by jboullion | Dec 23, 2008 | Uncategorized
From a media release issued by Focus on Energy:
MADISON, Wis. (Dec. 8, 2008) – Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s energy efficiency and renewable energy initiative, announced today the inception of a new renewable energy program called Fuels for Schools & Communities. The new program is meant to help Wisconsin schools and communities save hundreds of thousands of dollars in energy costs by switching from natural gas to heating their buildings with wood or other biomass.
“Schools and local governments today are feeling squeezed by energy prices. This new program will allow interested school districts and local governments, especially in the north and southwest portions of the state, the ability to adopt biomass technology as a cost effective and environmentally responsible solution to increasing energy costs,” said Don Wichert, director for Focus on Energy’s Renewable Energy Program.
The new program offers interested schools and communities pre-feasibility studies and feasibility studies at no cost and up to $250,000 toward the implementation of a biomass system. The program complements Clean Energy Wisconsin, Governor Doyle’s strategy to strengthen Wisconsin’s energy future. This comprehensive plan moves Wisconsin forward by promoting renewable energy, creating new jobs, increasing energy security and efficiency and improving the environment.
A recent study funded by Focus on Energy and conducted by the Biomass Energy Resource Center (BERC), “Heating with Biomass: A Feasibility Study of Wisconsin Schools Heated with Wood,” found that as many as 25 percent of Wisconsin schools could save hundreds of thousands of dollars in energy costs by switching from natural gas to heating their buildings with wood, or other biomass. Biomass, a renewable resource, typically consists of clean wood chips, wood pellets, switchgrass or other agricultural based pellets. This is a significant finding considering Wisconsin schools spend close to $200 million a year on energy costs.
The study concludes that the annual energy costs from wood biomass systems could be 29 percent to 57 percent less expensive than natural gas and save schools between $53,000 and $75,000 annually, depending on current fuel prices. The study included case studies from Barron, Hayward, Shell Lake and Rice Lake, Wis., high schools.
by jboullion | Dec 23, 2008 | Uncategorized
A story on WEAU-TV:
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — State regulators say they are launching a statewide effort to explore how utilities could distribute more solar panels across Wisconsin to take advantage of that renewable energy source.
The Public Service Commission said its solar collaborative will study ways to dramatically accelerate the deployment of the panels by utilities.
The announcement came Thursday as the commission ordered that there be no increase in electric rates and a slight decrease in natural gas rates for customers of Wisconsin Public Service Corporation and Wisconsin Power and Light next year.
The PSC noted that declining fuel costs are a major factor in the move to hold the line on gas and electric rates for customers of the two companies.
by jboullion | Dec 23, 2008 | Uncategorized
From an editorial in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Transit supporters have taken a couple of hits recently, casting doubt on both the creation of a regional transit authority and system, and the development of a critical element of such a system, a commuter rail line linking Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha. Nevertheless, the transit authority and the KRM line are still proposals that deserve widespread support if the region wants to build effective regional mass transit that would provide a number of benefits, including fostering economic development.
A regional transit system could improve bus service in Milwaukee County and other areas, as well as help create better intercounty connections to help workers get to jobs. The KRM can help provide a reliable speedy mass transit link along the eastern edge of the region from downtown Milwaukee to Kenosha.
by jboullion | Dec 23, 2008 | Uncategorized
From a media release issued by Focus on Energy:
MADISON, Wis. (Dec. 8, 2008) – Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s energy efficiency and renewable energy initiative, announced today the inception of a new renewable energy program called Fuels for Schools & Communities. The new program is meant to help Wisconsin schools and communities save hundreds of thousands of dollars in energy costs by switching from natural gas to heating their buildings with wood or other biomass.
“Schools and local governments today are feeling squeezed by energy prices. This new program will allow interested school districts and local governments, especially in the north and southwest portions of the state, the ability to adopt biomass technology as a cost effective and environmentally responsible solution to increasing energy costs,” said Don Wichert, director for Focus on Energy’s Renewable Energy Program.
