From Focus on Energy:
Join Focus on Energy at the Northern Wisconsin State Fair! The Northern Wisconsin State Fair offers a nostalgic atmosphere, allowing visitors to relax and enjoy the park-like setting filled with clean, safe, hometown hospitality. Stop by the Focus on Energy booth in the Fine Arts Building and talk to the experts about energy efficiency in your home and business.
From an article by Nathaniel Shuda in the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune:
Wisconsin Rapids officials are working to create a policy regulating small wind-energy systems but want legislators in Madison to create a statewide law for consistency.
With a planned 350,000-square-foot plant expected to produce large, industrial wind turbine blades, the city currently has no rules regulating smaller, more residential wind mills, Mayor Mary Jo Carson said.
“You’ve got to progress and get it done, so when your constituents have questions, you’re prepared for that,” said Carson, also chairwoman of the city’s Planning Commission.
The city already received at least two requests from residents looking for guidance on erecting wind mills in their yards or on their roofs, she said.
City staff members have forwarded a proposed zoning ordinance to Wisconsin Focus on Energy for guidance but have not yet received a response, said Michael Ostrowski, the city’s planning and economic development director.
At the state level, a similar policy has made it through the Assembly Committee on Energy and Utilities but still is before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Utilities, Energy and Rail.
The bill would grant rule-making authority to the Public Service Commission to develop statewide regulations to govern small wind systems. Local ordinances cannot be more stringent than state regulations.
State Reps. Amy Sue Vruwink, D-Milladore, and Louis Molepske, D-Stevens Point, co-sponsored the bill. The effort also has garnered support from various Republican lawmakers, including state Rep. Scott Suder, R-Abbotsford.
“Our fear is that we pass this and then the state pushes through (a different version),” Carson said. “I really wish the state would get (going) here. We need to move on.”
A letter to the editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel by Gerald Flakas:
A July 3 editorial asked for opinions on rules governing wind turbines in Wisconsin. By Wisconsin statute, no county, city, town or village may place any restriction on the installation or use of a solar or wind energy system unless the restriction serves to protect public health and safety, does not significantly increase the cost of the system or decrease its efficiency or allows for an alternative system of comparable cost and efficiency.
This means that perceived aesthetics or property value impact cannot be used to prevent people from installing wind turbines on their property. The details on what constitutes “public health and safety” are subject to debate. The state Legislature will be considering a uniform wind energy system siting bill (AB256/SB185) this fall to resolve this question statewide.
The final resolution of these bills should be incorporated into any local ordinances or restrictions, so it might be wise for local units of government to wait for the outcome of these bills before proceeding with regulations restricting solar and wind energy installations.
Gerald K. Flakas
Delafield
From an announcement from Focus on Energy:
Who is Eligible?
Nonprofit organizations and institutions, schools, and units of government are eligible for the Wind Electric Implementation Grant for Schools, Nonprofits and Units of Government if they purchase electricity from an electric provider participating with Focus on Energy. The renewable energy system must be installed on a site whose owner purchases electricity for that site. For a list of participating providers visit focusonenergy.com/utilities or call 888.476.9534.
What is an Implementation Grant?
Wind Electric Implementation Grants for Schools, Nonprofits and Units of Government provide financial support for the installation of commercially available wind electric systems that produce electricity and are rated over 20 kW and not more than 100 kW. For residential or business wind electric systems, please use the Cash-Back Rewards or Wind Electric Implementation Grant available at focusonenergy.com/reincentives.
Available Funding
On a competitive basis, a maximum grant of $150,000 will be available to provide financial support for the installation of wind electric systems over 20 kW to not more than 100 kW. This grant cannot exceed 35 percent of the system cost, the actual grant award is based on the estimated annual electrical production of the installed system (See System Guidelines for more information).
Important!
Before you sign an installation contract, order, purchase or begin to install any system components, your application must be approved by Focus on Energy and you must sign an Implementation Grant Agreement form. Payment of the Implementation Grant is made to you after the renewable energy system is installed and you submit a complete Notice of Installation.
From an announcement from Focus on Energy:
Who is Eligible?
Nonprofit organizations and institutions, schools, and units of government are eligible for the Wind Electric Implementation Grant for Schools, Nonprofits and Units of Government if they purchase electricity from an electric provider participating with Focus on Energy. The renewable energy system must be installed on a site whose owner purchases electricity for that site. For a list of participating providers visit focusonenergy.com/utilities or call 888.476.9534.
What is an Implementation Grant?
Wind Electric Implementation Grants for Schools, Nonprofits and Units of Government provide financial support for the installation of commercially available wind electric systems that produce electricity and are rated over 20 kW and not more than 100 kW. For residential or business wind electric systems, please use the Cash-Back Rewards or Wind Electric Implementation Grant available at focusonenergy.com/reincentives.
Available Funding
On a competitive basis, a maximum grant of $150,000 will be available to provide financial support for the installation of wind electric systems over 20 kW to not more than 100 kW. This grant cannot exceed 35 percent of the system cost, the actual grant award is based on the estimated annual electrical production of the installed system (See System Guidelines for more information).
Important!
Before you sign an installation contract, order, purchase or begin to install any system components, your application must be approved by Focus on Energy and you must sign an Implementation Grant Agreement form. Payment of the Implementation Grant is made to you after the renewable energy system is installed and you submit a complete Notice of Installation.
From an announcement from Focus on Energy:
Who is Eligible?
Nonprofit organizations and institutions, schools, and units of government are eligible for the Wind Electric Implementation Grant for Schools, Nonprofits and Units of Government if they purchase electricity from an electric provider participating with Focus on Energy. The renewable energy system must be installed on a site whose owner purchases electricity for that site. For a list of participating providers visit focusonenergy.com/utilities or call 888.476.9534.
What is an Implementation Grant?
Wind Electric Implementation Grants for Schools, Nonprofits and Units of Government provide financial support for the installation of commercially available wind electric systems that produce electricity and are rated over 20 kW and not more than 100 kW. For residential or business wind electric systems, please use the Cash-Back Rewards or Wind Electric Implementation Grant available at focusonenergy.com/reincentives.
Available Funding
On a competitive basis, a maximum grant of $150,000 will be available to provide financial support for the installation of wind electric systems over 20 kW to not more than 100 kW. This grant cannot exceed 35 percent of the system cost, the actual grant award is based on the estimated annual electrical production of the installed system (See System Guidelines for more information).
Important!
Before you sign an installation contract, order, purchase or begin to install any system components, your application must be approved by Focus on Energy and you must sign an Implementation Grant Agreement form. Payment of the Implementation Grant is made to you after the renewable energy system is installed and you submit a complete Notice of Installation.