by jboullion | Sep 18, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a post by Craig McCarthy on Mequon Now:
A workshop on fuel economy takes place at Concordia University Wisconsin on September 18th and 19th. The event is entitled, 35.5: Your Target MPG, and will include presentations and panel discussions on energy independence.
One of the highlights of the two-day event will be energy efficient vehicles, like the Smart Car and the Toyota Prius, displayed around Concordia’s Mequon campus. The American Lung Association will show off their Bio-fuel vehicle and members of the Milwaukee Hybrid Group will be on hand to talk with people about the important role hybrids are playing in achieving fuel efficiency.
“The goal of the symposium is to challenge people’s thinking about how our country can use less fuel,” said Dr. Lawrence Sohn, Interim Sustainability Coordinator at CUW. “Students, staff, faculty, and the community will not only view energy efficient vehicles during this event, they will get useful information that will help them drive and live more fuel efficient,” Sohn added.
“Fuel economy is a primary area in which the average citizen can easily make a significant impact, decreasing our dependence on fossil fuels, particularly from foreign sources,” indicated Prof. Bruce Bessert, Director of the Concordia Center for Environmental Stewardship. It also promotes the use of renewable energy sources while, at the same time, saving money in a tight economy,” he added. . . .
For more information on this event log onto, www.cuw.edu or visit http://energy.cuw.edu
by jboullion | Sep 17, 2009 | Uncategorized
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 16, 2009
MORE INFORMATION
Michael Vickerman
RENEW Wisconsin
608.255.4044
mvickerman@renewwisconsin.org
Wisconsin wind energy prospects advanced with bipartisan Assembly support for legislation to set uniform statewide permitting rules.
Under the Wind for Wisconsin umbrella, more than 60 organizations as diverse as unions, trade associations, environmental advocates, health groups, and renewable energy manufacturers sought uniform permitting standards for future wind developments.
As in the State Senate, Senate Bill 185 won bipartisan approval from 48 Democrats and 17 Republicans voting in favor of passage.
Michael Vickerman, executive director of RENEW Wisconsin, a nonprofit sustainable energy advocacy organization, expects Governor Doyle to sign the bill into law.
“The Assembly’s vote is critical to reviving the development of a high priority renewable energy resource in accordance with Wisconsin energy policy,” said Vickerman.
“We believe that wind energy suppliers will see the action as an invitation to locate and do business in Wisconsin. Our economy will benefit from the investment and jobs in a sustainable energy future,” Vickerman said.
“We look forward to working with the Public Service Commission in shaping the specific standards for permitting wind projects,” Vickerman said.
“RENEW and our members thank Rep. James Soletski (D-Green Bay) and Rep. Phil Montgomery (R-Green Bay) for guiding the proposal through the Assembly. The entire legislature should be proud of this accomplishment, which we view as a prerequisite for a more aggressive renewable energy standard likely to be included in a comprehensive global warming legislative package,” commented Vickerman.
The bill now goes to Governor Doyle for his signature before becoming law.
Read additional statements from Rep. James Soletski and Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan.
by jboullion | Sep 17, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Nathaniel Shuda in the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune:
More than a year after it was shut down, the Domtar paper mill in Port Edwards continues to attract attention from those who want to use the site.
After issuing a reuse strategy in April that details proposed plans for the facility should the Canadian-based papermaker decide to sell it, village officials and local economic development leaders began receiving more inquiries about the property.
“Within the last couple of months, there have been about five (inquiries),” said Melissa Loken, economic development director for the Heart of Wisconsin Business Alliance. “Domtar is drawing more attention than a normal site.”
Several of the roughly 30 parties that expressed interest since the mill shut down in June 2007 produce biofuels or other renewable energy products, such as solar panels, Loken said. Although those companies want their identities to remain confidential, several others were made public this week for the first time when south Wood County municipal officials submitted a federal stimulus grant application for a proposed Highway 54 bypass and bridge.
