‘Green Grocer’ takes on new meaning for Twin Lakes store

From an article in the Kenosha News:TWIN LAKES — Installing energy-efficient lighting and controls is expected to save a Twin Lakes grocery store more than $28,700 a year eventually.New equipment — mechanisms on freezers, cash registers and scales, and almost 650 lights — set up the past four months at Richter’s Twin Lakes Sentry, 600 N. Lake St., should cut utility costs enough to pay for the changes in less than five years.The alterations are part of a “Green Grocer” program offered by the Wisconsin Grocers Association. The store will receive its Green Grocer certificate at 10 a.m. today during a store tour by representatives of various involved organizations. The public is invited.Brett Hulsey, from Better Environmental Solutions, a Madison firm administering the program, said the western...

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We Energies' wind park offers significant benefits to the state

From the written decision of the Public Service Commission on We Energies' Glacier Hills Wind Park: WEPCO’s [We Energies’] wind-powered electric generating facility is a renewable resource that offers significant benefits to the state of Wisconsin. The air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions it avoids, the lack of solid waste, and the fact that it consumes virtually no water are important environmental benefits. This project will support the state’s goal of increasing its reliance upon renewable resources and will help diversify Wisconsin’s pool of electric generating facilities. It fits well with existing land uses, will help preserve the agricultural nature of the project area, will impose no reliability, safety, or engineering problems upon the electric system, and will create no...

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Council committee approves solar power revolving loans

Anews release issued by Alderman Tony Zielinski:The Community and Economic Development committee unanimously approved an ordinance today that allows the City of Milwaukee to create the state’s first property assessed solar power revolving loan program to make solar power a more attractive option for homeowners.Alderman Tony Zielinski, primary sponsor of the ordinance says promoting solar power is critical for environmental reasons as well as job creation. “Encouraging solar power options creates job opportunities for solar panel installers and also helps to increase a need for manufacturing the panels and the jobs related to that process,” Ald. Zielinski said.“Historically, one of the barriers to installing solar power in homes has been the upfront costs. This loan program reduces that impediment...

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Sustainable Community Living Seminar, Feb. 24, Kenosha

From an announcement made by Gateway Technical College:Harnessing Renewable Energy OpportunitiesDATE: February 24, 2010TIME: Morning Seminar - 1 :OOp.m. - 3:00p.m.Evening Seminar - 7:00p.m. - 9:00p.m.HOST & LOCATION: Gateway Technical College, Horizon Center, 4940 88th Avenue, Kenosha, WI 53144YOU ARE INVITED: to attend an interactive presentation on methods, execution and sustainable economical outcomes for communities. Robert Laporte, Molecular Biologist and CEO of Neutopia ecoSolutions, Inc., will present the seminar. Mr. Laporte will show several examples of how communities have benefitted from sustainable implementation, such as decreasing municipal waste issues, creating new revenue streams and more.FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:Sheila Axl, EleclriChargeMobility:262-789-8409 elec...

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Clean Energy Jobs Act would boost economy and employment

From a news release issued by the Center for Climate Strategies:Implementation of the recently introduced Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) would expand the state’s economy and create thousands of additional new jobs for Wisconsin. These impacts are reported in a recent Center for Climate Strategies (CCS) analysis of the macroeconomic effects of the proposed law, conducted by Michigan State University and the University of Southern California in association with the State of Wisconsin. The analysis focuses on nine proposed policy actions that address clean and renewable energy, energy efficiency, industrial processes, transportation and agriculture.Based on a state-of-the-art macroeconomic analysis, implementation of these CEJA actions would result in the following outcomes for Wisconsin: Create...

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Study projects minimal impact from renewable buyback rates

From a letter to State Rep. Spencer Black and State Sen. Mark Miller from RENEW Wisconsin:RENEW is pleased to provide the enclosed copy of the narrative and appendix of tables from an economic analysis that we commissioned. The analysis concludes that special buyback rates (sometimes called Advanced Renewable Tariffs) designed to stimulate small-scale renewable energy installations would have negligible impact on residential utility bills, averaging about $10 a year. That’s less a dollar a month for the typical customer. And it’s less than a household’s cost of purchasing the smallest block of green power from Madison Gas and Electric, for instance.Compared with other forms of economic stimulus, promoting small-scale renewables through utility buyback rates would deliver a substantial and...

