Last-minute changes weaken state’s clean energy goals

Disregarding the pleas from RENEW and others for a veto, Doyle signed Senate Bill 273, as reported by Lisa Kaiser in the Shepherd Expess, Milwaukee:Were the state’s renewable energy goals weakened during the final days of the legislative session? The answer depends on how you view a new bill, signed into law by Gov. Jim Doyle last week, which expands the definition of “renewable energy source” without increasing the amount of renewable energy that must be used by the state’s utilities. “We went backwards, not forwards,” said state Rep. Spencer Black (D-Madison), a champion of clean energy. “If you don’t increase the percentage of renewable energy that must be used, and you include the new technologies, you decrease the amount of wind and solar to be used.” A Last-Minute Amendment without Public...

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Energy efficiency facts

Energy efficiency is defined as using less energy to provide the same level of energy service. Some examples of energy efficiency are better insulation of buildings, using energy saving light bulbs, buying cars with better gas mileage. Energy efficiency is achieved primarily by means of a more efficient technology or processes rather than by radical changes in individual behavior.Energy Star is...

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UW doctor: No evidence that wind turbines cause health problems

From a presentation to the Public Service Commission Wind Siting Council by Jevon D. McFadden, MD, MPH:General Conclusions􀂄Evidence does not support the conclusion that wind turbines cause or are associated with adverse health outcomes􀂄Gaps remain in our knowledge of the impact that wind energy may have on human health􀂅Potential positive and potential negative impacts􀂄Passionate analyses, whether by proponents or opponents of wind energy development, may be subject to significant bias, which compromises credibilityRecommendations􀂄Encourage concerned individuals to report symptoms or illness to a healthcare provider􀂄Encourage health officials to continue to assess new evidence as it becomes available􀂄Recommend involving affected individuals in siting processShadow Flicker􀂄Wind turbine...

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Racine Montessori adding solar panels

From an article by in the Racine Journal Times:RACINE - Workers spent Wednesday installing new solar panels at the Racine Montessori School, the latest move by the school to go green.The school's solar panel project has been in the works for about two years and is finally being completed this week with the installation of 84 panels on the roof of the school's gymnasium, said Rita Lewis, administrator at the Racine Montessori School, 2317 Howe St.The panels are being installed by Madison-based H&H Solar Energy Services. When installation is complete, the panels should generate about 40 percent of the energy the school needs. To show students when the panels are working, ceiling fans directly tied to the panels will be installed in the school's hallways. The fans' blades will rotate on sunny...

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Doyle signs disputed waste-to-energy bill

Disregarding the pleas from RENEW and others for a veto, Doyle signed Senate Bill 273, as reported by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:Gov. Jim Doyle on Wednesday signed into law a bill that wind power developers and environmental groups had asked him to veto.The bill, known as the Renewable Resource Credits bill, would allow energy generation produced from waste such as garbage to be classified as renewable and qualify that electricity for the state's renewable power mandate.The bill was drafted to grant renewable status to the Apollo light pipe, a a small glass skylight dome that, when mounted in a roof, reflects daylight inside to help cut energy use. The light pipe is a technology developed by Orion Energy Systems Inc. of Manitowoc, a maker of high-efficiency lighting systems.Environmental...

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Transit authority rolls on K-R-M commuter rail planning

From an article by Sean Ryan in The Daily Reporter:Planners of the Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee commuter rail Monday gave up on waiting for state approval for transit taxes and chose to apply for federal planning money.The Southeastern Regional Transit Authority will not get federal construction money for the estimated $232.7 million project without a state law letting local governments raise taxes to pay for transit. But the authority is eligible for planning money and, after delaying the application since January, chose to push ahead without the state law.Lee Holloway, a member of the Southeastern RTA, said the approach will lead to pointless planning for the rail project.“Why should we be moving forward if we don’t know what is going to take place?” said Holloway, who is chairman of the Milwaukee...

