by jboullion | May 15, 2009 | Uncategorized
From the site for Alliant’s Business Efficiency Check Up:
Have you ever wondered how energy-efficient your business is? Alliant Energy’s Business Efficiency Check Up can help!
This free interactive, online tool will help you find where your energy is going and how you can cut energy costs throughout your facility.
– Efficiency Fast Track: Identify energy-saving opportunities and get started on them – fast!
– Detailed Analysis: Make an in-depth energy assessment to get detailed recommendations and project assistance specifically for your business.
– My Benchmark: Compare your energy use to see how you stack up against the competition.
– Case Studies: View quick tips and examples of how similar businesses save energy.
After you’ve completed your check up, you can return at any time to review, track and evaluate the projects you’ve selected for your facility.
by jboullion | May 15, 2009 | Uncategorized
From the site for Alliant’s Business Efficiency Check Up:
Have you ever wondered how energy-efficient your business is? Alliant Energy’s Business Efficiency Check Up can help!
This free interactive, online tool will help you find where your energy is going and how you can cut energy costs throughout your facility.
– Efficiency Fast Track: Identify energy-saving opportunities and get started on them – fast!
– Detailed Analysis: Make an in-depth energy assessment to get detailed recommendations and project assistance specifically for your business.
– My Benchmark: Compare your energy use to see how you stack up against the competition.
– Case Studies: View quick tips and examples of how similar businesses save energy.
After you’ve completed your check up, you can return at any time to review, track and evaluate the projects you’ve selected for your facility.
by jboullion | May 15, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by the UW-Extension and posted on Business North:
Energy independence and an educated workforce are critical to a prosperous future for Wisconsin. To respond, the University of Wisconsin-Extension is charging in with a bold new degree: the nation’s first online sustainable management bachelor’s degree.
For the first time, University of Wisconsin-Extension has brought together the strengths of four campuses UW-Parkside, UW-River Falls, UW-Stout and UW-Superior‹to craft a degree program that equips workers with the management skills they will need to lead sustainable business initiatives. . . .
The sustainable management degree takes the theories of sustainability and makes them tangible in the business setting, through a hands-on, problem-solving approach. By learning the fundamentals of the “Triple Bottom Line,” graduates can immediately start helping their companies create profits, preserve the environment, and improve their surrounding communities.
For more information or to complete an application, visit sustain.wisconsin.edu
by jboullion | May 14, 2009 | Uncategorized
From Mid-State Technical College:
Get a solid foundation in the fundamental design, operation, maintenance and installation techniques to work with renewable technologies. Workshops and a visit to the energy fair will keep you engaged and on the cutting-edge of technology.
Take advantage of this FREE hands-on opportunity to learn about renewable energy!
Renewable Energy Workshops
• Growing Biofuels – Biorefinery. Find out how crops and waste products turn into ethanol and biodiesel. Learn how these fuels are used and what the limitations are. Discover how to make your very own batch of biodisel from oil!
• Personal Energy – Energy Efficiency. Explore your energy use patterns at school or home. Discover ways to reduce your personal energy use.
• Solar Car – Renewable Electricity. Students will examine solar cells by building a solar powered model car. Test out the performance of the model car under various conditions.
• Cookies – Renewable Thermal. Learn to construct a solar water heating system and enhance your experience by baking cookies from the sun!
MREA Energy Fair
The Energy Fair features hundreds of workshops and exhibits all emphasizing clean energy & sustainable living.
Register early! Space is limited.
Registration deadline is Friday, June 12.
For more information or to register contact:
Kris Buss, Administrative Assistant
Phone: 715.422.5375
Email: kris.buss@mstc.edu
All hand-on workshops, the energy fair, transportation, lunch & snacks are at no cost to high school students. Student’s will receive one MSTC college credit for participating all three days.
by jboullion | May 13, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an announcement by the People’s Food Coop:
If interested in attending the Energy Fair with us please contact the People’s Food Co-op by June 6. Sign up at the customer service desk in person or over the phone—payment for the bus will be taken at this time ($15.00) and does not include fair admission—Get $5 dollars off admission when you ride the bus (sorry, no cancellations)
The Energy Fair is the oldest and largest event of its kind in the U.S.
by jboullion | May 13, 2009 | Uncategorized
State Senator Jeff Plale (right) of Milwaukee testifies in support of identical companion bills (Senate Bill 185 and Assembly Bill 256) that he co-authored with State Rep. James Soletski (left). The bills direct the Public Service Commission to begin a process to set state-wide uniform standards for wind project permitting.
From an article by Paul Snyder in The Daily Reporter:
In addition to missing out on an estimated $3.5 million of economic opportunity for each wind turbine not built in Wisconsin, the state also is missing out on new energy without uniform standards.
“We’re looking at about 600 megawatts of stalled energy right now,” said R.J. Pirlot, director of legislative relations for Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce.
State Sen. Jeff Plale, D-South Milwaukee, author of the statewide wind farm siting bill and chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Utilities, Energy and Rail said the inactivity is disappointing.
“That’s a lot of missed opportunity,” he said. “And it’s a sad commentary for this state when we’re out there saying we want more renewable energy.”
