More groups join call for veto of waste-to-energy bill

Shortly following the end of the legislative session, RENEW Wisconsin wrote to Governor Jim Doyle asking him to veto Senate Bill 273, which would allow "plasma gasification" of municipal wastes to generate electricity. RENEW sought the veto because the bill would allow the electricity to be called renewable and count toward the renewable energy requirements placed on Wisconsin utilities.Now several other organizations, including RENEW, fleshed out the orginal veto request with a second letter:We, the undersigned businesses and organizations, urge you to veto SB 273, which would undermine Wisconsin's current renewable energy standards under Act 141. Signing this bill will result in less renewable solar, wind and biomass energy for Wisconsin at a time when our economy and our environment desperately...

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In 2 minutes, watch a turbine installation

The turbine will serve the Green Leaf Inn in Walworth Coun...

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Legislature needs to act

From an editorial in The Journal Times (Racine):Let us count the ways in which this Legislature has failed in its duty. We do not speak of any particular issue or any particular position which the Legislature took, because the truth is that it took few. There were some good results from this session, such as the law which formalized a transportation authority to make progress on KRM commuter rail. But there is much that didn’t move — bills on regional transit, election reforms, and energy and jobs. We do not advocate for every clause of every one of those bills. We decry the lack of action. It is true that one function of a legislature is to let bad ideas expire quietly, but the overarching issues of transit and jobs and energy must not fail. They must be dealt with in some manner.The Democratic...

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Energy-savings efforts get a jolt

From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:State programs receive $20 million to help owners retrofit homes, businessesMilwaukee, Racine and Madison will launch or expand programs to help homeowners and businesses retrofit buildings to cut energy use. The programs are part of a $20 million initiative funded by the federal stimulus package.The three cities were partners in a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy to Madison-based Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corp. and announced by Vice President Joe Biden on Wednesday.The money will be used to set up or expand programs that lower the cost of making energy-saving changes in homes and businesses.The Wisconsin project was one of 25 nationwide that won more than $450 million in total funding. The Energy Department...

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RENEW Wisconsin Calls for Veto of Waste-to-Energy Bill

IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 23, 2010MORE INFORMATIONMichael VickermanRENEW Wisconsin608.255.4044mvickerman@renewwisconsin.orgRENEW Wisconsin Calls for Veto of Waste-to-Energy BillRENEW Wisconsin called on Governor Jim Doyle to veto a bill that allows garbage to qualify as a renewable energy resource.“The bill (Senate Bill 273), passed in the last hours of the final legislative session, would lead to a cutback in new clean-energy installations using solar, wind, biogas, and biomass,” said Michael Vickerman, executive director of RENEW Wisconsin, a statewide renewable energy advocacy organization.The bill would credit electricity from gasification of garbage toward the amount of renewable energy each Wisconsin utility must supply under current law.“By failing to pass the Clean Energy Jobs Act, the...

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Wisconsin Democrats say no to Clean Energy on Earth Day

A news release issued by Clean Wisconsin:MADISON -- Hours ago, the democratically controlled state Legislature failed the people of Wisconsin when it adjourned before taking up the Clean Energy Jobs Act."It's ironic that on Earth Day, our Democrat-led state Legislature effectively killed a vital piece of clean energy legislation," says Keith Reopelle, senior policy director, Clean Wisconsin. "Senate Democratic leaders Jeff Plale and Russ Decker's refusal to schedule the bill for a vote guaranteed the bill's demise."The Clean Energy Jobs Act would have created more than 15,000Â jobs for Wisconsinites. Just yesterday, Wave Wind, a wind energy service provider in Sun Prairie, sent an open letter to the state Legislature noting that the delayed passage of the bill forced the company to lay off...

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Legislature should celebrate Earth Day by passing Clean Energy Jobs Act

From an editorial in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:The state Legislature could give Wisconsin's celebration of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day on Thursday a real boost by approving the latest version of the Clean Energy Jobs Act. The bill is aimed at reducing the state's reliance on fossil fuels and encouraging the growth of green technology and green jobs. A recent analysis by the state Public Service Commission says the measure will result in lower costs for energy consumers in coming years.Given the threat posed by the reality of climate change and the opportunity to start creating jobs in a new industry, it's clearly a bill that deserves passage. The same threat and opportunity also should spur Congress to finally move forward on meaningful climate change legislation.In addition to...

