by jboullion | Mar 18, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Adam Wise in the Stevens Point Journal:
Mid-State Technical College this year will receive $428,000 in federal funding for its five renewable energy programs.
College officials recently received word of the money, which is part of President Barack Obama’s $410 billion spending bill.
“The funding will support instruction, program development, equipment purchase and coordination of the programs,” MSTC President John Clark said. “We’re trying to be the remedy for the (local) job loss, particularly in the paper industry.”
The school offers associate degree programs in biorefinery technology, renewable electricity and renewable thermal energy. It plans to expand its programs to include energy efficiency technician and renewable energy specialist degrees this fall.
As of September, MSTC will provide five of the six renewable energy associate degree programs in the state.
Although Clark doesn’t expect the school to receive the money for a few months, the administration is identifying specific needs now so it will be ready to put the money to use, he said.
The three current programs have successfully recruited many displaced paper industry workers from the area to train them for the 21st-century careers, said Sue Budjac, vice president of academic affairs.
“Because we are out in front, the grant really allows us to provide one-of-a-kind, state-of-the-art training opportunities, which will certainly attract enrollment,” Budjac said.
by jboullion | Mar 17, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin:
MADISON – How long will you ignore that drip in the shower? How about the leaky spigot outside the house, or that running toilet? Household leaks waste both valuable water resources and money. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the average household can leak up to 11,000 gallons of water per year—enough to fill a backyard swimming pool!
That’s why the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) is promoting “Fix a Leak Week” during March 16 to 20 to remind homeowners to check their plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems for leaks. Common types of leaks found in the home include leaking toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves. Fixing easily corrected household water leaks can save homeowners more than 10 percent on their water bills.
PSC Chairperson Eric Callisto noted, “Leaky faucets and toilets waste our precious water resources, and fixing leaks is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to conserve water and save energy.”
To check for leaks in your home, first determine whether you’re wasting water, then identify the source of the leak. Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter changes at all, you probably have a leak.
In addition, leaks waste the electricity used to pump the water.
For more information on conserving water, visit the PSC web site or the Fix a Leak Week site.
by jboullion | Mar 17, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by Focus on Energy:
MADISON, Wis. (March 17, 2009) – Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s energy efficiency and renewable energy initiative, announced new staffing grants today to help businesses, manufacturers, farms, schools and government facilities throughout the state complete energy efficiency projects.
“Businesses don’t need to let staffing issues become a barrier to energy savings,” said Ken Williams, Focus on Energy’s Business Programs director. “Focus on Energy is committed to helping companies overcome barriers that prevent them from completing energy efficiency projects.”
The grants will fund up to $80,000 for a full- or part-time employee or consultant to work on-site and manage energy efficiency projects that otherwise would not be completed due to a lack of human resources. Grant funding will go toward the salary and benefits of a project manager who will oversee and engineer energy savings projects.
The grant is designed to help businesses hire new staff or retain existing employees who might otherwise be at risk of lay-off. Partnering or neighboring companies are encouraged to submit a joint application and share an employee or consultant between businesses.
“Focus offered a similar program last year that was very popular and produced even more energy savings projects than expected,” Williams explained. “We are pleased to offer an expanded version of the program for 2009.”
Interested businesses should visit focusonenergy.com/competitive_incentives for more information. Applications must include a list of potential projects, as funding is based on the energy savings from those projects and is paid when projects are completed. Applications must be received by April 30, 2009. In addition, completed energy efficiency projects are also eligible for Focus on Energy financial incentives that can be found at focusonenergy.com/incentives/business.
by jboullion | Mar 16, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin:
MADISON – How long will you ignore that drip in the shower? How about the leaky spigot outside the house, or that running toilet? Household leaks waste both valuable water resources and money. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the average household can leak up to 11,000 gallons of water per year—enough to fill a backyard swimming pool!
That’s why the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) is promoting “Fix a Leak Week” during March 16 to 20 to remind homeowners to check their plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems for leaks. Common types of leaks found in the home include leaking toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves. Fixing easily corrected household water leaks can save homeowners more than 10 percent on their water bills.
