Kenosha could receive $900,000 in federal funds for energy efforts

From an article by Matthew Olson in the Kenosha News:Kenosha could obtain more than $900,000 in federal funds to improve energy efficiency, which the city hopes can complement other funding the city is seeking.The U.S. Department of Energy announced last week that the state of Wisconsin and Wisconsin municipalities are eligible for $37.1 million in Energy Efficiency and Conservation block grants. The city of Kenosha is eligible for $902,500 as part of that funding.These grants are intended for energy-efficiency strategies, conserving energy through transportation programs and material conservation programs, among other potential projects. Municipalities will need to submit an application to the Department of Energy for proposed projects to use these funds.Kenosha Mayor Keith Bosman said the...

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Transporter says wind-power shipments 'took off' in March

From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:Suppliers to the auto industry may want to shift their focus to wind components, given incentives for renewable energy included in the federal stimulus package.Wisconsin has always been a supply-chain state, to the farm industry with implements, then to the auto industry with motors. But the effort to woo the wind-power industry to the state is centered north of Milwaukee, the former machine shop to the world.The focus on wind is coming from The New North, the economic development initiative of northeastern Wisconsin, home to Tower Tech in Manitowoc, Badger Transport in Clintonville and dozens of other suppliers to the wind industry.The wind industry had been growing at a record pace year after year until it was hit by the economic...

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Climate scientist supports carbon tax and rebate

From a story by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:A federal carbon tax should be enacted but the money should be sent back to taxpayers, a leading climate scientist suggested Wednesday.James Hansen, director of the Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York,who has been studying the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere for decades, said Wednesday that the U.S. government should enact a carbon fee-and-dividend that would persuade consumers to change how they use energy and reward those who reduce their carbon footprints."The person who does better than average in reducing carbon emissions will actually make money," he said.In a keynote address to the Renewable Energy Summit in Milwaukee, Hansen said a national global warming policy is needed to thwart and reduce the...

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Three presentations: Solar hot water, renewable economic impacts, and wind outlook

From two presentations by Michael Vickerman at the 2009 Wisconsin Renewable Energy Summit, Milwaukee: Getting Serious About Solar Hot WaterValue Proposition to System Owner+ Less expensive (on a life-cycle basis)+ Predictable return + Negligible riskValue Proposition to Society+ Emission-free + Non-depleting+ Indigenous + Highly secureSHW Potential in Wisconsin+ Can offset between 2.6% to 4.1% of NG use+ Avoiding 150 million therms/year+ Saving $150 million annually (2006 prices)+ Offsetting 820,000 metric ton of CO2Economic Development Impacts of Renewable EnergyEconomies of scale are achieved by shrinking the labor contribution relative to output, which explains why utility-scale energy is less expensive than do-it-yourself energy.Distributing renewable energy through customer-sited systems...

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Nuclear energy has great potential

Recently there are ongoing talks about climate change and global warming problem in which world seeks for an answer how to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. Many of these answers include full focus to renewable energy sources but some also suggest use of nuclear energy. However there is not only the question of climate change, there is also the question of constantly increasing demand for...

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Doyle seeks full cost of Milwaukee-Madison high-speed rail

From an article by Larry Sandler and Patrick Marley in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:State officials are seeking federal stimulus money to pay the full $519 million cost of a proposed 110-mph Milwaukee-to-Madison passenger train line, not just part of it, Gov. Jim Doyle says.If the grant is approved, trains could be running as soon as late 2012 or early 2013, cutting the travel time between Wisconsin's two largest cities to 1 hour, 7 minutes, officials say. That's about 20 minutes faster than the same trip by automobile, depending on traffic.Service would start with six daily round trips, connecting Milwaukee's downtown Amtrak-Greyhound station with a new station at Madison's Dane County Regional Airport, with additional stops in Brookfield, Oconomowoc and Watertown.At the same time, service...

