsin needs to move toward sustainable energy policies. I fully support the proposed mercury rule because it will give electric companies an additional incentive to stop proposing coal power plants (which not only release mercury but also lots of greenhouse gas emissions) and invest in renewable energy instead. This is rule is taking a step in the right direction by focusing...

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Sign up for heating assistance before season begins

From an article on Living Lake Country:The Wisconsin Department of Administration’s (DOA) Division of Energy Services and the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) urge energy customers to contact their local utility if their heat is currently disconnected. The agencies also encourage residents to take advantage of energy-efficiency programs and the state’s low-income bill payment assistance programs to reduce the burden of their utility bills this winter. Wisconsin law states that consumers cannot be disconnected during the heating moratorium period from Nov. 1 through April 15, if they are connected at the start of the moratorium. Customers who are currently disconnected must make arrangements with their local utility to pay outstanding bills to have their service restored. If a consumer...

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Are wind farms a threat to birds?

Many environmentalists believe that wind turbines drive birds away from surrounding areas but the latest study carried out by British researchers said the opposite giving the green light to build more wind farms. The concept of this theory was that large birds could get caught in the turbines which would kill them, and also that the structures could disturb other species in nearby area.However...

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Milwaukee searches for solar contractors

From a story by Sean Ryan in The Daily Reporter:Milwaukee wants its hometown builders to reap the benefits of a surge in solar energy, but the contractors that do that work are from Madison. Hiring Madison talent both increases project costs and sends cash to out-of-town businesses, said Ann Beier, director of Milwaukee’s Office of Environmental Sustainability. “We want the jobs here,” she said. “It’s pure and simple. We want Milwaukee residents to do the work.”But Milwaukee doesn’t have contractors with the necessary certifications to draw public money for solar energy projects. Focus on Energy, the Madison-based group that offers grants for solar projects, requires contractors have experience and education before installing photovoltaic panels. Most Focus on Energy-sponsored projects use...

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Oconomowoc utility and others making renewable energy easy to use

From a story by Matthew Inda in Living Lake Country:City of Oconomowoc - One thing that makes Oconomowoc unique is its publicly owned utility company, which strives for environmental efficiency and cheaper prices. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13, adults and children have an opportunity to visit the Oconomowoc Utilities office, 808 S. Worthington St., for an open house that will educate everyone about the local power plant, as well as give customers a chance to purchase blocks of renewable energy.“You get to learn about all the different things the utility does, and specifically green power,” said Lisa Geason-Bauer, owner and marketing director of Evolution Marketing, and consultant of the Oconomowoc Utilities open house.Open house visitors can learn about the utility that they, as customers,...

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Palin's Folly

by Michael Vickerman, RENEW WisconsinOctober 7, 2008What three things do Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria and Venezuela have in common? The first commonality is that they are among the top 10 leading exporters of petroleum worldwide, which is another way of saying that they are the biggest accumulators of foreign cash on the planet.Commonality No. 2: Gasoline prices in those nations are lower than they are in the United States. The swollen river of revenues that flows into their national treasuries enables these governments to subsidize the price of motor fuel sold to their citizens. In Iran, the portion of federal revenues spent on maintaining price caps on gasoline approaches an astonishing 40%. . . . Considering the finite nature of their chief exports, these nations would do...

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Forward Wind Center open for public tours, Oct. 22

Invenergy, the wind project developer, invites the public to attend the Forward Energy Center Open House. When: October 22, 2008Open House: 1-6 PMTours start on the half hour from 1:00 to 5:30 PMBrownsville Community Club871 Main St., Brownsville (on Hwy 49) Come learn more about the Forward Energy Center and how wind power benefits Wisconsin. Forward began operations in February 2008, becoming one of the first large-scale wind energy projects in Wisconsin. Forward is owned and operated by Chicago-based Invenergy, which is implementing one of the largest programs of wind development in the United States, Canada and Europe, and is committed to building strong relationships with landowners, communities and utility customers. Please wear appropriate shoes for walking on uneven surfaces. Reservations...

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Congress extends tax credits for solar and wind projects

From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:The $700 billion package designed to help the financial industry will result in more Wisconsin homeowners installing solar panels on the roofs of their houses in the years to come, energy industry observers said Friday.A package of energy tax credits, adopted as part of the bailout deal, will extend for eight years the tax credit for homeowners considering adding solar.Energy tax credits had been set to expire at the end of the year until they were included in the Wall Street bailout package.What's significant about the solar credit, industry observers said, is the decision to remove a $2,000 cap on a federal tax credit for installing solar panels.That means that a typical solar-electric system that costs about $16,000 is now...

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