by jboullion | Dec 2, 2008 | Uncategorized
From a a story by story by Larry Oakes in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune.
Part of Duluth’s success is having land-based logistical support and cooperative state agencies, especially DOT. Can Minnesota’s success be replicated here …?
DULUTH — In 2005, a ship called the Bavaria arrived in Duluth-Superior from Europe with a visually stunning cargo the gritty taconite and coal port had never seen: gargantuan yet somehow slender blades, hubs and shafts meant for towering wind turbines.
Since then, America’s increasing embrace of wind power has brought the port a windfall, with shipments surging to make the head of the Great Lakes a major funnel for turbines destined for the Upper Midwest and parts of Canada. Jason Paulson, operations manager for Lake Superior Warehousing Co., which transfers turbines from ships to specially designed semitrailer truck caravans, said the port is on track to handle a record 2,000 windmill components this year for several manufacturers, most bound for wind farms in Montana, Oklahoma, Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota. Shipments of wind turbines through the port shot from 34,080 freight tons in 2005 to 307,000 freight tons last year.
The Duluth Seaway Port Authority reported this year that transportation of wind turbines was the single largest factor in making fiscal year 2007 its most profitable.
“The growth is explosive,” Paulson said. “There were times this season when we were moving 12 windmills a day. It’s become the major portion of our heavy-lift business.”
Other stories about the Duluth port.
by jboullion | Dec 1, 2008 | Uncategorized
The draft of Eau Claire’s comprehensive plan on sustainability lists these key issues:
1. Energy: What should the City do to foster improved local energy production,
efficiency, conservation, and diversification by using more alternative fuels?
2. Local Food: What should the City do to promote area food production and
consumption while reducing the amount of waste the food industry creates?
3. Environmental Conservation: What should the City do to safeguard our ecosystems,
trees, soil, and water resources?
4. Atmosphere: What should the City do to reduce our contribution to global
warming and minimize air pollution?
5. Managing Waste: What should the City do to promote consumer product
awareness, increase recycling rates, and reduce the amount of substances entering
into landfills?
6. Strong and Healthy Community: How should the City continue to protect its
citizens from disease, and promote healthy living, civic engagement, cultural and
ethnic diversity, while partnering with others to provide these activities?
7. Sustainable Development: How should the City guide and promote development
so that buildings and neighborhoods incorporate sustainable features?
8. Balanced Transportation: How can the City increase mobility choices by
enhancing other forms of transportation besides that for automobiles? How can
transportation infrastructure be designed efficiently, safely, with the environment in
mind, and connect to other local and regional networks?
9. Greener Economy: How can the City bolster the local economy by attracting
green-collar jobs, supporting our small businesses, and increasing sustainable
purchasing?
10. Sustainable Government: What should the City do to provide good government,
cost-effective services, cooperation with other governments, and meet the needs of
our citizens while not compromising the needs of future generations?
by jboullion | Dec 1, 2008 | Uncategorized
From a story Paul Snyder in The Daily Reporter:
The special legislative committee charged with creating a regional transit authority bill is dead.
State Rep. Alvin Ott, chairman of the Legislative Council Special Committee on Regional Transportation Authority, on Tuesday informed the Joint Legislative Council by letter that he would not convene any more committee meetings.
Citing changes in political leadership, economic conditions and the projected $5.4 billion state budget deficit, Ott said it would not be prudent to set up a new taxing authority until the economy improves.
But Len Brandrup, a committee member and director of Kenosha’s Transportation Department, said the state can’t afford to wait any longer for an RTA bill.
“We have no choice but to get a bill this session,” he said. “We can’t fail. If we’re to remain competitive in terms of attracting business and economic development, the state puts itself at a distinct disadvantage by not acting.”
Brandrup said his biggest concern is that the committee was terminated for partisan reasons, and Ott’s letter confirms the concern.
“With the pending change in party control of the Assembly, the Committee no longer has the ‘built-in’ balance that I feel is necessary to cultivate an appropriate compromise on the policy questions the committee has been charged with addressing,” according to the letter attributed to Ott.
Such comments echoed remarks made by state Rep. Robin Vos, the Racine Republican who last week said he doubts bipartisan discussions of RTAs could proceed with Democrats in control of the Legislature.
Neither Ott, Vos nor state Rep. Jeff Stone, R-Greendale — the committee’s three GOP legislative members — was available for comment Wednesday.
“We need all sides at the table,” Brandrup said. “To make this a partisan issue is a shortsighted approach. It’s not a wedge issue.”
Despite the conflict, other committee members said the committee’s demise doesn’t mean the end of an RTA bill.
Read other stories on regional transit authorities.
by jboullion | Nov 30, 2008 | Uncategorized
From an article by Bob Seaquist in the Onalaska Holmen Life Courier:
Saving energy in small ways is saving the Onalaska School District big money. Doug Hause, the district’s energy director told the Onalaska Board of Education Monday night the effort has saved $446,058 over the past 24 months. That is a 30 percent drop from what energy expenditures would have been without the program.
“We don’t suddenly have $400,000 sitting there but just have $400,000 less in expenses,” Superintendent John Burnett said.
In the past two years Onalaska schools spent $1,096,427 for energy.
