Transit backers' quest for financing may get results soon

From an article by Larry Sandler and Patrick Marley in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Wisconsin's public transit supporters have their best chance in years to win long-sought funding for buses and proposed commuter trains.

But that's no guarantee they'll get it - or that what they get will pay for everything they want.

Heading into next year's state budget debates, key elements are in place to overhaul transit finance: the passage of a Milwaukee County advisory referendum seeking a local sales tax for transit and other services; growing support from legislators, Gov. Jim Doyle and the business community for buses and KRM Commuter Link trains; a sense of urgency that the cash-strapped Milwaukee County Transit System is running out of time; and a statewide coalition that reaches beyond southeastern Wisconsin into Dane County and the Fox Valley.

Also in place, however, are the same factors that have blocked a solution until now: Conflicting agendas from Milwaukee-area politicians; and fear that voters will punish lawmakers who raise sales taxes.

For years, transit advocates have sought to take buses off the property tax and out of competition with other local services for funding. Sales taxes support most other major U.S. transit systems, but Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and others have opposed new taxes here.

While the issue has been debated, the Milwaukee County bus system has been caught in a cycle of fare increases, service cuts and falling ridership as federal funds dwindle. Without new state or local funding, the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission and the Public Policy Forum have warned that the bus system could face a 35% service cut by 2010.

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Congress for the New Urbanism meeting, Dec. 3

Congress for the New Urbanism
CNU Wisconsin Group
Invites you to attend a great local opportunity to become involved in CNU and meet professionals and others with similar interests.

Presenting: “New Urbanism and You”

With Guest Speaker: Steve Filmanowicz, Communications Director, Congress for the New Urbanism

Steve will speak about the benefits of walkable urban development, ranging from more livable communities, to reduced carbon emissions – plus, how CNU is working to remove the barriers that stand in the way of great neighborhoods and sound transportation systems.

MILWAUKEE
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
5pm (light snacks served)
Office of Engberg Anderson Design Partnership
320 E. Buffalo - Corner of Milwaukee & Buffalo Streets, 53202
Take elevator to 5th Floor
Doors open until 6pm

Note: The CNU Wisconsin Group is developing a chapter of the national Congress for the New Urbanism - which seeks to expand its influence and capabilities through chapters. For questions, call Joan Herriges at 414-289-7685, or email joanherriges@yahoo.com.

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Dependable transit vital to Milwaukee’s future

An opinion piece by Michael Grebe in The Business Joournal:

As gas prices fluctuate and the economy trudges along, sustainable, dependable modes of transit will be critical to keeping our local economy from stagnating. If southeastern Wisconsin desires economic growth and prosperity for citizens, we must follow peer cities nationwide and invest in our current transit systems and new initiatives encouraging economic development in the region.

The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) must be properly funded so it can continue to provide critical service and access to jobs and educational opportunities in this community. Routes should be restored and frequency of buses increased. Continuing to cut funding and service to this system is an added blow to the populations hardest hit by these economic times.

To complement bus service and connect local residents to nearly a million jobs in the corridor linking this region to Chicago, the proposed Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee commuter rail would expand the pool of potential jobs and employees for this region and promote economic development. Connecting with other transit options such as buses and shuttles, it would provide southeastern Wisconsin with the full-service mass transit system it needs, creating an infrastructure linking people to jobs to support economic growth in this community.

Southeastern Wisconsin is one of the few metro regions of our size that funds transit with property taxes. Recently, the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) supported removing bus transit from the property tax and enacting up to 0.5 percent sales tax to fund transit.

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Coal to sustain We Energies bills

From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

The falling price of natural gas could result in a small refund to We Energies electricity customers early next year, but the Milwaukee utility is forecasting a big jump in the price of another fuel it uses in its power plants - coal.

The utility is forecasting a jump of $100 million, or 25% in the amount of money it plans to spend on coal next year, utility spokesman Brian Manthey said.

