Homegrown renewable energy bus tour slated for Eau Claire area on September 8

by | Aug 24, 2009 | Uncategorized

From an article on Wisconsin Ag Connection:

Several groups are joining forces to hold a homegrown renewable energy bus tour around Northern Wisconsin next month. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Office of Energy Independence, Wisconsin Farmers Union, [RENEW Wisconsin], and other partners are sponsoring the daylong tour on September 8.

Organizers say stops will be made at four locations where exciting developments in renewable energy production are being made.

The tour includes visits at Cadott School District, where the district uses buses that run on natural gas and and has examples of electric and alternative fuel vehicles; Five Star Dairy near Elk Mound, uses a manure to energy digester system to generate electricity; Barron High School, which produced wood chips, instead of fossil fuels, to provide heat for the school; and Bioenergy Crop Research Site, where attendees can meet the people behind the cutting edge research into bioenergy crops.

The stops on the tour coincide with each policy item of the Homegrown Renewable Energy Campaign. All four policies will come before the state legislature this fall.

Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. at the Cadott Junior/Senior High School. The tour will conclude at approximately 5 p.m. Lunch and snacks will be provided and the cost of the tour is $10.

For more information or to sign-up, call 715-723-5561.

New interactive Milwaukee maps shows solar installations

by | Aug 24, 2009 | Uncategorized

From Milwaukee Shines:

The . . . map features 65 of the estimated 175 homes and businesses with solar energy installations in the 7-county Milwaukee metro area.

The City of Milwaukee, through the Solar America Cities program, has a goal of installing at least 100 solar electric systems and 50 solar hot water systems with a combined production of one megawatt of solar energy in Milwaukee by 2012.

Using data from Focus on Energy, Milwaukee Shines estimates that the City of Milwaukee currently has approximately 30 solar electric systems and 20 solar hot water systems in operation that produce a combined 350 kW of energy.

Help us reach our goal! Solar is a viable energy source in southeastern Wisconsin. Contact Milwaukee Shines, Focus on Energy, or We Energies to find out if you qualify for a solar installation incentive.

Finally, if you have a solar energy system on your home or business and would like to be featured on our map, please contact Andrea Luecke at 414-286-5593 or aluecke@milwaukee.gov.

Solar innovator featured in Renewable Quarterly

Solar innovator featured in Renewable Quarterly

by | Aug 21, 2009 | Uncategorized

From an article in the newsletter of RENEW Wisconsin:

A start-up in 2006, Hudson-based Energy Concepts because the latest Wisconsin renewable energy company to earn Focus on Energy’s coveted Market Provider of the Year award.

The award was presented to founder Craig Tarr at the Midwest Renewable Energy Association’s 20th annual Energy Fair.

The Market Provider of the Year award recognizes renewable energy contractors who exemplify the goals and expectations of the Focus on Energy Program. The award highlights a contractor’s commitment and dedication to excellent customer service and high-quality renewable energy systems installation. Contractors who receive the honor demonstrate exceptional passion, intelligence, and dedication when providing renewable energy services.

“Craig’s 20 years of experience in the engineering industry has contributed greatly to his highly successful growth in the renewable energy industry,” said Emily Hickey, market provider program coordinator for Focus on Energy. “Wisconsin truly benefits from having well-qualified businesses like Energy Concepts grow our renewable energy markets.”

Tarr returned the praise from Focus on Energy, saying, “Without Focus on Energy, I quite frankly wouldn’t be where I am today. Since 2006 when we began, Energy Concepts has grown to a $2 million business. We want to reach $5 million a year in the next three years.”

Other articles in the newsletter:
In Memoriam: Bob Gilbertson
Board Member Brings Green Home
Renewables Profile: Jenny Heinzen
Manure Digesters Good Fit
Calendar