PSC Chairperson Eric Callisto noted, “Leaky faucets and toilets waste our precious water resources, and fixing leaks is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to conserve water and save energy.”
To check for leaks in your home, first determine whether you’re wasting water, then identify the source of the leak. Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter changes at all, you probably have a leak.
In addition, leaks waste the electricity used to pump the water.
For more information on conserving water, visit the PSC web site or the Fix a Leak Week site.
by jboullion | Mar 16, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Nathaniel Shuda in the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune:
More than a year after garnering $30 million in federal grant money to build an ethanol plant in Wisconsin Rapids, NewPage officials continue to consider the project’s viability, a company spokeswoman said.
Although the Miamisburg, Ohio-based papermaker has completed a preliminary phase of the study into the project’s viability, spokeswoman Shannon Semmerling expects the study to last until the end of 2009.
“The (Department of Energy) and NewPage will (then) review the findings and determine how to proceed,” Semmerling said. “I would expect that we will learn more about Project Independence as 2009 comes to a close.”
In January 2008, the Energy Department selected NewPage as one of four companies nationwide to receive a total of $114 million that will be made available to build small-scale biorefineries.
The refinery will produce about 370 barrels of biofuel a day — or about 5.5 million gallons a year — out of wood chips and mill residue, according to the Energy Department. The resulting fuel will replace natural gas at the mill and can be converted into renewable diesel fuel.
by jboullion | Mar 16, 2009 | Uncategorized
From left: Steve Rubenzer of SDS Architect, Congressman David Obey, District Administrator Rick Palmer and School Board President Robert Clifton of Luck School District, Charlie Schneider of Focus on Energy
From a news release issued by Focus on Energy:
Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s energy efficiency and renewable energy initiative, presented Luck School District in Luck, Wis. with a plaque in recognition of earning the United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification on Friday, March 13. U.S. Congressman David Obey was on-hand during the presentation.
Luck School District is the second school in Wisconsin to receive a LEED certification and achieve this prestigious green building standard on an existing building. LEED standards address whole building maintenance issues including chemicals, energy and water efficiency performance, indoor air quality and recycling programs, among others standards to maximize operational efficiency and minimize environmental impacts.
“These efforts have saved money, reduced energy use and created a cleaner environment,” said Congressman Obey. “I applaud Luck School District for providing the best education that comes from leading by example.”
With the help of Focus on Energy’s expertise and more than $120,000 in cash incentives, Luck School District has saved more than 495,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity and 25,000 therms of natural gas-enough energy to power 75 homes for a year. The district will also save more than $77,000 in energy costs annually. Luck School District’s numerous accomplishments to earn LEED certification include:
+ A $2.1 million upgrade to its heating and cooling system.
+ Received a Department of Natural Resources grant to help implement an advanced recycling program.
+ Started a “green cleaning” program.
+ Provided continuing education to teachers though the Focus sponsored K-12 Energy Education Program (KEEP).
+ Kept students and teachers from the K-12 district actively involved with projects and monitoring success.
by jboullion | Mar 16, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Jim Massey in The Country Today:
PLATTEVILLE – Tim Zauche believes a community manure digester could be a win-win situation for UW-Platteville and dairy farmers near the city.
The UW-Platteville chemistry and engineering-physics professor is studying the feasibility of building an anaerobic digester on campus or at the university’s farm to convert manure into a variety of energy sources. Area farmers have expressed interest in the concept, he said.
“The reason I got into this is I want to help farmers become more profitable and help the environment,” Zauche said. “If we’re not going to help the farmers’ bottom line, why even do it?”
Zauche met with about 25 Platteville-area dairy farmers earlier this year to discuss the project.
“They were like, ‘Hey, milk prices are down, we’re strapped for capital. We don’t want to own (the digester), but we can see the benefits of using it,’ ” Zauche said.
Zauche said he’s not sure who would own the digester. It could be set up as a farmer cooperative, owned and operated by the university, or leased to a private firm that would operate it.
