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.
by jboullion | Nov 24, 2008 | Uncategorized
A report on WXOW News 19 (La Crosse) about a public forum on a power project called CapX 2020:
La Crosse, WI (WXOW)- It’s a highly controversial project. Opponents claim these 150 foot tall towers placed every one thousand feet would have a detrimental impact on the environment and wildlife. They also claim there are better options to meeting growing energy needs.
Utilities like Xcel Energy and Dairyland Power support the lines saying it’s necessary to meet the growing demands for energy.
It’s called CapX 2020. The powerlines would start in the Dakotas and continue through Rochester and through the La Crosse Area. Those with Xcel say regional electric use has grown by 80-percent since the early 1980s. Attorney Carol oOerland is against the power lines says there’s alternatives like renewable energy and conservation.
“And we don’t need it. There is other ways to generate electricity. We can use wind and gas combos. It’s just not needed,” says Carol Overland, Attorney.
“The lines, it’s about growth. For example, in the La Crosse metro area you have 20% growth in the last 20 years in the entire Rochester region has seen 50 percent growth,” Says Xcel Energy Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Tim Carlsgaard.
This is something both the state of Minnesota and Wisconsin will decide. State and federal permits are both needed as well in order for high voltage transmission lines to be built.
by jboullion | Nov 24, 2008 | Uncategorized
An opinion piece by Michael Grebe in The Business Joournal:
As gas prices fluctuate and the economy trudges along, sustainable, dependable modes of transit will be critical to keeping our local economy from stagnating. If southeastern Wisconsin desires economic growth and prosperity for citizens, we must follow peer cities nationwide and invest in our current transit systems and new initiatives encouraging economic development in the region.
The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) must be properly funded so it can continue to provide critical service and access to jobs and educational opportunities in this community. Routes should be restored and frequency of buses increased. Continuing to cut funding and service to this system is an added blow to the populations hardest hit by these economic times.
To complement bus service and connect local residents to nearly a million jobs in the corridor linking this region to Chicago, the proposed Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee commuter rail would expand the pool of potential jobs and employees for this region and promote economic development. Connecting with other transit options such as buses and shuttles, it would provide southeastern Wisconsin with the full-service mass transit system it needs, creating an infrastructure linking people to jobs to support economic growth in this community.
Southeastern Wisconsin is one of the few metro regions of our size that funds transit with property taxes. Recently, the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) supported removing bus transit from the property tax and enacting up to 0.5 percent sales tax to fund transit.
by jboullion | Nov 21, 2008 | Uncategorized
From the green Web site of the City of Eau Claire:
Sustainability “is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” This definition has come to mean not only meeting human needs, but environmental and economic as well. Thus, to do its part, the City of Eau Claire is conducting a process to amend its Comprehensive Plan addressing green issues more adequately.
Eau Claire’s Comprehensive Plan has won ‘Excellence in Planning’ awards by the Wisconsin Chapter of American Planner’s Association for both our 1993 and 2005 plans. Although there are many sustainable development goals, objectives and policies already listed in the 2005 plan, more could be addressed in the areas of energy, recycling, waste, green buildings, food production, and climate change. Thus, this amendment process will seek community input on these and other issues as we increase our efforts towards creating an even more sustainable future.
A series of Community Workshops will be held in the River Rooms on the ground floor of Royal Credit Union Corporate Center, 200 Riverfront Terrace, Eau Claire, WI, 54703. The next workshop is on December 11, 2008 at 7 p.m.
by jboullion | Nov 21, 2008 | Uncategorized
From a report on WISC-TV:
LA CROSSE, Wis. — With gas prices still hovering above $2 per gallon, imagine paying as little as $1.25 a gallon to run a car.
Such a cost savings comes not from gasoline, but instead pumping a fuel that many of people already use to heat their home or to cook a meal.
Natural gas is a fuel that is readily available, produced in North America and is virtually pollution free. According to current designs, a compressed natural gas-powered vehicle could hypothetically be filled up in home’s garage every night.
A version of this vehicle is available today in Wisconsin.
A Honda Civic looks just like any other sedan seen on the road, but it isn’t. The Civic has a trick up its sleeve.
“This car is fueled by American-produced natural gas,” said Chris Schneider, president of Honda Motorwerks in La Crosse. “It’s stored as a gas and I should say, when we talk about gas, we are usually referring to gasoline that’s stored as a liquid. This is stored as a gas.”