The new program offers interested schools and communities pre-feasibility studies and feasibility studies at no cost and up to $250,000 toward the implementation of a biomass system. The program complements Clean Energy Wisconsin, Governor Doyle’s strategy to strengthen Wisconsin’s energy future. This comprehensive plan moves Wisconsin forward by promoting renewable energy, creating new jobs, increasing energy security and efficiency and improving the environment.
A recent study funded by Focus on Energy and conducted by the Biomass Energy Resource Center (BERC), “Heating with Biomass: A Feasibility Study of Wisconsin Schools Heated with Wood,” found that as many as 25 percent of Wisconsin schools could save hundreds of thousands of dollars in energy costs by switching from natural gas to heating their buildings with wood, or other biomass. Biomass, a renewable resource, typically consists of clean wood chips, wood pellets, switchgrass or other agricultural based pellets. This is a significant finding considering Wisconsin schools spend close to $200 million a year on energy costs.
The study concludes that the annual energy costs from wood biomass systems could be 29 percent to 57 percent less expensive than natural gas and save schools between $53,000 and $75,000 annually, depending on current fuel prices. The study included case studies from Barron, Hayward, Shell Lake and Rice Lake, Wis., high schools.
by jboullion | Dec 22, 2008 | Uncategorized
A media release issued by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association:
Milwaukee, WI – Through a partnership with Habitat for Humanity and other funders, the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) is now offering a wide variety of solar courses in the Milwaukee area. These courses range from introductory seminars to hands-on installation training.
“We are very excited to be working with our partners in the Milwaukee area to offer high quality solar training for home and business owners,” said Tehri Parker, Executive Director of the Midwest Renewable Energy Association. “Our goals for this program are two fold: to build a solid base of knowledge and enthusiasm for these technologies among Milwaukee residents, and to train a dependable workforce that can scope, install, and maintain these systems.”
The MREA has been offering workshops on renewable energy system design and installation since 1990. This new initiative will bring more of this training to the Milwaukee area. “Our partnership with Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity will provide us with rooftops where students can participate in actual solar electric and solar hot water installations,” explains Clay Sterling, MREA Education Director. “We now have the equipment and facilities available to offer a full range of Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Installation courses.” Over 50 seminars, workshops, and training events are planned for the upcoming year. The full schedule will be on line at www.the-mrea.org starting January 1, 2009.
To help people connect to these programs the MREA now has a Milwaukee address and phone number. In addition the main office in Custer, Wisconsin, the MREA may also be reached at:
MREA – Milwaukee, 544 E Ogden Ave. Ste 700-225, Milwaukee, WI 53202, 414-303-7351.
Watch for the schedule to be posted here after January 1, 2009.
by jboullion | Dec 22, 2008 | Uncategorized
From an editorial in The Tomah Journal:
Let’s assume you live in Tomah and want to visit Atlanta. You either drive to the La Crosse airport, catch a flight to Minneapolis before taking another flight to Atlanta, or you can drive three hours to the Minneapolis airport and take the direct flight.
But there’s another possibility — replace the La Crosse-Minneapolis flight or long car trip with light rail from Tomah to Minneapolis.
Officials from the Twin Cities are touting light rail between Minneapolis and Chicago, and they have a powerful ally in President-elect Barack Obama, who appears ready to make high-speed rail part of his economic stimulus program. It’s an investment that’s long overdue, and it has potential to unsnarl an air passenger system that’s as reliable as electricity in Iraq. Air travelers are all too familiar with a web of connecting flights that often don’t run on time and leave passengers spending more time in airport lounges than moving through the air.
by jboullion | Dec 22, 2008 | Uncategorized
A short article from the Stevens Point Journal:
More than 2,900 compact fluorescent light bulbs were distributed through the “CFL and Vote!” project by The Eco-Municipality of Stevens Point, Sustainable Stockton and the Commission for a Greener Tomorrow.
