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Photo by Barger Photography (courtesy of Michels Corporati...
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Waukesha home opens for Solar Tour
A press release issued for the Wisconsin Solar Tour:A Waukesha home will be one of more than 150 sites in the state open for the 2008 Wisconsin Solar Tour on October 4.The home of Julie and Vince Toman, 2105 Parkview Court, features 30 roof-mounted solar panels following the second story roofline in the rear of the house.“It produces more electricity than we need for much of the year. We’ve only paid 6 electric / gas bills in the last 15 months,” according to Julie Toman.“In fact, we get a credit for the amount of excess electricity it generates,” she added.Businesses with solar installations will welcome visitors on October 3, the first day of the two-day Solar Tour, organized by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA), located in Custer, Wisconsin.Tour destinations will showcase...
Friday, September 26, 2008
Webinars: Building Communities Educational Series
From the UW-Extension Center for Community and Economic Development:Today’s society is complex and challenging. There are myriad social, environmental and economic opportunities and challenges facing communities and businesses of all types and sizes. How do we engage each other in ways that benefit more than just a few special interests? How do we proceed so that we can achieve important objectives, but not do so at the expense of other ones that we also value? Is there a way of balancing a healthy economy, a healthy ecosystem and a healthy community? If we find that balance, can we sustain it?This year’s Building Communities Webinar Series tackles these important questions. We address global, regional and local issues and challenge ourselves as both a community and as individuals. ...
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Kettle Foods gets it
From the Green Racine blog:Salem, Ore.-based Kettle Foods says that it has yielded environmental and economic benefits by adopting measures that include offsetting all of the electricity used to operate both its Salem and Beloit factories with wind power. Additionally, the Beloit plant is home to 18 rooftop wind turbines."When we decided to go for green - or in this case, gold - with LEED certification of our new factory, we knew it was the right thing to do," says Tim Fallon, president of Kettle Foods' North American division.The company also recycles of 2,300 gallons of waste oil with conversion to biodiesel used to power a company fleet of diesel-engine cars called BioBeetles, and reduces more than three million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions annually resulting from the elimination...
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Milwaukee gets high marks for sustainability, energy, water
From an article by Jeff Sherman posted on OnMilwaukee.com:According to a story today from sustainlane.com, Milwaukee is the 12th most sustainable city in the country. It is first in a ranking of "water supply" and second in one of "natural disaster risk." The health and sustainable living Web site says, "America's 50 biggest cities are thinking green and the 2008 SustainLane U.S. City Rankings-topped by Portland, Ore.-reveal which cities are increasingly self-sufficient, prepared for the unexpected and taking steps toward preserving and enhancing their quality of life." Sustainlane.com said this about Milwaukee, "Since Milwaukee inaugurated its first office of sustainability in 2006, green momentum in the Midwestern city has picked up steam. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee...
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Summer/fall newsletter now online
RENEW Wisconsin's summer/fall edition of Wisconsin Renewable Quarterly is now online, including the following articles:Peak Oil Spices Meeting with Cong. BaldwinCountdown to Solar Tour Solar H2O on Madison Fire StationsGlobal Warming Task Force ReportWisconsin’s Newest Wind ProjectsPHEV+Wind=Clean AirSmall Wind Conference Wrap...
Ethanol fuel and cars
Ethanol fuel is ethyl alcohol - ethanol, the same type of alcohol as in alcoholic beverages. Ethanol fuel is one of two basic types of biofuels: biodiesel and bioethanol (some people like to call ethanol bioethanol - it sounds better from environment point of view). When used as a fuel, ethanol is commonly mixed with normal gasoline. Most standard cars can run on an up to 10% mixture of ethanol...
Monday, September 22, 2008
WPPI wants to fund zero energy homes
From a media release from Wisconsin Public Power, Incorporated:Homeowners looking to build or remodel in communities served by WPPI member utilities have an opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint through WPPI’s GreenMax Home program. WPPI is now soliciting competitive proposals for grants to help fund the construction of up to three net zero energy homes within WPPI member utility service areas. As part of WPPI’s overall efforts to encourage public and community support for renewable energy, energy conservation and energy efficiency, the GreenMax Home program will help customers build highly efficient, environmentally friendly homes. Grants will be awarded to cover part of the incremental cost of designing and building a GreenMax Home over the cost of constructing a conventional Upper...