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We Energies to begin Glacier Hills wind farm construction

From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:Crews will begin site preparation next week for the largest wind farm in Wisconsin, after state regulators finalized plans for the Glacier Hills Wind Park northeast of Madison.We Energies of Milwaukee said it will erect 90 turbines at the wind farm, two more than it installed on its first large wind farm, near Fond du Lac, in 2008.The cost of the Glacier Hills project came in at $367 million, utility spokesman Brian Manthey said. By comparison, the 88-turbine Blue Sky Green Field wind farm that opened two years ago cost $295 million.The tab for We Energies' customers isn't yet known, but the company will seek to collect construction costs from ratepayers beginning in 2012, Manthey said.Friday's announcement came after the state...

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Solar collector facts

Solar collectors transform solar radiation into heat and then transfer that heat to a medium (water, solar fluid, or air). The term is applied to solar hot water panels, but may also be used to denote more complex installations such as solar parabolic, solar trough and solar towers.Solar hot water systems use sunlight to heat water. In low geographical latitudes (below 40 degrees) from 60 to 70%...

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PSC sets hearings on wind siting rules

From a news release issued by the Public Service Commission:MADISON – The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) is seeking public comment on the proposed wind siting rules, issued today by the PSC. The proposed rules will ultimately result in uniform wind siting standards for local units of government in Wisconsin and ensure consistent local procedures for regulation of wind energy systems. . . .2009 Wisconsin Act 40 (Act 40) requires the PSC to promulgate a variety of rules that specify the conditions a city, village, town, or county (political subdivision) may impose on the installation or use of a wind energy system. If a political subdivision chooses to regulate such systems, its ordinances may not be more restrictive than the PSC’s rules. The PSC will also consider the restrictions...

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Streetcars would improve quality of life in Milwaukee

From a post by Jeff Sherman, president of OnMilwaukee.com, on Milwaukee Biz Blog:One of the many things I truly love about Milwaukee is its commitment to its past and its steady, although sometimes too slow and sure, movement through its innovative present and onward to its future.Streetcars, no doubt, are a testament to a city’s past but also to its success. Look at any modern, successful city and nearly all have integrated transportation systems that involve roads, sidewalks, highways, rail, streetcars, bikes, busses and more. Milwaukee’s lagged way behind in the past 30 years, but now it’s poised to move forward in the transportation game. I know some cry about the costs. Honestly, its infrastructure that we need. I live downtown and rarely use the Marquette Interchange, but I pay for it...

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Since Waukesha County doesn't want it, put high-speed rail stop in Tosa

From a post by Milwaukee Alerman Robert Bauman on the Milwaukee Biz Blog:Milwaukee County Clerk Joe Czarnezki has floated the idea of establishing a high-speed rail station in western Milwaukee County in the vicinity of the Milwaukee County Research Park. This is an excellent idea that deserves serious consideration by the state Department of Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).In addition to the research park, this station would serve dense commercial development along Mayfair Road and the Milwaukee County Medical Complex. Employment in this area is second only to downtown Milwaukee. Moreover, this station would serve relatively dense suburban residential communities as well as west side Milwaukee neighborhoods.A station on the high-speed rail line in the vicinity...

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MATC's big solar farm will double as training center

Nick Matthes and Ed Stoll of Pieper Electric (who will be installing the PV), flank Rich Hinkelman of Solar Systems Inc (who build the racking for the system). All are MREA supporters and Energy Fair exhibitors!From a post on Tom Content's blog on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel site:Leaders at Milwaukee Area Technical College kicked off the construction of the largest solar project in the state with a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday afternoon north of Capitol Drive.The solar project -- dubbed the Photovoltaic Educational Farm -- will be developed on a former landfill along the Milwaukee River, underneath the television tower for MPTV, Milwaukee Public Television.The project will feature nearly 2,600 solar panels from four different manufacturers,...

