by jboullion | Apr 4, 2011 | Uncategorized
From the Spring issue of Catching Wind:
Siting Rule Suspension Rocks Wind Industry
In a move that sent shock waves through the wind industry in Wisconsin, a joint legislative panel voted on March 1 to suspend the wind siting rule promulgated by the Public Service Commission in December 2010. The action taken by the 10-member Joint Committee for the Review of Administrative Rules (JCRAR) suspended the wind siting rule, known as PSC 128, on the very day it took effect. By itself, a JCRAR vote to suspend a rule lasts 30 days. To continue the rule suspension beyond 30 days, JCRAR voted in late March to introduce a bill to repeal PSC 128 and direct the Public Service Commission (PSC) to promulgate a new rule regulating wind energy
systems no more than six months after the repeal date. The bill must clear one house of the Legislature in order to become effective.
JCRAR’s bill does not attempt to influence the content of any successor rule to PSC 128, nor has the legislative leadership issued any statement regarding the timeline of the bill’s passage. The Legislature could potentially wait until the last day of the biennial session before passing this bill. However, if the Legislature does not repeal PSC 128 by the end of the current session, PSC 128 will take effect as promulgated. . . .
Glenmore Wind Survives Raucous Opposition
In a dramatic about-face that elicited loud cries of disapproval from local wind opponents, a Brown County town board granted on March 16 building permits enabling CEnergy, a subsidiary of CG Power Solutions, to erect a seven-turbine wind project.
Two Glenmore board members voted in favor of allowing construction to begin, while the third voted against. . . .
by jboullion | Apr 4, 2011 | Uncategorized
From a commentary by Mark Z. Jacobson in the New York Daily News:
The powerful earthquake and tsunami that caused reactors at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant to shut down – releasing radiation and endangering workers and evacuees – have many Americans asking whether nuclear energy is worth the investment and risk.
I say not. In fact, it should not have taken a disaster of this kind to move us decisively away from nuclear and toward safe, clean, renewable energy. . . .
If the world’s energy needs were converted to electricity for all purposes – and nuclear supplied such energy – 15,800 large nuclear reactors, one installed every day for the next 43 years, would be needed. The installation of even 5% of these would nearly double the current number of reactors, giving many more countries the potential to develop weapons. If only one weapon were used in a city, it could kill 1 to 16 million people.
***
Why do we need nuclear energy when we have safer, cleaner options that can provide greater power for a much longer period and at lower cost to society? These better options are called WWS, for “wind, water and sunlight.” The chance of catastrophe caused by nature or terrorists acting on wind or solar, in particular, is zero.
During their lifetimes, WWS technologies emit no pollution – whereas nuclear does, since continuous energy is needed to mine, transport and refine uranium and reactors require much longer to permit and install than do WWS technologies. Overall, nuclear emits 9 to 25 times more air pollution and carbon dioxide than does wind per unit energy generated.
***
Some argue that nuclear is more reliable than WWS systems. This is not true. A nuclear reactor affects a larger fraction of the grid when it fails than does a wind turbine. The average maintenance downtime of modern wind turbines on land is 2%. That of France’s 59 reactors is 21.5%, with about half due to scheduled maintenance.
by jboullion | Apr 4, 2011 | Uncategorized
Last year, over 300 individuals volunteered at the nation’s largest Energy Fair. From working the front gates to working in the MREA Café, the success of the Energy Fair depends greatly on our volunteers.
Sign up to volunteer 2 hours during The Fair and you’ll get free admission to that day of the Fair.
Sign up to volunteer for 12 hours or more during the week of The Fair and get free weekend admission and a Hardcore Volunteer t-shirt!
This year the MREA is partnering with the United Way Volunteer Center of Portage County to register volunteers for the 22nd Annual Energy Fair. Click here and register to volunteer for any of the 30 projects available from June 13-June 20.
by jboullion | Apr 3, 2011 | Uncategorized
2011
05.03.11 RENEW opposes legisation to count hydro toward renewable portfolio standard
2010
02.02.10 Testimony in support of Clean Energy Jobs Act bill
2009
05.12.09 Windpower in Wisconsin: The Permitting Crisis
2008
06.18.08 Comments on Strawman Proposal for Governor Doyle’s Global Warming Task Force
05.29.08 Statement in support of Wind Project in Town of Union, Rock County, Wisconsin
by jboullion | Apr 1, 2011 | Uncategorized
Immediate release:
March 30, 2011
Contact:
Bill French
Midwest Wind Energy
(847) 414-0134
French@midwestwind.com
In view of continued regulatory uncertainty in the State of Wisconsin, a leading wind farm developer has announced that it has suspended development activity until a more predictable climate is restored. Chicago-based Midwest Wind Energy, LLC (MWE) has been developing utility scale wind farms in Wisconsin since 2003 and has two of its developed projects operating; one a 54-megawatt project in Dodge County and the other a 67-megawatt project in Fond du Lac
County. MWE is also developing a 98-megawatt project in Calumet County and another project which had not yet been announced publicly.