He estimated it would cost $1.5 million to $2 million for a digester that would process manure from 1,200 cows. About a dozen farmers are seriously interested in the project, Zauche said.
One of those farmers is Steve Weigel, who operates a 100-cow dairy farm about a mile north of Platteville. He said he would like to discontinue hauling his manure daily and haul to a digester instead.
by jboullion | Mar 16, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Rick Barrett in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Todd Nelson, owner of the Kalahari Resort, fires off in staccato fashion the belt-tightening measures taken at his Wisconsin Dells water park.
• Seventy employee cell phones eliminated. Saving: $4,500 a month.
• Wristbands for water park customers changed to a cheaper model. Saving: $60,000 a year.
• A new laundry water recycling system: $70,000 a year.
• Six company cars sold, saving thousands of dollars in fuel, insurance and maintenance.
• More than 100 employee e-mail addresses canceled. Saving: $8,000 annually in account fees.
• Employees attending trade shows now stay at cheaper hotels rather than the convention hotel.
“They can drive an extra three miles to a Comfort Inn,” Nelson said.
For most companies, cost-cutting is key to surviving this recession. Layoffs and job reductions have been the most painful measures, but other less dramatic steps also can result in significant saving and can help a company’s long-term health. . . .
Some companies have found huge savings through energy conservation.
The Kalahari installed a 103-panel solar hot water system that heats 60% of the water in the resort’s laundry room.
Low-flow shower heads were installed in guest rooms, reducing water consumption by 2.46 million gallons per year.
The resort has a goal of cutting its electric bill by 30%, using dozens of measures such as motion-sensor lights in public areas.
by jboullion | Mar 16, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an editorial in the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram:
The issue: A proposed program would allow Xcel Energy customers to voluntarily pay extra for renewable power.
Our view: Bills would rise, but the program would give all of us a role in weaning our nation from fossil fuels.
In these days of economic uncertainty, paying more than you have to on a monthly bill seems like the equivalent of letting money go up in smoke.
But when it comes to utility costs, the opposite actually is true.
Xcel Energy’s Wisconsin customers may soon have the option of paying a bit extra for their electricity to spur the production of more energy from “green” sources such as wind, solar and biomass. Boosting the use of renewable energy reduces reliance on nonrenewable sources, especially greenhouse-gas-producing coal. The price of renewable energy may be higher now, but spending more in the short term means less of our money will be converted into smoke – or at least carbon dioxide – in the long run. . . .
As noted earlier, customers who worry about the size of their existing bills may be skeptical of voluntarily paying more. That’s understandable, and Xcel estimates only 3 to 5 percent of its Wisconsin customers will enroll. However, the higher the participation, the less costly renewable power becomes: Ten percent of Madison Gas and Electric’s customers are enrolled in a similar program, and the premium they pay for wind power dropped from $2.67 to $1 per 100 kilowatts between 1999 and 2008.
Like any complex problem, weaning ourselves from fossil fuels – and the environmental havoc they bring – will take a concerted effort on many fronts. Big players such as utility companies, businesses and government regulators all have roles – but so does anyone who flips a light switch.
by jboullion | Mar 13, 2009 | Uncategorized
Wisconsin Wind Energy Supply Chain Seminar
Appleton, Wisconsin
March 31, 2009
Wisconsin Wind Energy Supply Chain Seminar will focus on wind turbine manufacturing challenges and opportunities in the state of Wisconsin. Over 8,000 components and parts are used in the construction of utility-scale wind turbines, offering opportunities for a wide range of manufacturers and service providers in Wisconsin. The existing manufacturing and service industries, as well as academic and other institutions in Wisconsin makes it an ideal state to benefit from the growth of the wind energy industry.
Hear from The Honorable Jim Doyle Governor of Wisconsin
Tuesday, March 31, 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM
Governor Jim Doyle is focused on creating opportunity for all of Wisconsin’s people and is building upon current efforts to create jobs, make America energy independent, and address the global climate crisis.
Complete program. Register online.
