Wind power service firm expanding in New Berlin

A Danish firm's expansion is giving Wisconsin another player in the manufacturing sector geared toward alternative energy.Avanti Wind has been in operation here for several years, making service lifts used by technicians who inspect and repair wind turbines and need to scale the turbines' tall towers.Now the company has moved to expand here by moving production of aluminum ladders to Wisconsin from China and Germany, said Kent Pedersen, the company's U.S. general manager.The pace of wind development across the country has slowed considerably this year - with the second quarter installations of wind power down 71% amid the slow economy and developers having a hard time getting financing."But we have done quite well in expanding our customer base in North America, and we've continued to grow...

Read more »

How promising is algae biofuel?

Algae biofuel is something that is currently receiving lot of attention and many consider this as one of the most promising biofuel technologies that should in years to come significantly reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.It is not very difficult to spot the advantages of using algae biofuel. Algae biofuel can decrease the need for fossil fuels, and expensive foreign oil, it can reduce our...

Read more »

The $54 question: Is rail worth it?

From a commentary by Steve Hiniker, executive director of 1000 Friends of Wisconsin, in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:With anti-rail activists whipped into a frenzy over threats that passenger rail services pose to Wisconsin and the state's finances, it's time to step back and take a closer look. Are rail opponents onto something, or are they on something?Rail opponents rail against the cost of rail. They would like to have the money for rail either returned to Washington or spent on highways. Dream on. The $810 million is a part of a larger plan to restore intercity passenger rail across the United States. This is a federal project that won't be derailed by Wisconsin politics. Restoring rail is expensive, but transportation projects are expensive. The Zoo Interchange will cost more than...

Read more »

Eco-Justice Center7133 Michna RoadRacine, WIPhone: 262-681-8527 Email: eco-justice@racinedominicans.org Addition/rennovations to 1912 Dutch Colonial house include: foam insulation, replacemnt windows, energy star appliances, durisol foundation blocks, eco-shake shingles, recycled red oak & red cedar flooring, marmoleum flooring, FSC pine trim, recycled marble, dual flush toilets, low-flow faucets, non-toxic paint & wood finishes, reclaimed brick & stone, composite decking. System ComponentsSolar Electric (55 GE - 200 watt) Passive Solar Design Wind Electric (Bergey Excel-S) Geothermal Solar Domestic Hot Water (4 panel; 180 gal.) Architect: Bruce Zahn Builder: Pragmatic Construction Installer: Full Spect...

Read more »

Conference highlights solar energy progress

From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:It was five years ago that renewable energy proponents dubbed this Wisconsin's Solar Decade - the 10 years that would move solar energy from the fringe to the mainstream.In 2010, solar remains a fraction of the state's energy mix, but it's growing. And with it, interest is intensifying in manufacturing products for the solar industry.As solar advocates prepare to host industry conferences this week, the solar industry is installing larger projects, and the cost per project is shrinking."It's not getting sunnier in Wisconsin, but prices are coming down and rates are going up," said Niels Wolter, solar electric program manager at Focus on Energy, the statewide energy efficiency initiative that provides incentives for renewable...

Read more »

MMSD ready to fire up methane deal to power Jones Island

From an article by Marie Rohde in The Daily Reporter:The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District is poised to enter into a 20-year contract to buy methane gas to run the Jones Island Wastewater Treatment Plant, a move district officials say will save taxpayers tens of millions of dollars.But the project will cost $94.7 million in infrastructure improvements.“We will be able to purchase methane gas at 48 percent of the cost of natural gas,” said Kevin Shafer, MMSD’s executive director.The district could begin using methane as early as January 2013, but the system would not be fully functional for several years after that.While methane gas is increasingly used as a fuel to produce electricity, this plan is unusual in that it requires piping the gas 17 miles from the Emerald Park Landfill on...

Read more »

Milwaukee ready to shine during Solar Week, Sept. 28 - Oct. 2

From a column by Gregg Hoffman on WisBusiness.com:Contrary to stereotypes of the gloomy, cloudy Midwest, Milwaukee, and Wisconsin in general, are very conducive to effective use of solar energy, and in fact have developed into leaders in the country in that field. That fact will be highlighted during Milwaukee Solar Week, Sept. 28-Oct. 2. Milwaukee Shines, the city of Milwaukee's solar program, will team with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) and other organizations and businesses to showcase renewable energy successes and opportunities during the week. We Energies and Focus on Energy also are hosting solar events during the week. Milwaukee Shines is coordinating the week. “The city is fortunate to be hosting two premier professional solar conferences, which will highlight all...

Read more »

Report says high-speed rail will create 13,000 jobs in Wisconsin

From an article on BizTimes Daily:When the new high-speed rail network is established in the Midwest, it will create 13,000 new jobs in Wisconsin, eliminate 780,000 car trips every year and conserve 2.76 million gallons of gasoline annually, according to a new report released today by the WISPIRG Foundation.The organization attributed the estimate of the jobs created to the Midwest High-Speed Rail Association.Kyle Bailey, program associate with WISPIRG, said the 13,000 jobs include both private development in and around intermodal stations and rail lines, manufacturing jobs related to train and car construction, and the development, maintenance and operations of the trains and intermodal stations.Bailey said he did not know how many of the 13,000 jobs would be with private companies or the...

