by jboullion | Mar 25, 2010 | Uncategorized
From an article by Pete Bach in the Green Bay Press Gazette:
APPLETON — The Boldt Company announced Tuesday it will provide all construction services for We Energies’ new 50 megawatt biomass cogeneration plant at the Domtar Corp. paper mill in Rothschild near Wausau.
The total project cost was pegged at $255 million.
“We’re excited about that,” said Bob DeKoch, Boldt president and chief operating officer. “We Energies is a great customer of ours and has been for a long time.”
We Energies, the Milwaukee-based provider of electricity and natural gas to more than 1 million customers, said the project will create about 400 construction jobs and 150 permanent jobs.
DeKoch said the company will hire some new field craftsmen. The company believes the project management staff and engineering staff are sufficient to handle the job.
“We plan the work with all our customers and particularly our repeat customers so we make sure we have capacity available for them,” DeKoch said.
Boldt’s most recent work with We Energies was the 145 megawatt Blue Sky Green Field Wind Energy Center in Fond du Lac County.
We Energies filed a petition March 15 to seek approval from the Wisconsin Public Service Commission for the Domtar plant, said WE spokeswoman Irissol Arce.
Construction will begin next spring if the PSC gives the green light by the end of the year, she said. On that timetable, the plant would be complete in the first half of 2013, We Energies said.
The facility is designed to use forest residue, clean wood waste and wood shavings to generate electricity and steam in sufficient amounts to assist Domtar’s paper making operations and wean the Montreal-based firm off fossil fuels.
by jboullion | Mar 25, 2010 | Uncategorized
From an article by John Froelich in the Tomah Journal:
The Tomah School District’s energy management program, which was inaugurated last fall, is paying off with an estimated $92,500 in savings.
Dave Stutzman, the district’s buildings and energy manager, gave a report of activities to the Tomah Board of Education Thursday evening. Stutzman said, “Our staff is making a difference on our energy bills.”
Stutzman, who was hired last August, said energy use was down nine percent across the board in November, close to the 10 percent annual reduction goal. He said the action plan and energy study “… are the roadmap for our future.”
The action plan was created in September. Staff building energy plans were initiated beginning in November.
Stutzman said there was a big reduction in the amount of therms used in November and December.
He had praise for Miller School which was “…consistently low” in energy use. ”The staff in that building are following best practices to the letter,” he said.
Behavioral modification — getting staff to close doors and shut off lights — is an important part of the process.
by jboullion | Mar 25, 2010 | Uncategorized
From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Johnson Controls Inc. is expanding its advanced battery research and testing space at its Glendale headquarters, one sign of the Milwaukee area’s efforts in the race for green economy jobs.
Mary Ann Wright, a key Johnson Controls advanced battery executive, said the Glendale-based firm is matching dollar-for-dollar a $299 million stimulus grant that is aimed at creating a domestic supply chain for advanced batteries, a sector dominated by firms in China and other Asian countries.
“We’re not in the game relative to supplying the materials and technology in this space right now,” she said Wednesday.
The stimulus funding will help not only to set up the company’s lithium battery factory in Holland, Mich., but also “to help stand up an industry,” she said.
“Our plan prior to this stimulus was to expand our manufacturing and technological base in Europe and China,” Wright said. “As a result of the investment the U.S. government taxpayers are making, this is where we’re going to build it – and then expand to our global footprint.”
Her comments came as the Green Energy Summit kicked off Wednesday at the Midwest Airlines Center. Speakers at the summit said Milwaukee is positioned for an economy that’s transitioning toward the clean-technology sector and greener energy choices. . . .
A new report to be released Thursday shows the challenge facing the clean-tech sector. Global clean-energy investments have risen by 300% since 2005, but for the first time last year, China took the lead in investment in clean-energy technologies, according to data released by The Pew Charitable Trusts.