Onalaska-based Mathy Construction Co. has expressed interest in using part of the site for the storage of its petroleum products and possibly biofuels, Port Edwards Village Administrator Joe Terry said.
“The other thing that interested them is the concept of purchasing lower-grade waste heat from any of the neighboring facilities,” Terry said.
Innovolis, a local alternative energy producer that, according to its Web site, uses tidal and river currents to generate power, also has expressed interest in using the site, as have University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point researchers, who are investigating the possible development of an $8 million experimental biorefinery.
by jboullion | Sep 17, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a Tom Content post on JSonline.com:
A bill to adopt uniform siting standards for small wind farms across the state is headed to Gov. Jim Doyle’s desk.
The state Assembly passed the bill Wednesday, one day after the state Senate endorsed it. The Assembly voted 65 to 31 to approve the bill. The vote came after several amendments to the bill were rejected.
Supporters said the bill is needed to help meet the state’s renewable energy targets and to help break a logjam of wind developments across the state. Opponents say the bill would rob local governments of local control over projects they say has resulted in wind developments being located too close to homes.
Read additional statements from RENEW Wisconsin, Rep. James Soletski, and Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan.
by jboullion | Sep 17, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an Asssociated Press article in the Telegraph Herald (Dubuque):
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Flood-damaged homes in Cedar Rapids may soon be generating electricity in southwest Wisconsin.
The Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency on Tuesday approved a contract to sell at least 6,000 tons of ground-up wood debris to a Cassville, Wis., plant that will burn it to produce energy.
DTE Energy Services of Ann Arbor, Mich., has converted an old coal-fired plant in Cassville to one that will burn biomass.
by jboullion | Sep 16, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by Focus on Energy:
Focus on Energy provides $400,000 to boost energy saving efforts
(September 15, 2009)—A company-wide commitment to environmental stewardship from the shop floor to top management has led Phillips Plastics Corporation®, with facilities in Phillips, Eau Claire, Hudson, New Richmond, Medford, Menomonie and Prescott, Wis., to save more than $750,000 on its energy bills each year. This will not only help the manufacturer save money, but protect the environment and keep jobs in Wisconsin.
Phillips Plastic Corporation received $400,000 in financial incentives from Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s statewide resource for energy efficiency and renewable energy, to complete energy saving projects that will save more than 8.5 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and 78,000 therms of natural gas annually—enough energy to power 940 Wisconsin homes for a year.
Since 2002, Phillips Plastics has completed energy assessments at all 15 of its buildings to find cost-effective ways to save energy including traditional applications, innovative technologies, energy management plans and high-performance equipment upgrades. Major projects include:
· Numerous plant-wide lighting upgrades, including advanced controls where appropriate
· Adding variable speed drives on heating, cooling and ventilation equipment at multiple sites
· Installing energy efficient compressed air equipment
· Upgrading ventilation equipment in multiple sites
· Installing cutting edge chilled water technology at two sites
· Completing numerous feasibility studies to determine which projects to pursue
by jboullion | Sep 16, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Dorothy Jasperson in the Westby Times:
The Westby Area School Board of Education unanimously approved $34,820 to implement a replacement lighting project in areas of the high school and gymnasium.
The projected costs of the lighting projects are $54,820. Those costs will be offset by incentive programs offered through Wisconsin Focus on Energy and WPPI, the city of Westby power supplier.
Wisconsin Focus on Energy will pay a specific dollar amount for replacement of outdated electrical units, while WPPI will contribute up to 60 percent of the cost of the entire project. The school district will be required to make an investment to keep costs down and a 5.9 year payback for the lighting installation investment is projected at today’s cost of electricity.
by jboullion | Sep 16, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Nathaniel Shuda in the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune:
Sustainable building techniques are becoming increasingly popular in central Wisconsin and across the state, industry leaders say.