RENEW Wisconsin’s executive director Michael Vickerman also testified.
by jboullion | May 12, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by WPPI Energy:
The GreenMax Home, the region’s first owner-designed and occupied net zero energy home (NZEH), has quickly generated interest for community members and renewable energy enthusiasts. Homeowners Tom and Verona Chambers are opening the doors to their NZEH and hosting public tours with WPPI Energy to showcase the energy-efficient construction and sustainable energy systems that make their Black River Falls home unique.
With grant funding from WPPI Energy’s GreenMax Home initiative, the Chambers’ designed and constructed an all-electric NZEH, which they completed in spring 2009. Through careful planning and research, the Chambers worked to refine their home’s design to control energy use, ultimately advancing the status of their home from highly efficient to net zero.
Together WPPI Energy and the Chambers will host three opportunities for interested participants to tour and learn more about the special features of their NZEH. The tours are open to the public; however, participants are encouraged to schedule a tour in advance for one of the following dates:
Saturday, May 16 from 1 to 5 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 13 from 1 to 5 p.m. in conjunction with the Black River Falls Memorial Hospital Fundraiser
Saturday, Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in conjunction with the Solar Tour of Homes and Public Power Week
To schedule a tour, visit www.greenmaxhome.com/projects. Open to the public, the tours will take place at the site of the Chambers’ NZEH. From the ground source heat pump to structural plumbing and the solar photovoltaic system, interested parties will learn about home energy use and renewable energy systems while getting a first-hand look at the state-of-the-art, energy-efficient construction techniques and features that make this NZEH so unique.
by jboullion | May 12, 2009 | Uncategorized
Michael Vickerman (left), RENEW Wisconsin’s executive director, listens to Curt Pawlisch, repesenting Wind for Wisconsin, during their testimony on May 12 in support of identical companion bills (Senate Bill 185 and Assembly Bill 256) to begin a process to create state-wide standards for wind siting in Wisconsin. Brian Rude of Dairyland Power looks on from the background.
From Vickerman’s testimony:
By 2010, more than one-half of the wind energy serving Wisconsin utilities will come from neighboring states.
+ Crane Creek, a 99 MW project located in Iowa that Green Bay-based WPS will own, was permitted in 2008 and will be operating by 12/31/09.
+ Twin Creeks, a 98 MW project located in Manitowoc County in WPS territory, received a permit in 2005. Due to a combination of litigation and ordinance changes, ground was never broken. Under the current ordinance, it is highly unlikely that the Twin Creeks project will be built, even though it has a permit.
If Twin Creeks is not built:
+ Local governments lose $392,000/year in future revenues.
+ Local landowners lose $294,000/year in future rents.
+ A local component manufacturer loses a 98 MW order to build towers
+ Construction jobs are outsourced to Iowa.
If we don’t initiate a process to establish uniform permitting standards, it will be difficult for utilities to comply with an increased Renewable Energy Standard at any level above current law.
by jboullion | May 12, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by WPPI Energy:
The GreenMax Home, the region’s first owner-designed and occupied net zero energy home (NZEH), has quickly generated interest for community members and renewable energy enthusiasts. Homeowners Tom and Verona Chambers are opening the doors to their NZEH and hosting public tours with WPPI Energy to showcase the energy-efficient construction and sustainable energy systems that make their Black River Falls home unique.
With grant funding from WPPI Energy’s GreenMax Home initiative, the Chambers’ designed and constructed an all-electric NZEH, which they completed in spring 2009. Through careful planning and research, the Chambers worked to refine their home’s design to control energy use, ultimately advancing the status of their home from highly efficient to net zero.
Together WPPI Energy and the Chambers will host three opportunities for interested participants to tour and learn more about the special features of their NZEH. The tours are open to the public; however, participants are encouraged to schedule a tour in advance for one of the following dates:
Saturday, May 16 from 1 to 5 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 13 from 1 to 5 p.m. in conjunction with the Black River Falls Memorial Hospital Fundraiser
Saturday, Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in conjunction with the Solar Tour of Homes and Public Power Week
To schedule a tour, visit www.greenmaxhome.com/projects. Open to the public, the tours will take place at the site of the Chambers’ NZEH. From the ground source heat pump to structural plumbing and the solar photovoltaic system, interested parties will learn about home energy use and renewable energy systems while getting a first-hand look at the state-of-the-art, energy-efficient construction techniques and features that make this NZEH so unique.
by jboullion | May 12, 2009 | Uncategorized
Excerpts from the testimony of Michael Vickerman, executive director, RENEW Wisconsin in support of identical companion bills (Senate Bill 185 and Assembly Bill 256) which direct the Wisconsin Public Service Commission to begin a process to set state-wide permitting standards:
By 2010, more than one-half of the wind energy serving Wisconsin utilities will come from neighboring states.
Crane Creek, a 99 MW project located in Iowa that Green Bay-based WPS will own, was permitted in 2008 and will be operating by 12/31/09.
Twin Creeks, a 98 MW project located in Manitowoc County in WPS territory, received a permit in 2005. Due to a combination of litigation and ordinance changes, ground was never broken. Under the current ordinance, it is highly unlikely that the Twin Creeks project will be built, even though it has a permit.
If Twin Creeks is not built:
+ Local governments lose $392,000/year in future revenues.
+ Local landowners lose $294,000/year in future rents.
+ A local component manufacturer loses a 98 MW order to build towers
+ Construction jobs are outsourced to Iowa.
If we don’t initiate a process to establish uniform permitting standards, it will be difficult for utilities to comply with an increased Renewable Energy Standard at any level above current law.
