Report: We Energies landfills likely source of groundwater contamination

From an article by Christine Won in the Racine Journal Times:CALEDONIA - A report released Thursday by environmental groups points to We Energies coal ash landfills as the likely source of the groundwater contamination that has left several residents without drinking water for the past year.Almost 40 coal ash dump sites in 21 states, including Wisconsin, are contaminating groundwater or surface water with toxic metals like arsenic, mercury or lead, according to a report by the Enviromental Integrity Project, Earthjustice and the Sierra Club.The Oak Creek power plant, which has one active and two closed coal ash landfills, was named as having private wells in the area contaminated by molybdenum and boron.We Energies spokesman Barry McNulty called the report "incomplete" and "flawed," drawn...

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Gwen Moore: Hold up KRM until bus needs addressed

From an article by Larry Sandler in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:Congresswoman tried but failed to block funds until transit system was secureA proposed Milwaukee-to-Kenosha commuter train line has a new nemesis: U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore.Moore, a Milwaukee Democrat, recently unsuccessfully sought to freeze federal action on the KRM Commuter Link, a $283.5 million rail line that would connect downtown Milwaukee to Kenosha, Racine and the southern suburbs with 15 round trips daily.Like Milwaukee County Board Chairman Lee Holloway, Moore says she's not opposed to commuter rail but believes funding for Milwaukee County's embattled bus system must come first."A new commuter line between Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee will undoubtedly offer new benefits to our communities," Moore said in a written...

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Oconomowoc students to ride on plug-in hybrid school buses

From a article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:Town of Oconomowoc — Sandy Syburg has driven school buses for years - but none like these.When they start rolling on their routes next week, these hybrid electric school buses won't lurch forward the way conventional school buses do.A diesel engine is least efficient when it's trying to get a 27,000-pound vehicle moving from a full stop, Syburg said. Thanks to the hybrid technology, the electric motor kicks in first, with lithium-ion batteries powering the bus forward from a stop."It's very smooth. It's like a gust of wind when you're sailing," said Syburg, chief executive of Oconomowoc Transport Co.In the bus terminal, Syburg can plug an electrical cord into the side of the bus so that solar panels can charge the batteries that...

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Make small changes in your driving habits to save money

From Madison Gas & Electric:A few changes in your driving habits could save you money and gasoline. Hypermilers say it's easy... and anyone can do it.You don't have to drive an electric car or hybrid to drive more sustainably. In this story, we hit the road with an expert hypermiler to learn what it takes to go the extra mile. AC_FL_RunContent( 'codebase', 'http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0', 'width', '399', 'height', '179' , 'src', 'http://storybridge.tv/sites/all/themes/storybridge/swfs/sbplay_seg02c',...

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Stopping high-speed rail would be costly for state

From an article by Andrew Weiland in BizTimes.com:Although U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood insists that high-speed rail is inevitable in the state, Wisconsin Department of Transportation officials indicate a new governor could stop the $810 million project planned between Milwaukee and Madison. However, it would be costly to do so.The Republican candidates for governor in Wisconsin, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and former Congressman Mark Neumann, have pledged to stop the high-speed rail project if elected.“As governor, I will stop this train dead in its tracks,” Walker said.“This is an Obama wasteful spending boondoggle that I will stop immediately in its tracks as governor,” Neumann said. . . .Although the federal government is providing the construction...

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Community workshops for high-speed rail project scheduled in Sun Prairie and Waterloo

From a news release issued by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation:The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is announcing two community workshops to discuss the design process for the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail project. The workshops are scheduled from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on August 25, 2010 and August 30, 2010. The August 25 workshop will be held at the Sun Prairie Municipal Building, 300 E. Main Street, Sun Prairie, WI. The August 30 workshop will be held at the Waterloo High School at 865 N. Monroe Street, Waterloo, WI.At the workshop WisDOT and consultant staff will be available to discuss design activities in the Milwaukee-Madison rail corridor. Staff is also interested in hearing from the community on issues of concern to them as design continues to get underway....

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High-speed rail foes, backers set up rival websites

From a blog post by Larry Sandler on JSOnline.com:The debate over a planned high-speed rail line between Milwaukee and Madison has spawned dueling websites and online petition drives.Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Walker, who is stressing his opposition to the train route as a key campaign issue, recently set up a "Stop the Train!" site, www.notrain.com. Visitors to that site are encouraged to sign on to Walker's open letter to President Barack Obama opposing the project, which would be built with $810 million in federal stimulus money but then would require $10 million a year in state tax dollars to operate.Walker, the Milwaukee County executive, faces former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann, also a high-speed rail critic, in the Sept. 14 GOP primary. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, the leading...

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Coal – Introduction and some quick facts

Introduction to coalCoal is classified as fossil fuel, and it is the main energy source for electricity production in the world. This however also means that coal is the main source of carbon emissions in the world meaning that coal significantly contributes to climate change issue. Coal is composed primarily of carbon along with variable quantities of other elements, mostly sulfur, hydrogen,...