More than 700 people who received a free CFL had never used one before, and 565 people signed up to get the Central Wisconsin Sustainability Newsletter during this project.
by jboullion | Dec 21, 2008 | Uncategorized
From a presentation about Wind on the Water by Deb Erwin, program and planning analyst, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin:
The Governor’s Task Force on Glocal Warming recommended:
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) and other state agencies complete a study of the feasibility of generating electricity from off-shore wind resources in the Great Lakes by the end of 2008.
[In response,] the PSC created an external Study Group to examine the feasibility of Great Lakes wind projects.
Task was not to determine whether offshore wind is in the best interests of the state, rather to determine whether or not off-shore wind in the Great Lakes is possible.
Meetings were open to the public and documents were shared.
Materials are available on the PSC website.
Click here for the complete presentation in PDF.
by jboullion | Dec 19, 2008 | Uncategorized
From a media release issued by Rep. Tammy Baldwin and others in Congress:
Momentum is building to pass legislation repealing antiquated exemptions in federal statutes so that antitrust law fully covers railroads.
In a letter sent last week to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader John Boehner, Judiciary Committee Chair John Conyers, Judiciary Ranking Member Lamar Smith, and Judiciary Antitrust Taskforce Ranking Member Ric Keller, the Section of Antitrust Law of the American Bar Association endorsed H.R. 1650, the Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2007, authored by Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI).
In a 13 page analysis, the Section laid out its support for the bill, concluding that “The Section encourages Congress to move forward quickly to dismantle the antitrust exemption for the railroad industry, through the Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act, and to consider additional legislation to eliminate antitrust exemptions applicable to other industries.”
Their letter follows closely on the heels of a letter that Reps. Baldwin and Conyers sent last month to Speaker Pelosi urging her to include H.R. 1650 as part of the economic stimulus package to be considered in January. Baldwin and Conyers reminded the Speaker that the legislation was reported in April by a voice vote of the Judiciary Committee without opposition and that companion legislation, S.772, authored by Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI) was reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee, also by a voice vote without opposition.
In their letter to Pelosi, Baldwin and Conyers said, “As Congress continues to address the problems created in part by a lack of regulation and oversight in the largest financial institutions in America, we think the time is right to ensure antitrust compliance by our nation’s railroads. Their current unrestrained pricing power over America’s consumers is hurting our economy and our country, and must be addressed.”
The release cites Dairyland Power as an example of problems with prices and service:
For years, captive shippers have been reporting spiking rail rates and unreliable service. In Wisconsin, for example, Dairyland Power, a rural cooperative provides electricity for approximately 575,000 people in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois. Dairyland’s three coal-fired power plants consume 3.2 million tons of coal per year, 75% of which comes by rail from the Powder River Basin in Wyoming. Over the years, Dairyland has reported deteriorating service quality; at times forcing them to cut back generation due to insufficient coal inventories. Adding further injury, at the end of 2005 the railroad that holds Dairyland captive raised its rates dramatically. Dairyland now pays about $75 million a year to ship $30 million worth of coal. Railroad rate increases have translated into a 15 to 20% increase in electricity rates for consumers.
by jboullion | Dec 19, 2008 | Uncategorized
From a media release issued by Xcel Energy:
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) has created a docket to begin evaluating the company’s request to install biomass gasification technology at the Bay Front Power Plant in Ashland, Wis. This represents the first step in the regulatory review process for the innovative project that, if approved, would transform Bay Front into the largest biomass-fueled power plant in the Midwest, and one of the largest in the nation. When completed, the project will convert the plant’s remaining coal-fired unit to biomass gasification technology, allowing it to use 100 percent biomass in all three boilers. Currently, two of the three operating units at Bay Front use biomass as their primary fuel to generate electricity.
In 1979, the facility became the first investor-owned utility plant in the nation to burn waste wood to generate electricity.
This is the first time biomass gasification technology will be used to convert a coal-fired boiler at an existing base-load power plant. The project will require new biomass receiving and handling facilities, an external gasifier, modifications to the plant’s remaining coal-fired boiler and an enhanced air quality control system and is expected to cost $55-$70 million.