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Electric car fans wait for future - JSOnline

From an article by Scott Williams in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Dennis Erovick and his favorite toy might be arriving at the crossroad of phenomenon and fad.The Cedarburg man purchased an electric car last year and persuaded city officials to allow the slow-moving, pint-sized vehicle on local roads.But gasoline prices have since dropped from $4 a gallon to $2 a gallon, putting a damper on consumer demand for alternative modes of transportation.Even the most ardent believers in electric cars are unsure whether this futuristic innovation has much of a future.'It's very iffy right now,' said dealer Tim Thompson, whose Green Autos business in Janesville has not sold a single electric car since October.'Do I think it's coming? Yes,' Thompson said. 'It just isn't there yet.'But enthusiastic...

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Kenosha proves to be model for Milwaukee streetcar plan

From an article by Matthew Olson in the Kenosha News:As Milwaukee gets assistance for its own downtown streetcar, a Kenosha transit official sees that proposal as a boost to regional transit plans and not a threat to interest in Kenosha’s railways.Part of the $410 billion federal spending bill signed last week by President Obama included a provision to divide $91.5 million in transit aid between the city and county of Milwaukee.The $91.5 million in funding was initially approved in 1991, but was held up when Milwaukee city and county officials were unable to decide how to divide the money. The city’s 60 percent share is planned for a downtown streetcar line, while Milwaukee County’s funds destined for the county bus system.The concept of a downtown streetcar is nothing new to Kenosha. The...

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Focus on Energy offers new grants for large renewable energy projects

From a news release issued by Focus on Energy:(March 18, 2009) - In 2008 Focus on Energy, Wisconsin's energy efficiency and renewable energy initiative, awarded financial incentives totaling more than $2.5 million to help businesses statewide finance the installation of renewable energy systems. And in 2009, even more businesses will have the opportunity to become energy independent as Focus on Energy is offering special opportunity grants for up to $500,000 to support large renewable energy systems.These grants, combined with the tax credits and other funding opportunities in the new American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which was signed into law Feb. 17, 2009, should help to make significant renewable energy projects a reality for hundreds of Wisconsin businesses. "We believe there is...

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Grants available to fund staff positions on energy savings

From a news release issued by Focus on Energy:MADISON, Wis. (March 17, 2009) - Focus on Energy, Wisconsin's energy efficiency and renewable energy initiative, announced new staffing grants today to help businesses, manufacturers, farms, schools and government facilities throughout the state complete energy efficiency projects. "Businesses don't need to let staffing issues become a barrier to energy savings," said Ken Williams, Focus on Energy's Business Programs director. "Focus on Energy is committed to helping companies overcome barriers that prevent them from completing energy efficiency projects."The grants will fund up to $80,000 for a full- or part-time employee or consultant to work on-site and manage energy efficiency projects that otherwise would not be completed due to a lack of...

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Companies look for ways to cut back in tough times

From an article by Rick Barrett in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:Todd Nelson, owner of the Kalahari Resort, fires off in staccato fashion the belt-tightening measures taken at his Wisconsin Dells water park.• Seventy employee cell phones eliminated. Saving: $4,500 a month.• Wristbands for water park customers changed to a cheaper model. Saving: $60,000 a year.• A new laundry water recycling system: $70,000 a year.• Six company cars sold, saving thousands of dollars in fuel, insurance and maintenance.• More than 100 employee e-mail addresses canceled. Saving: $8,000 annually in account fees.• Employees attending trade shows now stay at cheaper hotels rather than the convention hotel."They can drive an extra three miles to a Comfort Inn," Nelson said.For most companies, cost-cutting is key...