According to MWE President, Stefan Noe, it no longer makes sense to invest significant development capital in a state that appears to be closed to the wind energy business. “Most states are clearly open for renewable energy development and the economic development dollars and jobs that come with it. So long as there are states rolling out the welcome mat it doesn’t make sense to devote significant dollars to a state that is creating unreasonable roadblocks for wind development.”
Noe cites the recent suspension of PSC 128 by the Wisconsin Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules as the most convincing evidence that Wisconsin is not interested in working in good faith with the U.S. wind energy industry. The rule was the culmination of almost two years of work by the Public Service Commission and resulted in some of the most stringent and detailed wind siting rules in the country. Although restrictive, these rules created a workable
compromise between the wind industry and a range of stakeholders.
“Our four projects alone represent more than $600 million of capital investment in Wisconsin and more than 400 construction jobs and 40 permanent high-tech jobs. The industry as a whole has the potential to be a multi-bill ion dollar industry for the state. These projects also generate millions in local landowner payments and local government revenues, cash flow that is sorely needed in Wisconsin’s rural communities.” Noe said.
Midwest Wind Energy, LLC is a leading developer of utility-scale wind farms in the Midwest and Great Plains with seven projects totaling 649 megawatts currently in operation. MWE has an additional 5000 megawatts of projects in its development pipeline.
END
by jboullion | Apr 1, 2011 | Uncategorized
From an article by Ron Seely in the Wisconsin State Journal:
WAUNAKEE – Sure, the cows on the farm run by Chuck Ripp and his brothers near here generate a lot of manure — about 7 million gallons a year.
But now they also generate electricity.
Call it cow power.
Thursday, Dane County officials were joined by farmers and utility officials and others to flip a ceremonial switch and power up the state’s first cooperative manure digester. Spearheaded by Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, the $12 million project has been more than six years in the making.
When it is in full operation, the digester plant with its three huge tanks will process manure from three adjacent farms and a total of 2,500 cows. It will remove about 60 percent of weed-growing phosphorus from the manure. The digester will produce methane and that methane will be used to power generators that will churn out $2 million a year in electricity, enough to allow Alliant Energy to power 2,500 homes.
And, according to Dick Pieper, with Clear Horizons, the company that will run the plant, the entire operation can be run with an iPod.
“The efficiency of this plant is exceptional,” said Pieper. “It’s world class.”
Falk said the plant represents an important milestone in green energy production and in manure management in Wisconsin. Many digesters don’t remove phosphorus, which clogs lakes with weeds and toxic blue-green algae during warm months. But the Dane County plant was designed specifically to remove the nutrient.
by jboullion | Apr 1, 2011 | Uncategorized
From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
A new air pollution permit issued by state regulators for the coal-fired power plant near downtown Milwaukee doesn’t go far enough to protect public health, environmental groups said Thursday as they filed challenges to the permit.
We Energies’ Valley plant doesn’t have modern controls to reduce emissions linked to soot, smog and respiratory health problems.
The state Department of Natural Resources recently issued a permit for the plant to keep operating without installing more controls.
Sierra Club and Clean Wisconsin, backed by the Cleaner Valley Coalition, filed petitions with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the DNR seeking changes to the permit. The DNR filing seeks a contested case hearing before an administrative law judge.
In light of new EPA standards, the Milwaukee utility is continuing to evaluate whether to add controls to the plant or switch the plant from burning coal to burning natural gas.
A decision on changes for the Valley plant, which provides steam to heat and cool downtown Milwaukee buildings, is expected this year.
“It’s great that they’re deciding. We need a decision now because Milwaukee air quality is bad now. And we’re hoping they’ll make the right decision and move away from coal because it’s just going to get more expensive to continue to burn coal,” said Jennifer Feyerherm of the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign. “There are so many people living by that plant, and coal is too dirty to burn amid that many people.”
by jboullion | Apr 1, 2011 | Uncategorized
From an article by Kathleen Footy in the Wausau Daily Herald:
ROTHSCHILD — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ approval Monday of a proposed biomass energy plant leaves just one obstacle in the way of the $250 million project.
