Top 10 things a Wisconsin voter should know for Election Day

From a news release issued by the Government Accountability Board:MADISON, WI – The Government Accountability Board today released its list of the top 10 things a Wisconsin voter should know for Election Day, Tuesday, November 2.The number one thing voters should know is that they can register at the polling place on Election Day.“Election Day registration ensures that everyone who is qualified to vote will get to vote,” said Kevin Kennedy, director and general counsel of the G.A.B. “Unlike many other states, Wisconsin has registration at the polls, so very few voters will likely be forced to vote on a provisional ballot.”To register on Election Day, Wisconsin voters must provide proof of residence, which includes a current utility bill, lease, university ID card or other official document...

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Feds allocate more dollars for Chicago-to-Twin Cites rail

From an article in BizTimes: The federal government is allocating another $2.4 billion for high-speed rail projects across the country, on top of the $8 billion for high speed rail that was previously announced as part of the federal stimulus act, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced today.The additional high-speed rail funds will include $44 million for the Chicago-to-Twin Cities corridor, on top of the $822 million that was allocated for the corridor earlier this year, including $810 million for the controversial Milwaukee to Madison line.The additional $44 million for the Chicago-to-Twin Cities corridor includes $3.7 million to replace two rail bridges between Chicago and Milwaukee that will allow for higher-speed trains to travel between the two cities. The Department of...

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Deep Down: Mountain top-removal coal mining

A free film showing by MPTV, November 4 at 6:30 p.m. at Discovery World, 500 N. Harbor Dr., Milwaukee:Deep in the Appalachian mountains of eastern Kentucky, Beverly May and Terry Ratliff find themselves at the center of a contentious community battle over a proposed mountaintop removal coal mi...

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Eurostar offers a glimpse at why Wisconsin needs intercity rail

From a commentary by Michael Flaherty on BizOpinion.com:PARIS – The train starts to pick up speed, almost imperceptibly, and within 20 minutes the Eurostar high-speed train has left Paris behind, quietly slicing through the French countryside at 185 miles per hour on its way to London. Just over two hours later, the five-football-field-long train – one of 20 trains that day – deposits 500 passengers at the St. Pancras International station in central London. The high-speed Eurostar announced last year it has now transported more than 100 million passengers. That’s 100 million business people, tourists, educators, students, 100 million generators of economic activity among nations that fought each other almost constantly for centuries. When a Wisconsinite rides the Eurostar, it’s difficult...

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More energy efficiency could create 9,000 jobs in Wisconsin

From an article by Larry Bivins in the Wausau Daily Herald:WASHINGTON — In the absence of a national policy that puts a cap on carbon emissions, some environmental activists see an opportunity to place more emphasis on efficiency as part of the solution to climate change.Advocates say the potential benefits to the environment, the economy and individual pocketbooks cannot be ignored.One 2007 study estimates the U.S. could reap $1.2 trillion in electricity savings by investing $520 billion in energy efficiency measures by 2020.In Wisconsin, a 2009 report by the Energy Center of Wisconsin said the state could create 7,000 to 9,000 jobs by 2012 and generate $900 million in savings by tripling its investment in energy efficiency.President Barack Obama's administration set aside $16.8 billion in...

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Manufacturing can be 'green'

From a column by Matthew Davidson, CEO, XTen Industries, Kenosha, in BizTimes:Xten Industries, a Kenosha-based injection molding firm, has found several ways to reduce its environmental footprint by using less electricity and natural gas and more earth-friendly plastics. Matthew Davidson, chief executive officer of the company, has made being “green” a central tenet of his company’s operating model.“There are many ways for manufacturing companies to become more sustainable – to make choices that benefit the environment while actually saving cash. This is even true of small companies like Xten Industries, an injection molder dependent on heavy machinery, high energy use and the consumption of plastic.“We found it easiest to approach sustainability in three broad areas: reduce waste, reduce...

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ATC proposes line for Wauwatosa, Milwaukee

From a blog post by Tom Content on JSonline:American Transmission Co. plans to propose a new power line in Wauwatosa and a portion of the city of Milwaukee to help meet growing demand for electricity in the U.S. Highway 45 development corridor, the Pewaukee company said Wednesday.The power line company has planned an informational open house on Thursday, Oct. 21, to provide area property owners and the public an opportunity to hear more about the proposal and offer input on the 138,000-volt power line.The preliminary cost of the project is $21 million to $37 million. A final cost estimate will depend on the route that is selected for the line, said ATC spokeswoman Luella Dooley-Menet.The roughly 2-mile transmission line would be needed to connect a new substation that We Energies plans to...

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Suppliers tout opportunities in wind power industry

From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:Companies looking to get involved with the wind power supply chain should be ready to compete with top-notch quality and be prepared to adapt to swings in business activity in the sector, speakers at a wind energy symposium said Wednesday.The wind power supply chain has plenty of opportunity, as the industry aims for a return to growth next year after a down year in 2010, said Jeff Anthony, business development director with the American Wind Energy Association."There are a lot of challenges in the wind industry. It's not an easy industry to get in, but there are plenty of opportunities," Anthony said.Anthony addressed hundreds of participants at the Milwaukee symposium sponsored by Wisconsin Wind Works, a group focused on building...

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Doyle announces grant for Germantown company

From a news release issued by Governor Jim Doyle:Projects to Create and Retain More Than 1,000 Jobs PLOVER, GERMANTOWN – Governor Jim Doyle today announced $4.85 million in funding for McCain Foods and TecStar Manufacturing Company to help create and retain more than 1,000 jobs in the state. The funding comes from the State Energy Program (SEP).“My top priority this year has been to help companies and communities move forward and create good-paying jobs for Wisconsin families,” Governor Doyle said. “With this funding, we will be able to help McCain Foods and TecStar Manufacturing Company expand their businesses and create hundreds of new jobs.” McCain Foods USA, Inc. is a subsidiary of McCain Foods Limited, an international corporation that is the world’s largest producer of french fries...