Read more »

MATC cuts ribbon on state's largest solar electricity installation

See more video here.From a news release about the ribbon cutting issued by MATC:MILWAUKEE (Sept. 15, 2010) – Milwaukee Area Technical College hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its 32-acre, 540 kW Photovoltaic Educational Laboratory on Wednesday, Sept. 15. The PV Lab is located at 810 E. Capitol Dr., Milwaukee.MATC and Johnson Controls, the global leader in delivering products, services and solutions that increase energy efficiency in buildings, collaborated on the project, the largest operating photovoltaic facility in Wisconsin and is believed to be the first entirely portable photovoltaic facility in the United States. The project was unanimously approved by the Wisconsin Technical College System State Board on Sept. 30, 2009, and ground was broken on May 5, 2010.“The Photovoltaic Educational...

Read more »

Milwaukee adds solar to fire stations and trains workforce

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Amy HeartMREA Milwaukee Director414-431-0758amy@the-mrea.orgCITY ADDS SOLAR TO FIRE STATIONS AND TRAINS WORKFORCEMilwaukee, WI - Milwaukee’s solar program is bringing solar hot water to two local fire stations, while training the local solar workforce. The City of Milwaukee’s Solar America City program, Milwaukee Shines, organized this one-of-a-kind opportunity through a partnership with Midwest Renewable Energy Association, Caleffi North America and Milwaukee Solar. Milwaukee’s Fire Station #13, located at 2901 N 30th Street, and Fire Station #23, located at 2130 W Oklahoma Ave, will both receive solar hot water systems this October, as part of training workshops lead by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA). The MREA, a non-profit organization, is...

Read more »

Wind generation reduces climate-changing emissions

From a report titled "The Facts about Wind Energy’s Emissions Savings" prepared by the American Wind Energy Association:. . . four of the seven major independent grid operators in theU.S. have studied the emissions impact of adding wind energy to their power grids, and all four have found that adding wind energy drastically reduces emissions of carbon dioxide and other harmful pollutants. While the emissions savings depend somewhat on the existing share of coal-fired versus gas-fired generation in the region, as one would expect, it is impossible to dispute the findings of these four independent grid operators that adding wind energy to their grids has significantly reduced emissions. . . .DOE data show that wind and other renewables’ share of Texas’s electric mix increased from 1.3% in 2005...

Read more »

Newsletter: Siting council, Cashton wind, Seventh Gen, and more

RENEW Wisconisn's summer newsletter includes these articles:Council Backs Compromise on Siting StandardsAfter four months of intensive review and debate, the 15-member Wind Siting Council presented to the Public Service Commission (PSC) its final recommendations on the statewide permitting rule under development. The Council’s report comes at a critical juncture; the PSC will issue a fi nal rule on this proceeding before the end of August.Community Wind on Move in CashtonWhat may become Wisconsin’s first example of a Community Wind project cleared a significant hurdle in June when the Village of Cashton in Monroe County issued a permit to allow the construction of two Vestas V90 turbines, totaling 3.6 megawatts (MW), inside its business park.Seventh Generation Pioneers WindUnusual from its...

Read more »

Watertown officials want high speed rail stop, make plans for station

From an article by Adam Tobias in the Watertown Daily Times:Watertown Mayor Ron Krueger didn't get to weigh in on the federal government's plan to bolster high-speed passenger rail service throughout the county, nor was he asked to give any input on the state's decision to accept the $810 million in stimulus funds for the project. But since the project is moving full speed ahead, Krueger says it's vital for Watertown to have the train stop in the city.“The common council and myself are not going to get into the debate about whether the federal government should be spending $8 billion on developing and starting a better passenger rail program and we are also not going to get into a debate about whether the state of Wisconsin should accept the money or not,” Krueger said during a recent interview...

Read more »

Is wind power efficient enough?

Is wind power an economically and ecologically acceptable alternative to cheap fossil fuels such as coal? According to some latest reports relying on windmills to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is not only an expensive energy options but is also doing significant damage to the environment. A recent Wall Street Journal column by Robert Bryce says that wind energy will not help to reduce carbon...

Read more »

Political gridlock not likely to forestall energy regulation

From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:Bayside — The partisan divide on Capitol Hill means cap-and-trade legislation is all but dead, so businesses need not worry about their carbon footprint, right? Wrong, speakers at a summit on energy efficiency said Tuesday.The Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and global corporations such as Wal-Mart are leading the nation down a path of "quiet regulation" of greenhouse gases, despite the political rhetoric and battles that have created gridlock in Congress, Mark Thimke, environmental lawyer at Foley & Lardner, said during the Green Manufacturing Summit at the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center.But corporate initiatives have gone beyond Wal-Mart, he said.Suppliers to 62 corporations must...

Read more »