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We Energies Wins Praise for Support of Clean Energy Jobs Act

A news release issued by RENEW Wisconsin:IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 21, 2010MORE INFORMATIONMichael VickermanRENEW Wisconsin608.255.4044mvickerman@renewwisconsin.orgWe Energies Wins Praise for Support of Clean Energy Jobs ActA leading renewable energy advocacy group praised Milwaukee-based We Energies for its support of the Clean Energy Jobs Act legislation (Assembly Bill 649). On Tuesday (April 20), We Energies distributed a memo explaining its support to all members of the state Assembly. We Energies’ memo followed a similar memo last week from Clean, Responsible Energy for Wisconsin’s Economy (CREWE), a coalition of businesses and utilities supporting the legislation. Other utility members of CREWE are Alliant Energy, Madison Gas & Electric, WPPI Energy, Xcel Energy, and American Transmission...

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We Energies other utilities in group urging passage of Clean Energy Jobs Act

From a news release issued by CREWE, a coalition of the following organizations -- CleanPower, Alliant Energy, EcoEnergy, Johnson Controls, Xcel Energy, C5•6 Technologies, Axley Brynelson, Madison Gas and Electric, Orion Energy Systems, Forest County Potawatomi Community, Wisconsin Energy Corp., Poblocki Sign Company, Emerging Energies of Wisconsin, MillerCoors, American Transmission Co., WPPI Energy, DTE Energy Services, Kranz, Inc. and Greenwood Fuels:(MADISON, Wis.)—The coalition for Clean, Responsible Energy for Wisconsin’s Economy (CREWE) today urged the State Assembly to pass the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) in order to create thousands of jobs and reduce electricity costs for Wisconsin consumers and businesses.“The amended Clean Energy Jobs Act provides even more benefits than the original...

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Let's pass the Clean Energy Jobs Act to celebrate Earth Day!

Tomorrow the Assembly will be voting on the Clean Energy Jobs Act.RENEW Wisconsin and dozens of other organizations have been working hard to pass the job-creating legislation. Clean Wisconsin set up a Web site where you can easily send an email to your legislators to urge them to vote "yes" for the bill.Contact them now, before the Assembly votes. Let's make this happ...

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Backers still want passage of Wisconsin's scaled-back clean energy jobs bill

From an article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel by Tom Content:A stripped-down version of a bill to control carbon emissions was introduced by lawmakers on Tuesday, a measure that would sharply increase the use of renewable energy and open the door to new nuclear reactors in Wisconsin.The revisions were drafted in response to concerns of business groups and politicians who said the original bill was too unwieldy, controversial and, potentially, costly.Supporters said their changes will answer many of those concerns, and in a statement, Gov. Jim Doyle termed the revised bill "a good compromise that will bring down consumer costs.""Wisconsin is a manufacturing state, and we can't afford to lose this opportunity to become a leader in solar and wind manufacturing to other states and countries...

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Legislators Fire Blanks at Clean Energy Jobs Act

A commentary by Michael Vickerman, executive director of RENEW Wisconsin:Immediate releaseApril 15, 2010More informationMichael VickermanRENEW Wisconsin608.255.4044mvickerman@renewwisconsin.orgStatement of Michael VickermanExecutive Director – RENEW WisconsinLegislators Fire Blanks at Clean Energy Jobs ActIn an April 13 statement, Reps. Mike Huebsch (R-West Salem), Phil Montgomery (R-Green Bay), and Scott Gunderson (R-Waterford) contend that the substitute amendment for the Clean Energy Jobs Act, released earlier this week, will drive up electric rates across Wisconsin. As ammunition for their argument, the representatives point to recent requests in Iowa to raise electric rates, which they attribute to the state’s renewable energy policy.The argument advanced by these three lawmakers is truly...