The key drivers of the higher cost: rises in market prices for coal and transportation expense by rail from Wyoming and Colorado. Also factoring in, to a lesser degree, Manthey said, is the need to buy more coal next year as the first of two new coal plants under construction in Oak Creek prepares to start generating power.

Two months ago, the utility signaled to investors that it might have to raise prices for customers next year because of rising coal costs. But the slowdown in the economy and the resulting drop in natural gas prices has made that less likely, Manthey said.

The typical We Energies customer using 750 kilowatt-hours a month currently pays $89.23 per month for electricity.

The company raised prices three times this year for a total of 9%. One increase was to cover the costs of the utility's power plant construction program and other projects. The other two came in response to soaring fuel prices. The state's other utilities have also raised fuel prices at least once this year.

Based on November bills, We Energies customers' monthly bills are lower than those of three of the five investor-owned utilities in the state. Customers of two Madison utilities and one in Green Bay pay more, while customers of Xcel Energy Corp.'s Eau Claire utility pay less.

As recently as two months ago We Energies said soaring fuel costs would reduce its 2008 profit by as much as $20 million to $40 million from the company's business plan, but the drop in natural gas prices since the summer now means customers could see a refund early next year.

"Whether or not there will be a refund and how much money would be refunded will be known after the books are closed in December," Manthey said.

But the drop in natural gas prices could help customers on their heating, or natural gas, side of their monthly utility bill if gas prices remain low, Manthey said.

Another increase on electricity bills will hit We Energies customers in January. The increase, authorized earlier this year by the state Public Service Commission, will amount to a jump of nearly 4%, or nearly $4 a month for the average residential customer, pushing the monthly bill to $93.07.

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US energy facts

Though accounting for only 5 percent of the world's population, Americans consume more than 21.7 percent of the world primary energy (2005). Total world energy consumption is a bit more than 462 quadrillion (1015) Btu and US consume almost 101 quadrillion (1015) Btu.The United States was self-sufficient in energy until the late 1950s when energy consumption began to outpace domestic production.

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Climate change a priority for Conservation Lobby Day, Feb. 25

From an announcement issued by the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters:

With a new legislative session comes new opportunities AND new Conservation Priorities! At the 11 Listening Sessions held around the state, local groups and citizens like YOU had a lot to say about which issues should be top priorities. In the end, only 4 can rise to the top.

In 2009-2010, the conservation community will be fighting to make sure:

+ Wisconsin adopts a strong statewide plan to tackle global warming.
+ Wisconsin returns to an Independent DNR Secretary and has timely DNR Board Appointments by the Senate.
+ Wisconsin develops a statewide plan to protect our drinking water.
+ Wisconsin creates standards for safe agricultural, industrial and municipal waste-spreading. . . .

On February 25th, 2009, join citizens from across Wisconsin at the state Capitol to tell legislators that you expect them to vote well on natural resource issues.

RSVP TODAY for Conservation Lobby Day on February 25th, 2009!

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MATC-Mequon dedicates wind turbine

From a media release issued by Milwaukee Area Technical College:

A ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the erection of a wind turbine at Milwaukee Area Technical College’s Mequon Campus was held at the campus Nov. 12. The 160-foot tall unit with a blade diameter of 56 feet is the largest wind turbine on a college campus in the state. It is part of a sustainability initiative designed to educate students and the public about renewable energy technologies. . . .

Located at the south end of the campus building, the 90-kilowatt, V-17 turbine is a remanufactured unit made in Denmark by Vestas, the world’s largest manufacturer of turbines. It does not feed electricity to We Energies but supplies power directly to the Mequon Campus. . It will directly provide about 8 percent of the campus’ electricity, saving taxpayer dollars.

The wind tower cost approximately $200,000, with grants of $57,000 from Focus on Energy and $25,000 from We Energies. The college expects to recoup its investment within eight years or less at current energy prices.

More on the wind turbine here.

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