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Wisconsin companies expand to accommodate wind energy

From an article by Nathan Phelps in the Green Bay Press Gazette:Vorpahl Fire & Safety did not build its business with commercial wind generation in mind, but it's one of many companies that consider that industry a key opportunity for expansion.For the last few months, Vorpahl has sold protective gear designed for workers in the wind energy sector, including safety harnesses, hard hats, gloves, high-visibility vests and tool bags.Wind energy is a market the business is banking on for continued growth in the coming years."We've been trying to figure out creative ways to break into other, untapped, segments, and wind energy came up because it is really big in other parts of the country and it's starting to catch on in Wisconsin," said Chris Vorpahl, marketing coordinator. "Love it or hate...

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Chicago suburbanites now favor more transit spending, poll shows

From an article by Jon Hilkevitch in the Chicago Tribune:Reflecting the increasing strain of gridlocked traffic, a majority of Chicago-area residents think improving bus and train service is so important to the region that repairing and expanding expressways and toll roads should take a back seat, a Tribune/WGN poll shows.Most suburbanites support investing more in mass transit than roads, sharing the long-held stance of a large majority of city residents, the poll found. Suburban residents also said they are driving less and taking more advantage of expanded suburban train and bus service in communities where the automobile has been king.Drivers who said they would back spending more on mass transit cited the growing stress associated with congestion; high gasoline prices; and, to a lesser...

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Advisory Council releases recommendations on rules for siting wind turbines

A news release issued by the Public Service Commission:MADISON – Today the Wind Siting Council presented the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) with a report on its final recommendations for the wind siting rules. The report is the result of the Council's work conducted in 20 meetings over the course of more than four months.[The Council vote 11 to 4 in support of the recommendations, with RENEW executive director Michael Vickerman voting with the majority.]Originally appointed by the PSC pursuant to 2009 Wisconsin Act 40 (Act 40) in March 2010, the Council has worked diligently to provide the Commission with sound advice to consider in finalizing the wind siting rules. The PSC is conducting the wind siting rulemaking pursuant to Act 40, and issued a proposed rule draft in May, 2010...

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Solar panel manufacturer named among 10 people changing Milwaukee

From an article by Eric Decker, Alysha Schertz, and others on BizTimes.com:Steve Ostrenga is bringing jobs to Milwaukee at a new Helios USA plant, which will manufacture solar panels. . . .Milwaukee is known for manufacturing. Companies such as Harley-Davidson, A.O. Smith, Falk, Rockwell Automation and many breweries played large roles in the city’s development.Manufacturing will drive the city’s future. However, what Milwaukee’s manufacturers produce is changing.Helios USA LLC, a startup solar panel manufacturer that is developing a 40,000-square-foot plant in the city’s Menomonee Valley, is new to the city. So are its products.But when the company begins shipping its solar panels throughout the U.S. in early 2011, it will become another of the city’s nationally known manufacturers, tapping...

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Going green one shade at a time

From an article by Stefanie Scott in Wauwatosa Today:Program outlines steps to energy improvementsGoing green may seem like a daunting task. But it doesn't require saving the world or even making major lifestyle changes overnight.A new Green Neighbor Program - a collaboration of the city's Energy Committee, local Sierra Club chapter and Renew Wisconsin - encourages residents to start small and look at energy usage within their households.The program aims "to get people to think about energy efficiency and the environmental impact in their own homes and what specific actions they can take to for improvement," said John Bahr, chairman of the committee's Energy Efficiency efforts.One-on-one adviceFree home energy-efficiency consultations will be offered Aug. 18 at Wauwatosa Public Library. Professionals...

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High cost of railway plans fires up crowd

From an article in Brookfield Now by Aaron Martin:But supporters laud vision for balanced travel systemIs it high-speed rail or a runaway freight train?That depends who you ask, but Wisconsin Department of Transportation officials had their hands full Tuesday night fielding fevered questions from about 170 people who attended a forum on the proposed $8 billion initiative to connect Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison and the Twin Cities. Brookfield is one of three communities on the Madison-Milwaukee line targeted to host a passenger station. A $17.9 million station is proposed to be along Brookfield Road, near River Road, in Brookfield's Village Area.Donna Brown, DOT passenger rail planning manager, said environmental studies for the stations will soon be completed. The next step is final station...

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Electric Smart car drives into town

From an article by Rick Barrett in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:An all-electric version of the Daimler-Benz Smart car has come to Milwaukee, with a limited number of vehicles available for lease starting in October.The Smart Fortwo electric is the same size as the two-seater Smart car that's powered by a gasoline engine.With a standard 220-volt appliance line, you could charge the Smart electric's lithium-ion batteries to full capacity in eight hours and drive about 80 miles before the battery pack had to be recharged.Don't expect neck-snapping performance. The top speed is 62 miles per hour, but the car has a "kick down" mode similar to a passing gear when you floor the gas pedal of a regular automobile.The Smart electric uses a 30-kilowatt electric motor that generates the equivalent of...

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MATC keeps current with the sun

From an article by Thomas Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: The new Photovoltaic Educational Laboratory harnesses solar energy and offers engineering students a way to plug in to powerful possibilitiesPeople seeking training for careers in renewable energy - especially solar power - will benefit from an ambitious project by Milwaukee Area Technical College and local firms.The project includes a solar charging station for plug-in vehicles, a solar-powered highway sign demonstration and a training area for solar installers and electricians. They're all built on portable concrete pads.When it's completed later this month, the MATC Photovoltaic Educational Laboratory on the east side along the Milwaukee River will become the largest solar installation in the state."It's here to generate...

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