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Groups urge passage of new version of Clean Energy Jobs Act legislation

Diverse groups lined up to support passage of the rewritten version of Clean Energy Jobs Act legislation when the new provisions were announced on Tuesday. Group already releasing statements of support include:+ Clean Wisconsin.+ AFL-CIO + Wisconsin Business Council + Clean, Responsible Energy for Wisconsin’s Economy (CREWE)+ Wisconsin Environment+ WPPI Energy.According to the bill's co-authors the highlights of the bill include:+ Increases the use of renewable resources to meet the state’s future energy needs, requiring 25 percent of Wisconsin’s energy needs are met by renewable sources by 2025, creates new opportunities for Wisconsin.+ Establishes graduated statewide electricity savings goals that lead up to a 2 percent reduction by 2015 and annual reductions of 2 percent thereafter, this...

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Wisconsin's scaled-back global warming bill unveiled

From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:A revised state clean energy and global warming bill unveiled Tuesday scales back the scope of the bill but retains a commitment to expand use of renewable energy and open the door to construction of nuclear reactors in Wisconsin.The revisions, obtained by the Journal Sentinel, were drafted in response to concerns raised by business groups and politicians that the original bill was too unwieldy, too controversial and potentially too costly.Jettisoned from the package were mandates concerning transportation fuels, including a requirement that Wisconsin require greater use of low-carbon transportation fuels such as biofuels.To reduce the overall cost of the package, the bill allows energy efficiency gains to count toward a portion...

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RTA bill a step forward for area transportation

From an editorial in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:The Legislature should approve the legislation to set up interim regional transit authorities in seven southeastern Wisconsin counties.Republican legislators who support business growth need to pay attention to what business leaders are saying about transit in southeastern Wisconsin. And Democratic legislators who support jobs for families in their districts need to pay attention to what union leaders and those families are saying about the issue.On this issue, many business and union leaders are united in their support for a regional transit system that can link workers to jobs. And they're hardly alone. Local officials who have publicly supported improved transit on these pages or elsewhere in recent months include Milwaukee Common Council...

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State panel OKs interim authorities for county RTAs

From an article by Jason Stein in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:Madison - A sales tax of up to 0.5% could be levied in Milwaukee County to fund public transportation under a regional transit authority bill an Assembly committee endorsed Thursday.By an 8-2 vote, the Assembly Transportation Committee supported the bill, which would allow creation of interim transit authorities in Milwaukee and other counties in southeastern Wisconsin that eventually could merge into the existing Southeastern Regional Transit Authority. But the measure still faces a steep climb to pass both chambers of the Legislature before lawmakers end their regular business on April 22.Seven Democrats and one Republican on the committee approved a complex, 52-page amendment before recommending the bill. Assembly Speaker...

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Nuclear fusion facts

Nuclear fusion is the process by which multiple like-charged atomic nuclei join together to form a heavier nucleus. It is accompanied by the release or absorption of huge amounts of energy. To say it simply, nuclear fusion is process of joining two or more light atoms into one heavier with release or absorption of energy. The fusion of two nuclei with mass lower than iron generally releases...

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Energy efficiency gives win, win, win to Racine

From a letter to the editor of the Racine Journal Times by Mark M. Giese, Racine:Energy efficiency a great idea hereI applaud the City of Racine for recognizing that energy efficiency is a win-win-win situation ("Stimulus funds used for new energy-saving loan program," March 13).Homeowners will "win" when the program reduces their energy bills.Simple improvements, such as increasing insulation or replacing old, inefficient appliances, really have an impact. On average, each dollar invested in efficiency saves three dollars in avoided energy costs.Our local economy will "win" in two ways. The program will increase the demand for appliances, weatherizing and other efficiency upgrades, which means greater sales for businesses. These jobs can't be outsourced, since they involve work on local homes.The...

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High-speed rail will boost Wisconsin’s economy

From an entry by Tom Still on Milwaukee Biz Blog:The Marquette interchange in Milwaukee cost more than $800 million to rebuild between 2004 and 2008, and few people seriously questioned whether that “subsidy” of Wisconsin’s highway transportation system would pay for itself many times over.Milwaukee’s Zoo interchange, the mix-master for I-94, I-894 and Highway 45, could cost $2.3 billion to rebuild once work begins in 2012. Again, most people familiar with the volume of statewide commerce passing through that intersection can agree reconstruction is a much-needed investment.But suggest a relatively tiny $7.5 million per year subsidy for a high-speed rail line that could redefine Wisconsin’s connections to Chicago and the Twin Cities, and the same folks who barely blink at billion-dollar concrete...

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