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Team effort brings green jobs to Wisconsin

From a blog post on BizTimes.com by Steve Jagler, executive editor of BizTimes Milwaukee:. . . BizTimes Milwaukee broke the story that Milwaukee was one of three finalists to be the North American headquarters of a Spanish alternative energy company.As we now know, that company turned out to be Ingeteam, a Spanish wind turbine company that confirmed Tuesday it will construct a $15 million, 100,000-square-foot facility in Milwaukee’s Menomonee River Valley. The complex will span about 8.1 acres at 3757 W. Milwaukee Road.Ingeteam, headquartered in Bilbao, Spain, will employ about 275 workers in Milwaukee by 2015.Milwaukee was chosen to be the site of the new plant after a coordinated recruitment effort that included officials from the Milwaukee 7 economic development team, We Energies, Marcoux...

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Wind energy firm picks Milwaukee for plant

From an article by Larry Sandler in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:Politicians and business leaders were quick to celebrate - and claim credit for - Monday's announcement that a Spanish company will bring hundreds of new jobs to Milwaukee.Wisconsin's current governor, two candidates to succeed him, and not one but two regional economic development alliances all lined up to score points from a new Menomonee Valley plant for Ingeteam, a Spanish manufacturer of wind-turbine generators.About 270 manufacturing jobs will be created by the plant, said Greater Milwaukee Committee President Julia Taylor. Building the plant will bring construction jobs as well, said Patrick Curley, chief of staff to Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.It will be Ingeteam's first North American factory, said Gale Klappa, co-chairman...

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Debate over Clean Energy Jobs Act centers on prices

From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:In the rhetoric of the energy bill debate in Madison, energy prices will go up - either because the Legislature passes the Clean Energy Jobs Act or because the Legislature fails to pass it.Rising energy prices are a familiar refrain to many in Wisconsin, where energy expenditures total $16 billion a year. A review of electricity price increases by the Journal Sentinel found residential customers across the state pay 39% to 70% more than they paid in 2001.Advocates on both sides of the debate over the Clean Energy Jobs Act are raising fears about higher costs.Opponents say utilities will have to invest billions of dollars in wind farms and other projects to comply with an aggressive renewable energy mandate proposed by the bill....

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Doyle announces $500,000 in stimulus grants for energy independence planning

From a news release issued by Governor Doyle:MADISON – Governor Jim Doyle today awarded $500,000 in Recovery Act funds to communities moving toward a clean energy future. The Governor announced 11 grants totaling $500,000 to help 24 communities develop plans to reach his “25 by 25” energy independence goals. “These grants will help Wisconsin communities across the state seize the opportunity to save money through energy efficiency and grow a strong new part of our economy in clean energy,” Governor Doyle said. “Through the Recovery Act, our communities will lead as the world moves rapidly in the direction of clean energy and energy efficiency. We spend $16 billion on fossil fuel energy every year in Wisconsin, and all those dollars are lost to our economy. By working toward these ambitious...

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Town of Holland can't block wind farms, developer says

From an article by Scott Williams in The Northwestern (Oshkosh):A wind farm developer has cautioned town of Holland officials that their moratorium on construction of wind farms is not legally enforceable.Invenergy LLC, which is seeking state approval for a wind farm in southern Brown County, also questions Holland's toughened setback requirements for wind turbines."Regardless of the town's desire to enact such a moratorium or setbacks, it has no power to do so," Invenergy attorney Peter Gardon wrote in a six-page letter dated Feb. 4.The Holland Town Board voted Feb. 1 to impose a one-year moratorium on wind farm construction so residents could have more time to study and debate the Invenergy plan. The Chicago-based company wants to build 22 wind turbines in Holland, as well as 78 more in...

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MMSD and Kenosha County join in 25x25 goal

From a news release issued by Govenor Doyle:MADISON – Governor Jim Doyle announced today that the City of Madison, Kenosha County and the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) have joined the Wisconsin Energy Independent Community Partnership. They have pledged to work toward Governor Doyle’s “25x25” goal of generating 25 percent of the state’s electricity and transportation fuels from renewable resources by the year 2025. . . .“I welcome Madison, Kenosha County and MMSD as new partners in working toward energy independence that keeps energy dollars in our state, creates good jobs and cleans our air and water,” Governor Doyle said. “Every year, we send $16 billion out of state to power our homes and businesses and fuel our cars. Building a clean energy economy is not only an enormous...

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Renewable energy facts

Renewable energy is energy generated from natural resources - such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat - which are renewable (naturally replenished).Renewable energy sources are used from ancient history: In 200 B.C., people in China and the Middle East used windmills to pump water and grind grain. Also, old Romans were among the first to use geothermal energy to heat houses.Un...