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Gov. Doyle announces $7.3 million in clean energy funding
From a media release issued by Governor Doyle:MILWAUKEE – Governor Jim Doyle today announced $7.3 million in grants and loans from the Wisconsin Energy Independence Fund (WEIF) for research and development and commercialization or adoption of new technologies. These awards will leverage $44.2 million in investments and create new jobs for Wisconsin families on farms, in forests, in research labs and for manufacturers. “From manufacturing wind turbines and solar panels to retro-fitting fuel pumps and exploring the latest clean technologies, our future lies in seizing green opportunities that will create good jobs for our citizens and add billions of dollars to our economy,” Governor Doyle said. “Today we are awarding more than $7 million in grants and loans to companies that are committed to...
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Two solar workshops, MATC - Oak CreekSept. 27
From the Milwaukee Area Technical College:MATC is proud to host two seminars in partnership with We Energies and the Midwest Renewable Energy Association on Saturday, September 27, in our ECAM facility (Room E-114) on the Oak Creek campus. We urge you to take advantage of these outstanding opportunities!These Seminars provide information about generating renewable energy for your home or small business. Seminars include demonstrations and print materials. The Seminars have no prerequisites, and you may attend one or both Seminars.PV (solar electric) Systems for Residential Applications covers solar photovoltaic (PV) technology, site selection, system sizing, available financial incentives and installer selection.Sept. 2710:00 amMilwaukee Area Technical College, Oak Creek CampusE-1146665 S....
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Family enjoys wind turbines
From an article by Rick Vanderlinde in The Alliston Hearld(central Ontario, Canada): SHELBURNE — As Andria Hutchinson watched the giant wind turbines being erected around her home two years ago, she grew uneasy. The windmills, with their massive concrete columns and large fiberglass blades, were beginning to dominate the flat farmland of Melancthon Township, just west of Shelburne. “We didn’t know what to think when they were going up,” she says, gazing at the blades of a turbine spinning in the brisk breeze last Thursday. “They sat there all winter and we thought, ‘Gee how loud are these things going to be?’” Two summers later, Hutchinson and her young family have grown to enjoy the 45 windmills built by Canadian Hydro in this Dufferin County township. “We don’t mind them at all....
Monday, September 15, 2008
Non-Profits Renewable Energy Grants Workshop, Sept. 23
From the Web site of We Energies:If you are interested in our renewable energy grants but not sure how to get start, attend our free Renewable Energy Grant Workshop on Sept. 23, 2008, at the Milwaukee Marriott West from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Pre-registration required.According to the Web site, We Energies offers "Prescriptive and Custom Incentives to non-profit, charitable organizations that implement electric or natural gas-saving measures at their facilities. This guide, along with a conversation with a program representative, can assist you in determining your eligibilit...
Friday, September 12, 2008
Wind farm open house, Saturday, Sept. 13
The Blue Sky Green Field Wind Energy Center, located in the towns of Calumet and Marshfield in northeast Fond du Lac County, is designed to generate 145 megawatts (MW) of electricity, and is capable of powering approximately 36,000 average residential homes. The site consists of 88 wind turbines.Construction of the project began in June 2007. On May 19, 2008, Blue Sky Green Field was placed into commercial operation. The turbines are capable of generating more than 328 million emission-free kilowatt-hours annually.Saturday, Sept.139:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.Blue Sky Green Field OfficeN9470 County Highway WMalone, WI 53049Tours will be given approximately every 30 minutes. WE Energies invites you to stop by at your convenience during the tour hours listed above. No reservations required.The turbine...
Alternative fuels, ethanol and vehicles
Alternative fuels are not the brand new topic as many people think they are. There is a long history of different researches by different organizations and individuals that have been constantly researching and hoping to find brand new ways to power vehicles.When we think about the main differences between the alternative fuels and fossil fuels we mainly think about our environment, as fossil...
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Webinar on renewable energy for green communities
WHAT: Focus on Energy, Wisconsin's energy efficiency and renewable energy initiative, is proud to sponsor a Webinar on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008 titled Sustainable Energy for Green Communities.The Webinar is designed for individuals who envision a greener future for their communities. Participants will be presented an overview on how to create a community energy plan with energy sustainability as a key component. This plan focuses on areas such as carbon emissions and environmental quality, energy efficiency strategies to apply at the community level and a discussion on renewable resources such as solar, biomass and wind energy.Participants will also learn how Focus on Energy can assist communities in implementing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. In addition, other community...