“The facts speak for themselves,” said Bloomberg New Energy Finance Chief Executive Michael Liebreich in a statement. “2009 clean energy investment in China totaled $34.6 billion, while in the U.S. it totaled $18.6 billion. China is now clearly the world leader in attracting new capital and making new investments in this area.”
by jboullion | Mar 24, 2010 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by Clean Wisconsin:
76% support policies stronger than those in the Clean Energy Jobs Act
MADISON — More than three-quarters of Wisconsin voters support renewable energy policies requiring 30 percent of our state’s power to come from renewable sources, according to polling data released today by a bipartisan research group.
“An overwhelming majority of Wisconsin’s voters recognize the need to replace our dependence on dirty, imported fossil fuels with new investments in clean, renewable energy,” said Keith Reopelle, senior policy director at Clean Wisconsin, an environmental advocacy organization celebrating 40 years of service. “With no fossil fuel reserves of our own, transitioning toward renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, crops, and agricultural waste will help Wisconsin become more energy independent and economically prosperous.”
According to the data released today, 76 percent of Wisconsin voters support passing policies “ensuring that 30 percent of the state’s electricity comes from renewable sources.” Known as a renewable electricity standard, current policy ensures that only 10 percent of Wisconsin’s electricity comes from renewable sources by 2015. The Clean Energy Jobs Act would set new goals by ensuring that 25 percent of our electricity comes from renewable resources by 2025.
“This data highlights the need to pass a strong renewable electricity standard in the Clean Energy Jobs Act,” said Reopelle. “Spending $16 billion dollars every year on out-of-state fossil fuels drains Wisconsin’s economy. By investing in renewable energy, we can create jobs and keep much of that money right here at home.”
by jboullion | Mar 24, 2010 | Uncategorized
Join us for the 21st Annual Energy Fair June 18-20, 2010.
Each year the MREA Energy Fair transforms rural Central Wisconsin into the global hot spot for renewable energy education. The Energy Fair brings over 20,000 people from nearly every state in the U.S. and several countries around the world to learn, connect with others and ready them for action at home. The Energy Fair is the nation’s longest running energy education event of its kind.
Advance Energy Fair tickets and Reservations for Back 40 Camping will be available starting April 1st.
The Energy Fair features:
•Over 275 exhibitors – sustainable living and energy products
•Over 200 workshops – from introductory level to hands-on education
•Clean Energy Car Show – demonstration vehicles and workshops
•Green Home Pavilion – focused on building and remodeling in a sustainable way
•Sustainable Tables – workshops, chef demos, and a farmers market bringing sustainability to your dinner table
•Inspirational keynotes, lively entertainment, great food, and local beer.
The Energy Fair is held in Custer, WI just seven miles east of Stevens Point. Join us for the 21st Annual Energy Fair June 18-20, 2010. For more information about the Fair, contact the Midwest Renewable Energy Association at 715-592-6595 or visit the website: www.the-mrea.org.
by jboullion | Mar 24, 2010 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by Focus on Energy:
Madison, Wis. (March 24, 2010) – Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s statewide program for energy efficiency and renewable energy, in partnership with Xcel Energy, awarded Pfaffs Prairie Dairy in Melrose $25,000 to install high-performance, energy-efficient equipment throughout the farm.
“I knew that I had to change something. Our stanchion barn was obsolete and if I didn’t modernize, I would have to get out of dairying,” said Tom Pfaff, owner of PfaffsPrairie Dairy. “I like the animals too much, and I wanted to be able to hand the farm over to my kids if they want to go into farming.”
With technical expertise and financial incentives from Focus and Xcel Energy, the Pfaffs builta new free-stall barn and installed high-velocity low speed (HVLS) fans, heat recovery, a water heater, a heat exchanger on the pipeline, and waterers. The equipment will save the dairy more than 188,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity and 10 kilowatts in demand reduction annually—enough energy to power 20 homes for a year. The farm will also benefit from an estimated $18,000 savings on its energy bills
each year.
“The free-stall design takes advantage of natural ventilation and the cows enjoy a constant supply of fresh air,” said Pfaff. “When we do need the fans, they can move the air and you don’t even know they are on.”