Most recently, the Mead Wildlife Area Education & Visitor Center near Milladore became the second new building in Wisconsin to receive LEED Platinum Green Building Certification, the highest possible level for sustainable-energy design.
“I believe the trend has been going up for the building of LEED-certified buildings in general,” said Sue Loomans, executive director of the Wisconsin Green Building Alliance. “People are seeing the importance of sustainable building.”
LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a nationwide energy-efficiency program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council and overseen by the Green Building Certification Institute.
The Mead building joins the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center near Baraboo, the renovated Hunzinger Construction Offices in Milwaukee and a private home in Madison in carrying the LEED Platinum rating.
by jboullion | Sep 16, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a news release posted on Yahoo!Finance:
MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Kohl’s Department Stores (NYSE: KSS – News) will be named Green Power Partner of the Year during the annual Green Power Leadership Awards held Monday, Sept. 14 in Atlanta, Ga. Co-sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Center for Resource Solutions (CRS), the Green Power Leadership Awards recognize the actions of organizations, programs and individuals that significantly advance the development of green power resources in three categories: on-site generation, green power purchase and Partner of the Year.
“To receive the Green Power Partner of the Year Award is a tremendous honor,” said Ken Bonning, Kohl’s executive vice president of store planning and logistics. “Since joining the Green Power Partnership in 2006, Kohl’s has continually demonstrated our support of green power through increasing our purchase of renewable energy credits, expanding our solar initiative and implementing strategies to manage our energy usage in an environmentally responsible way. We strive to set an example of how a business can consistently implement and explore sustainable solutions that make sense for the bottom line, the environment and the communities we serve.”
This is the third consecutive year Kohl’s will receive a Green Power Leadership Award, earning recognition for green power purchase in 2007 and on-site generation in 2008. This is Kohl’s first time receiving the Green Power Partner of the Year Award, which recognizes four EPA Green Power Partners annually who distinguish themselves through their green power purchases, leadership, overall strategy and impact on the green power market. . . .
Kohl’s currently ranks second in retail, fourth overall and fourth among Fortune 500 companies on EPA’s list of top Green Power Purchasers with a 2009 green power purchase of 600,990,000 kWh – more than double Kohl’s previous green power commitment and enough to meet 50 percent of the company’s purchased electricity use. According to U.S. EPA, Kohl’s green power purchase of 601 million kWh is equivalent to avoiding carbon dioxide emissions of more than 79,000 passenger vehicles per year, or is the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power nearly 60,000 average American homes annually.
by jboullion | Sep 15, 2009 | Uncategorized
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 15, 2009
MORE INFORMATION
Michael Vickerman
RENEW Wisconsin
608.255.4044
mvickerman@renewwisconsin.org
In a show of bipartisan support, the State Senate approved legislation that will open the door to new wind energy projects in Wisconsin.
Under the Wind for Wisconsin umbrella, more than 60 organizations as diverse as unions, trade associations, environmental advocates, health groups, and renewable energy manufacturers sought uniform permitting standards for future wind developments.
Six Republicans joined 17 Democrats to pass Senate Bill 185. The legislation directs the Public Service Commission to begin a rulemaking process that will lead to greater certainty and predictability in siting wind generation facilities.
“The Senate’s vote is critical to reviving the development of a high priority renewable energy resource in accordance with Wisconsin energy policy,” said Michael Vickerman, executive director of RENEW Wisconsin, a nonprofit sustainable energy advocacy organization.
“We believe that the wind energy suppliers will see the action as an invitation to locate and do business in Wisconsin. Our economy will benefit from the investment and jobs in a sustainable energy future,” Vickerman said.
“RENEW Wisconsin and its members thank the bill’s primary authors, Senator Jeff Plale (D-South Milwaukee) and Senator Randy Hopper (R-Fond du Lac), the leadership of both parties, and all of the state senators who recognized the need for a statewide approach to permitting windpower installations,” Vickerman added .
The Assembly will vote on the companion bill later this week. Then it will go to the governor.