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Milwaukee Public Library installs green roof

From an article by Don Behm of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:The roof of Milwaukee's Central Library sprang to life, and went to work, in Friday's steady rain.Thousands of sedum, a ground-covering plant, and clumps of chive and ornamental grasses - all perennials - were planted Friday in a six-inch layer of small gravel and soil spread across 30,000 square feet - nearly seven-tenths of an acre - to create a green roof atop the historic building, said Taj Schoening, business operations manager for the Milwaukee Public Library.Its job is to mimic nature. The living roof will collect and store thousands of gallons of rainwater during a downpour, rather than allowing the clean water to drain immediately to a street sewer, Schoening said.Each gallon of fresh water kept out of the pipes decreases...

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Impressions of the Wind Siting Council’s Tour of Wind Development in Fond du Lac County

The Wind Siting Advisory Committee, created to advise the Public Service Commission on statewide wind siting standards, toured Blue Sky Green Field Wind Energy Center and Forward Wind Center on May 4, 2010, to gain first hand knowledge of turbine impacts.Michael Vickerman, RENEW Wisconsin's executive director, prepared the following commentary on his impressions of the tour:Impressions of the Wind Siting Council’s Tour of Wind Development in Fond du Lac CountyStop 1 – Home of Larry Wunsch, council member, pilot, and wind project opponentA member of the Wind Siting Council and a critic of windpower, Larry lives on a 60-acre parcel located on the northern edge of the Forward project along Hwy F. On his 60 acres you’ll find a six-year-old 2,200...

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A Cruel Month for Clean Energy

A commentaryby Michael Vickerman, RENEW WisconsinMay 4, 2010Renewable energy businesses and activists entered the month of April with high hopes of seeing the State Legislature pass the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA), a comprehensive bill designed to propel Wisconsin toward energy independence, along the way creating thousands of new jobs and strengthening the sustainable energy marketplace. This comprehensive bill would have raised the renewable energy content of electricity sold in Wisconsin, while stepping up ratepayer support for smaller-scale renewable energy installations throughout the state.Unfortunately, on April 22, the State Senate adjourned for the year without taking action on the Clean Energy Jobs Act bill, effectively killing the measure and leaving hundreds of businesses and...

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Failure to pass a clean energy bill doesn’t deter energy efficiency supporters

From a story by Chuck Quirmbach on Wisconsin Public Radio:Energy efficiency advocates are trying to keep the energy savings momentum going in Wisconsin, despite the legislature's failure to pass a major clean energy bill. The Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) would have counted some energy efficiency moves toward a mandate to make more use of renewable energy. But leaders of the state Senate killed the measure. Five years ago, lawmakers did pass a bill that transferred oversight of the rate-payer funded Focus On Energy program to the Public Service Commission. The PSC's Jolene Shield says her agency is continuing a planning process to revise goals and priorities for energy efficiency. Shield says phase two of the process means digging into the details. Shield says PSC commissioners will be deciding...

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Doyle announces clean energy consortium with Milwaukee universities

From a news release issued by Governor Jim Doyle:CHICAGO – Governor Jim Doyle announced today the creation of the Clean Energy Generation, Transmission and Storage Systems (CEGTS) Consortium that combines the expertise of state industry and government partners with the research and development capabilities of the public and private academic institutions of Wisconsin. Governor Doyle made the announcement at the BIO 2010 International Convention – the world’s largest biotech conference – in Chicago. “It is crucial that Wisconsin develop and maintain a leadership role in these emerging energy technologies to provide the needed expertise to its companies,” Governor Doyle said. “Enhanced R&D capacity, combined with the development of industry supply chains, will serve as an important tool...

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Journal Sentinel columnist misguided, wrong

A letter to the editor in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel by Jeff Anthony, Director of Business Development of the American Wind Energy Association and a member of the board of directors of RENEW Wisconsin:John Torinus' column celebrating the demise of Wisconsin's Clean Energy Jobs Act legislation couldn't be more misguided and wrong (April 25, Page 3D).Torinus conveniently ignores the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin study concluding that average utility bills would be lower under the bill compared to the status quo. Further, a comprehensive economic assessment of the proposed legislation concluded it would create at least 15,000 jobs in Wisconsin by 2025.Most puzzling is that Torinus criticizes the bill by citing the European experience, which has incorporated the very same kind of...

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