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Doyle will speak at Wind Industry Supply Chain Seminar, March 31, Appleton

Wisconsin Wind Energy Supply Chain SeminarAppleton, WisconsinMarch 31, 2009Wisconsin Wind Energy Supply Chain Seminar will focus on wind turbine manufacturing challenges and opportunities in the state of Wisconsin. Over 8,000 components and parts are used in the construction of utility-scale wind turbines, offering opportunities for a wide range of manufacturers and service providers in Wisconsin. The existing manufacturing and service industries, as well as academic and other institutions in Wisconsin makes it an ideal state to benefit from the growth of the wind energy industry.Hear from The Honorable Jim Doyle Governor of Wisconsin Tuesday, March 31, 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM Governor Jim Doyle is focused on creating opportunity for...

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The view from atop MATC turbine in Mequon

Jenny Heinzen, RENEW president and wind technology instrutor at Lakeshore Technical College, took this photo the V-17 wind turbine above the Mequon campus of the Milwaukee Area Technical College.An article by Tom Kertscher in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on the turbine when it became operational:Mequon - The largest wind turbine on a technical college campus in Wisconsin has been erected at Milwaukee Area Technical College in Mequon, where officials hope that what's been dubbed "Blades of Freedom" will reduce campus energy costs and help train students for sustainable energy jobs of the future.The turbine, which at 160 feet high and 56 feet wide easily is visible from Highland Road, also is aimed at raising awareness among the public...

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$25 million in federal funds will help bus system delay crisis

From an article by Larry Sandler in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:A $25 million cash infusion from the federal stimulus package will delay - but not avert - a financial crisis at the Milwaukee County Transit System, county officials and outside experts agree.Wisconsin's biggest bus system is in line to receive nearly one-third of the $81.6 million that the stimulus legislation will send to the state for transit. And County Executive Scott Walker, who has opposed other stimulus funding, says he will accept the bus money.Milwaukee County's share of the dollars will go toward buying new buses and other equipment for the transit system. Walker said that will meet his criteria for accepting stimulus funds, because the county won't have to match part of the federal money with local tax dollars...

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Q&A on solar electricity and solar hot water

From an interview with Clay Sterling by Michael Burke published in The Journal Times (Racine):Q. What is an off-grid home, and how did you achieve that?A. There’s no physical connection between the home’s electrical system and the utility. You have an on-site power generation system, so you are your own utility. In my case, the sources are both solar and wind electric.You store that energy in a battery pack for immediate or later use. Generally, those are sized for about three days of no power input — and generally, in three days you’ll have some power input.But there are times, like in November, December and March, when you’re not generating enough. So you have to back up the whole system with a gasoline generator. Q. Are we talking about do-it-yourself or professionally installed solar projects?A....

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Energy summit to highlight what stimulus means for state

From a post on Tom Content's blog on JSonline:The stimulus bill and what it could mean for Wisconsin's energy future will be discussed at several forums during the Renewable Energy Summit on March 27 in Milwaukee.Gov. Jim Doyle, U.S. Rep. Dave Obey (D-Wausau), a lead author of the Economic Recovery and Reinvestment and U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee) are all scheduled to address the conference, organizers said. Gary Wolter, who heads MGE Energy Inc. and runs the state Office of Recovery and Reinvestment, has also been invited to speak.The summit is planned for March 25-27 at the Midwest Airlines Center.“I thought we were missing the boat if we didn’t focus on the stimulus bill and what’s going to happen,” said Art Harrington of Godfrey & Kahn, a conference coordinator. “We should focus...

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We Energies unveils new solar incentive program

From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:Incentives to add solar panels on homes and small businesses are higher than they've ever been.That stems both from a tax credit that Congress authorized last year as well as incentives from Focus on Energy and We Energies.That doesn't make solar power cheap, but it's shortening the payback times for folks who are thinking about adding solar panels, said Michael Vickerman, executive director of Renew Wisconsin, a nonprofit group seeking to boost use of solar and wind power across the state.We Energies of Milwaukee on Wednesday unveiled a new solar electric incentive after the old program basically sold out.For more than two years, the utility's incentive permitted customers to sell all of the renewable power generated by their...

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