The district contracts with Energy Education Inc., paying the firm about $88,500 per year in a four-year contract.
The company estimates the school district will save $4.5 million over a 10-year period if it sticks with the effort, Hauser said.
Remarkably, energy savings continue piling up even though the program is going into its third year. Hauser said a “plateau” has not occurred because there are “so many ways n facets n to save energy.” He gives extra credit to building head custodians who keep looking for ways to cut electricity, heat and air conditioning waste.
by jboullion | Nov 30, 2008 | Uncategorized
From an article by Larry Sandler and Patrick Marley in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Wisconsin’s public transit supporters have their best chance in years to win long-sought funding for buses and proposed commuter trains.
But that’s no guarantee they’ll get it – or that what they get will pay for everything they want.
Heading into next year’s state budget debates, key elements are in place to overhaul transit finance: the passage of a Milwaukee County advisory referendum seeking a local sales tax for transit and other services; growing support from legislators, Gov. Jim Doyle and the business community for buses and KRM Commuter Link trains; a sense of urgency that the cash-strapped Milwaukee County Transit System is running out of time; and a statewide coalition that reaches beyond southeastern Wisconsin into Dane County and the Fox Valley.
Also in place, however, are the same factors that have blocked a solution until now: Conflicting agendas from Milwaukee-area politicians; and fear that voters will punish lawmakers who raise sales taxes.
For years, transit advocates have sought to take buses off the property tax and out of competition with other local services for funding. Sales taxes support most other major U.S. transit systems, but Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and others have opposed new taxes here.
While the issue has been debated, the Milwaukee County bus system has been caught in a cycle of fare increases, service cuts and falling ridership as federal funds dwindle. Without new state or local funding, the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission and the Public Policy Forum have warned that the bus system could face a 35% service cut by 2010.
by jboullion | Nov 28, 2008 | Uncategorized
From a post on a site called Volumne One:
Meet to plan programs and projects for upcoming year, and informational update on Eau Claire’s progress towards area sustainability.
7:00 p.m.
Unitarian Universalist Congregation
835-1733
421 S. Farwell St.
Eau Claire, WI
by jboullion | Nov 25, 2008 | Uncategorized
From the Evergreen page of the Eau Claire Energy Cooperative:
Evergreen is a voluntary renewable energy (green power) program available to your home, farm, or business through Eau Claire Energy Cooperative, a member-cooperative of the Dairyland Power system. Evergreen is for those who want to do more to support renewable energy generation.
This is how it works:
1. You choose one of the Evergreen Levels listed below.
2. For each block (100 kWh) you will be purchasing that amount of energy from a renewable energy source.
3. Your energy bill will be charged the additional cost (see chart below) to help offset the cost it takes to support renewable energy.
4. A one year subscription is required, but after that you can cancel at any time.
by jboullion | Nov 25, 2008 | Uncategorized
From the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES)announcement of the 2009 Organic Farming Conference, February 26-28, 2009, in La Cross
An extraordinary, farmer-centered event, the Organic Farming Conference is the largest organic farming conference in the U.S. In 2008, more than 2,300 people attended, with participants traveling from 37 states and 1 foreign country. Sponsored by the Wisconsin-based Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES), the conference is celebrated as the foremost educational and networking event in the organic farming community.
The conference is highly regarded due to its practical workshops designed to help beginning, transitional, and experienced organic farmers.
by jboullion | Nov 25, 2008 | Uncategorized
Congress for the New Urbanism
CNU Wisconsin Group
Invites you to attend a great local opportunity to become involved in CNU and meet professionals and others with similar interests.
Presenting: “New Urbanism and You”
With Guest Speaker: Steve Filmanowicz, Communications Director, Congress for the New Urbanism
Steve will speak about the benefits of walkable urban development, ranging from more livable communities, to reduced carbon emissions – plus, how CNU is working to remove the barriers that stand in the way of great neighborhoods and sound transportation systems.
MILWAUKEE
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
5pm (light snacks served)
Office of Engberg Anderson Design Partnership
320 E. Buffalo – Corner of Milwaukee & Buffalo Streets, 53202
Take elevator to 5th Floor
Doors open until 6pm
Note: The CNU Wisconsin Group is developing a chapter of the national Congress for the New Urbanism – which seeks to expand its influence and capabilities through chapters. For questions, call Joan Herriges at 414-289-7685, or email joanherriges@yahoo.com.
by jboullion | Nov 24, 2008 | Uncategorized
From the Web site of Sustainable Dunn:
Sustainable Dunn will be guided by the following principles:
1. Minimize use of fossils fuels and minerals taken from the Earth.
2. Minimize dependence on manmade chemicals.
3. Minimize harm to the natural world.
4. Meet human needs fairly and efficiently with minimal impact on the environment
To this end, Sustainable Dunn will work to:
1. Raise awareness about the threat global climate change, and other environmental degradation, poses to life on this planet.
2. Raise awareness about the negative impacts of natural resource depletion (e.g, water, oil, etc).
3. Raise awareness about what actions individuals can take to create an environmentally and economically sound present and future.
4. Develop policy recommendations regarding actions government and business can take to create an environmentally and economically sound present and future.
5. Initiate projects in the community to create an environmentally and economically sound present and future.
6. Increase participation in local sustainability efforts.