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We Energies' recognized for clean energy job development

From a news release issued by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC):October 11, 2010. Los Angeles, CA - The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) today awarded five Innovation Awards and six Special Recognition Awards at its 2010 Annual Meeting. "Efforts like these are why I feel confident that the children of today will grow up to a world where solar and other clean energy technologies are as common place to them then as their cell phones, iPods and the Internet," said Ken Jurman, IREC Chair."This year's Innovation Awards targeted initiatives aimed at supporting clean energy workforce development, community renewables, financial incentives, clean energy ARRA projects, and efforts to grow the small wind market," said Ken Jurman, IREC chair. "Each of this year's winning submissions...

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Wisconsin's green economy offers 15,100 jobs

From a report published by the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council, The Green Tier Porgram at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the Wisconsin School of Business:By 2007, 68,203 businesses in the United States had generated more than 770,000 jobs in the green economy (Pew Charitable Trust, 2009). Every state has a piece of America’s green economy. The leading states include Oregon, Maine,California, Colorado, Massachusetts and Minnesota. Wisconsin is not currently among the leading states:SOURCE: PEW Charitable Trusts, 2009, based on the National Establishment Time Series 2007 Database; analysis by Pew Center on the Statesand Collaborative EconomicsGreen job growth in Wisconsin through the 2001 recession (where WI lost 100,000 manufacturing jobs that were never recovered)...

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Wind power jobs facts

The wind industry employs professional and skilled workers in a number of different capacities. New wind projects require people with meteorological, business, and engineering experience to plan and build wind energy projects. Meteorologists help engineers to identify appropriate sites with a suitable wind conditions. After that engineers design the wind farm, working with the utility companies...

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Wisconsin 'can do more' to attract green jobs

From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:The Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council has published a 2010 Green Jobs Report focusing on areas of opportunity and investment for the state to focus on to build jobs in the clean-tech sector.The report sees opportunities in jobs linked to energy efficiency, green building, renewable energy and mass transit."Green jobs are a critical part of the state's recovery from the recession," said Tom Eggert, executive director of the business council and co-director of the business, environment and social responsibility program at the University of Wisconsin School of Business.The aim of the report was to look at green jobs in Wisconsin at a time when other Midwest states have moved to capitalize and promote the attractiveness of their...

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Jimmy Carter redeemed: White House to tap sun for heating water and some electricity

From an Associated Press article by Dina Cappiello in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:WASHINGTON (AP) -- Solar power is coming to President Barack Obama's house.The most famous residence in America, which has already boosted its green credentials by planting a garden, plans to install solar panels atop the White House's living quarters. The solar panels are to be installed by spring 2011, and will heat water for the first family and supply some electricity.Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced the plans Tuesday in Washington at a conference of local, state, academic and nonprofit leaders aimed at identifying how the federal government can improve its environmental performance.Former Presidents Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush both tapped the sun during their days in the White House. Carter in...

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Businesses can celebrate Energy Awareness Month with practical tips to save energy & money

From a news release issued by Focus on Energy:Boost the bottom line while strategically managing energy use Madison, Wis. (October 6, 2010)—In honor of Energy Awareness Month this October, businesses around the country are taking steps to reduce energy use by making cost-effective building improvements and getting staff involved to find smart solutions.With cold weather on its way now is a great time for organizations to make sure they are well positioned to keep energy costs in check and save money this season, and year round. In fact, Focus on Energy, Wisconsin's statewide program for energy efficiency and renewable energy, has already helped Wisconsin businesses save more than $212 million in annual energy costs since 2001.If organizations are unsure how to get started, Focus offers these...

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Solar power proves steady investment for Janesville man

From an article by Frank Schultz in the Janesville Press Gazette:JANESVILLE — So you want to invest.Stock? Too wobbly.Interest at the banks? Scant.A rural Janesville man has found an investment that appears to work in any economy: the sun.The sun, which is not expected to burn out for billions of years, spills massive amounts of energy onto the Earth every day. It also puts cash into Chuck Niles’ pocket.Niles, a retired General Motors worker, said he’s been thinking about solar power for 25 years. He got serious about it three years ago when he learned that improvements in solar technology have reduced the cost per watt considerably.Then he heard about government programs that provide huge discounts in startup costs.Here’s how Niles does the math:The 90 panels on the roof of Niles’ pole barn...

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Clean energy race - China plays to win

Renewable energy jobs can give significant boost to any economy, including US economy, but China is the one that is getting the lion's share out of it. If we look at the current numbers we can see that China has more than million people working in its renewable energy industry. If we translate this into the production number it means that China produces half of the world's wind turbines, suppl...

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Don't fall for the myths about CFLs; now is the time to start saving

From a news release issued by Focus on Energy:When you install ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) there are financial and energy savings to be realized; however, there are a few misconceptions about CFLs that have kept some homeowners on the fence. Focus on Energy, Wisconsin's statewide program for energy efficiency and renewable energy, is tackling those myths in an effort to educate Wisconsin residents and help them switch to CFLs. Starting Oct. 1, 2010, and for a limited time, Focus on Energy is offering CFLs for a discounted price at participating retail locations throughout the state."We are thrilled with the number of residents throughout Wisconsin who have reduced their energy use and utility bills by installing ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs, but there are still...

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