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Legislature needs some energy to pass energy bill

From an editorial in The Journal Times (Racine):Gov. Jim Doyle doesn’t want to talk about his legacy just yet and wants to get things done, but that’s not likely because the Legislature has largely checked out for the year.When Doyle presented his State of the State address, and also in a meeting with The Journal Times Editorial Board, he talked about his energy ideas and the need to move Wisconsin and its economy toward a different energy future. He said quite rightly that if the United States had pursued the alternative energy ideas which sprouted in the wake of the Arab oil embargo 37 years ago, we would not today be burdened by gasoline at $3 and $4 a gallon. He also rightly commented that Wisconsin spends billions every year on fuel — money which quickly leaves the state instead of being...

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Regional transit is key to our economic future

From a blog post on BizTimes by Robert Mariano, chairman and chief executive officer of Roundy’s Supermarkets Inc. in Milwaukee, co-written by Dick Hansen, president and CEO of Johnson Financial Group Inc., Racine:On behalf of the nearly 7,400 employees we represent, we wish to express the important role regional transportation plays in our economic future. We are committed to ensuring dedicated funding for a balanced regional transit system and encouraging our business colleagues to do the same.We represent two of southeastern Wisconsin’s largest institutions and provide critical services to thousands of local residents on a daily basis. We understand that a fully-funded transit infrastructure impacts our clients, customers, business, and the economic climate in southeastern Wisconsin. We...

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A lot to like about renewable energy

From an editorial in the Kenosha News:Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle and President Barack Obama were talking the same language Wednesday: renewable energy and jobs. The president was in Washington speaking to a group of governors about his energy policy, which includes spending more money on biofuels such as ethanol. “It’s good for our national security and reducing our dependence on foreign oil. It’s good for our economy, because it will create jobs.” Gov. Doyle was in Kenosha, speaking at Gateway Technical College’s Horizon Center. He said Wisconsin spends $16 billion a year for coal, petroleum and natural gas, money that goes out of the state because Wisconsin doesn’t produce those fuels. If the state used 25 percent of its energy from renewable sources, that would mean $4 billion remains here...

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Doyle promotes renewable energy at Gateway Tech

From an article by John Krerowica in the Kenosha News:Gov. Jim Doyle reiterated support for renewable energy and green, sustainable jobs as he spoke Wednesday at Gateway Technical College in Kenosha.Doyle told the crowd of about 100 people at the Horizon Center for Technology, 4940 88th Ave., the college and other schools must train students for tomorrow’s technology and equipment.“We’re moving in a new direction, and vehicles in the future will have increased, complex technology,” he said. “I’m not sure we even know what the cars of 10 to 15 years from now are going to look like, and we’ll need people trained and adaptable to work on those vehicles.”Doyle has challenged the Legislature to expand the state’s reliance on renewable energy from today’s goal of 10 percent by 2015 to 25 percent...

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Students visit Kewaunee County wind farm

From Madison Gas and Electric's Greenview site: AC_FL_RunContent( 'codebase', 'http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0', 'width', '440', 'height', '195' , 'src', 'http://storybridge.tv/sites/all/themes/storybridge/swfs/sbplay_seg02c', 'quality', 'high', 'pluginspage', 'http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer', 'align', 'middle', 'play', 'true', 'loop', 'true', 'scale', 'showall', 'wmode', 'transparent', 'devicefont', 'false', 'id', 'sbplay_seg02c', 'bgcolor', '#000000', 'name', 'sbplay_seg02c', 'menu', 'true',...

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Project would turn Milwaukee trash into energy

From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:Trash would be converted into electricity at Project Apollo, a renewable energy project proposed for Milwaukee's north side, developers said Tuesday.Alliance Federated Energy announced plans to develop a $225 million renewable energy plant that would create 250 construction jobs and 45 full-time jobs. The first phase of the project is expected to be running by 2013.The plant would use technology developed by Westinghouse Plasma Corp. of Madison, Pa., to convert the waste at high heat into a synthetic gas, or syngas. That, in turn, could be used as a fuel to generate power.The first phase of the renewable energy facility is expected to process about 1,200 tons of municipal and industrial waste per day. That would generate 25 megawatts...

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RENEW testifies in support of Clean Energy Jobs Act bill

Michael Vickerman, Josh Stolzenburg (center), owner of North Wind Renewable Energy, LLC, Stevens Point, and a spokesman for Wave Wind, LLC, Sun Prairie, testify in support of the Clean Energy Jobs Act bill before the Special Assembly Committee on Climate Change. Vickerman leans forward to show the committee members a map of renewable energy installations.From a summary of Michael Vickerman’s (RENEW Wisconsin) testimony before the Assembly Special Committee on Clean EnergyFebruary 2, 2010:RENEW Wisconsin strongly supports the provisions in SB450/AB649 to expand the state’s Renewable Energy Standard to 25% by 2025, which includes a 10% in-state renewable energy set-aside. RENEW has evaluated the availability of specific resources to reach that...

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