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Green Vision for Milwaukee
The Green Vision statement of the Milwaukee Office of Environmental Sustainability: It's about our economy.It's about our environment.It's about a New Milwaukee.Milwaukee will be a livable city where our rivers and lakes are clean; where our beaches are crowded with families enjoying the sand and water;where our political leaders do not hesitate to innovate;where our air is clear and our children can safely play outside on summer days; where shopping and entertainment are within walking distance of our homes;where employers in the hottest green technologies come to do business; where our workforce is qualified and ready to work for these businesses;where our city is known to young professionals around the country as a progressive place to live; where we consider the future when we make decisions...
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Vickerman responds to anonymous "Greenie"
RENEW's Executive Director wrote the following response to a post by "Greenie" in a forum of the Wisconsin State Journal:Forumite Greenie writes: “The biggest problem with the federal production tax credit for renewable energy is that it only covers wind and solar. In the state of Wisconsin where our wind resource is low, the production tax credit is what's driving wind developers to put turbines where they don't belong.”Inaccuracies abound in that statement. One, the federal production tax credit covers wind and closed-loop biomass and biogas from livestock manure. Two, it does not cover solar. There is a 30% investment tax credit specific to most solar energy systems (not solar pool heaters). Three, the wind resource in Wisconsin is pretty good in certain locations, like along the Niagara...
General energy facts
Energy is the ability to do work. It comes in different forms thermal (heat), radiant (light), mechanical, electrical, chemical, and nuclear energy. Energy is in everything.Internationally accepted unit of measurement for energy is the SI unit of energy, the joule. Power is the rate at which energy is transferred and it is usually measured in watts.Energy is most often used in the context of...
Friday, September 5, 2008
Can Milwaukee become a solar city?
From an article by Ken Reibel in the Sheperd Express:Can the red-hot market for solar panels generate green jobs for Milwaukee? Some city officials are hoping so. “We’ll be looking into whether we can build them locally,” says Ann Beier, director of environmental sustainability for the city of Milwaukee. Beier and others want to use part of a $200,000 federal Solar City grant to fund a feasibility study. “It’s worth exploring,” she says. The numbers are enticing. The U.S. solar market grew 57% in 2007, and worldwide demand has grown 20%-25% per year over the past 20 years. But barriers to entry are steep, and investment risky. Four manufacturing behemoths currently produce 50% of the solar energy products, or photovoltaics, sold on the planet, and the pace of innovation could leave some investors...
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Urge Congress to extend credit for renewable energy
An editorial from the Wisconsin State Journal:America's effort to develop cleaner, more sustainable energy sources is threatened by the looming expiration of federal tax credits that boost renewable energy production and use.Congress should respond this month by extending and enhancing the credits, which encourage investment in solar, wind, biomass and other renewable power sources.A significant risk exists that at the end of this year Congress will let credits worth $500 million a year lapse, as it did three previous times. In those cases, investment in renewables fell dramatically before Congress revived the credits. Investment in wind power production, for example, fell 93 percent following the expiration of tax credits in 2000.This year the vast majority in Congress supports extending...
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Two Rivers may erect wind turbine
From an article by Cindy Hodgson in the Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter:TWO RIVERS — Two Rivers Water & Light is considering erecting a wind turbine near the high school on Highway 42. It would be a joint project of the utility, the school and Wisconsin Public Power Inc., according to electric utility director Tom Bushman.“We’re in very preliminary talks at this point,” Bushman said.He said he has been in contact with the school regarding the idea for a couple of years, but “price has always been the issue.”Now Wisconsin Public Power Inc., which is owned by 49 utilities including Two Rivers Water & Light, has indicated it is willing to provide funding, perhaps as much as 75 percent, according to Bushman.WPPI would like to see at least one alternative energy demonstration project in...
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
MATC, MSOE have sunny outlooks
From an article by Thomas Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:The largest solar power project in downtown Milwaukee is up and running at Milwaukee School of Engineering. 144 solar panels sit on the roof of the school's student union building and are visible to office workers in nearby downtown buildings. That's by design, said Chris Damm, associate professor of mechanical engineering at MSOE."It's a statement to show that MSOE is leading the way in terms of sustainability and engineering, to attract students who are interested in emerging energy technologies and sustainable engineering," he said.But the project is more than just a showcase for the university. It's part of a training ground for students to engage in research in the growing fields of renewable energy and more efficient...