The state’s Public Service Commission, including new Chairman Phil Montgomery, is a three-member panel charged with regulating the state’s utilities and vetting new construction projects. The PSC will rule on whether the power plant — a joint project of Milwaukee utility We Energies and Domtar Paper — would serve customers and residents well.
PSC regulators can schedule a meeting on the proposal at any time. The commissioners typically discuss cases at an open meeting in Madison, then finalize an order to be voted on at their next meeting.
Opponents of the Rothschild project, who feel out of options since comments to the PSC are closed, plan to push for the DNR to create a safeguard against emissions from the plant.
Rob Hughes, a member of the citizens group Saving Our Air Resources, or SOAR, said he was disappointed by the DNR’s decision. Hughes said the DNR should move its air-quality monitoring station in Marathon County from Lake DuBay to Rothschild to guarantee residents’ safety.
“It shouldn’t be a big deal since they say the air will be safe,” Hughes said. “That would reassure the community that ‘Yes, the air is safe.’ I think that’s the best we can hope for.”
by jboullion | Mar 31, 2011 | Uncategorized
From an article by Nathaniel Shuda in the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune:
Wisconsin Rapids is ready to buy back land it sold to a local company that two years ago announced plans to build a wind-turbine blade manufacturing plant on the property.
Energy Composites Corp. faces a Friday deadline to either reach an agreement with Wisconsin Rapids or sell the nearly 94 acres of land back to the city at the original purchasing price, Mayor Mary Jo Carson said.
Carson said the sale doesn’t necessarily mean the project is dead, but it won’t happen right now.
“Obviously, ECC doesn’t want to hold us up in reference to that land, which we thank them for,” she said. “We appreciate their interest in their hometown.”
Carson said City Attorney Sue Schill has been working with the company’s attorney to reach a buy-back agreement.
On March 31, 2009, the company announced plans to build a 350,000-square-foot plant in the Rapids East Commerce Center that would create at least 400 local jobs. Since then, those plans expanded to 535,000 square feet and more than 600 positions.
To facilitate the project, the city later sold the Wisconsin Rapids-based company 93.7 acres of land in the Rapids East Commerce Center for $500 an acre — a 90 percent discount from the typical asking price — plus a $1,000 option fee, for a total price of $47,850.
Under the pending agreement, the city would buy back the land at the same price for which it sold it, Carson said.
by jboullion | Mar 30, 2011 | Uncategorized
Immediate release:
March 30, 2011
Contact:
Bill French
Midwest Wind Energy
(847) 414-0134
French@midwestwind.com
Midwest Wind suspends project development in Wisconsin
In view of continued regulatory uncertainty in the State of Wisconsin, a leading wind farm developer has announced that it has suspended development activity until a more predictable climate is restored. Chicago-based Midwest Wind Energy, LLC (MWE) has been developing utility scale wind farms in Wisconsin since 2003 and has two of its developed projects operating; one a 54-megawatt project in Dodge County and the other a 67-megawatt project in Fond du Lac County. MWE is also developing a 98-megawatt project in Calumet County and another project which had not yet been announced publicly.
According to MWE President, Stefan Noe, it no longer makes sense to invest significant development capital in a state that appears to be closed to the wind energy business. “Most states are clearly open for renewable energy development and the economic development dollars and jobs that come with it. So long as there are states rolling out the welcome mat it doesn’t make sense to devote significant dollars to a state that is creating unreasonable roadblocks for wind development.”
Noe cites the recent suspension of PSC 128 by the Wisconsin Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules as the most convincing evidence that Wisconsin is not interested in working in good faith with the U.S. wind energy industry. The rule was the culmination of almost two years of work by the Public Service Commission and resulted in some of the most stringent and detailed wind siting rules in the country. Although restrictive, these rules created a workable compromise between the wind industry and a range of stakeholders.
“Our four projects alone represent more than $600 million of capital investment in Wisconsin and more than 400 construction jobs and 40 permanent high-tech jobs. The industry as a whole has the potential to be a multi-bill ion dollar industry for the state. These projects also generate millions in local landowner payments and local government revenues, cash flow that is sorely needed in Wisconsin’s rural communities.” Noe said.
Midwest Wind Energy, LLC is a leading developer of utility-scale wind farms in the Midwest and Great Plains with seven projects totaling 649 megawatts currently in operation. MWE has an additional 5000 megawatts of projects in its development pipeline.
END
