by jboullion | May 6, 2011 | Uncategorized
From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
A proposed We Energies power plant at the Domtar Corp. paper mill in Rothschild is still too expensive for the utility’s customers and should be rejected, critics of the plant said Thursday.
Groups that have raised questions or opposed the plant made filings with the state Public Service Commission Thursday, a day before regulators are scheduled to discuss the power company’s bid to build a $255 million power plant that would burn wood.
The filings came two days after We Energies and Domtar revised the financial terms of the deal to raise Domtar Corp.’s financial stake in the project.
State regulators last week raised concerns about the project’s price tag, but gave the utility a chance to revise the financial terms of the deal this week.
The changes announced by Domtar and We Energies weren’t sufficient to address the concerns raised by the PSC, said the Citizens’ Utility Board, a consumer advocacy group.
“It is unacceptable for (We Energies) ratepayers to bear the brunt of the costs and all of the risks for an uneconomical and unnecessary project for which they receive little to no benefits,” wrote Kira Loehr, CUB’s lawyer, in the filing.
by jboullion | May 6, 2011 | Uncategorized
From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
We Energies plans to take initial steps toward converting its Milwaukee coal-fired power plant to burn natural gas, the utility’s chairman told shareholders Thursday.
The Milwaukee utility has been under pressure to address air pollution from the power plant located south of downtown in the Menomonee River Valley.
To comply with new federal pollution rules, the utility has been studying whether to convert the plant to natural gas or to add environmental controls that could allow it to continue burning coal.
“We believe we will need to convert the plant from coal to natural gas,” Chairman and Chief Executive Gale Klappa told shareholders at Wisconsin Energy Corp.’s annual meeting at Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon.
We Energies will file an application with the state Public Service Commission in the second half of this year for an initial project that would be needed for that conversion to take place.
“That first step would be to put in a larger natural gas pipeline that could . . . supply natural gas to that facility,” Klappa said. “That will be a significant project. It will require PSC approval, it will require City of Milwaukee approval, and it will require us to update a 1949 natural gas line that runs through the area.”
Klappa did not announce a timeline for converting the plant from coal to gas. Utility spokesman Brian Manthey said the utility needs to ensure it has the approval and the ability to supply gas to the power plant before it makes a final decision.
“The (Cleaner Valley) coalition encourages We Energies to move as quickly as possible,” said the Rev. Willie Brisco, president of Milwaukee Inner City Congregations Allied for Hope. “People’s lives are impacted by Milwaukee’s dirty air each and every day.”
Built in the late 1960s, the Valley plant is the utility’s only major coal-fired plant in Wisconsin that lacks modern pollution controls. A much smaller coal plant in Wauwatosa provides steam to businesses at the Milwaukee County Grounds.
Environmental groups and a consortium of other groups in the Milwaukee area formed the Cleaner Valley Coalition to urge the utility to clean up the plant. In addition, the Sierra Club and Clean Wisconsin challenged an air pollution permit for Valley, saying it doesn’t go far enough to protect public health.
“We’re very happy to hear that they’re taking a step in the right direction,” said Emily Miota of the Sierra Club. “The biggest concern now is that they move quickly to make this happen.”
by jboullion | May 5, 2011 | Uncategorized
From an article by Pamela Powers in the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram:
MENOMONIE – UW-Stout student Max Broton-Anderson takes the Dunn County Express bus nearly every day from Red Cedar Hall to his classes on the lower part of the college campus.
“It’s fast,” said the 19-year-old sophomore majoring in engineering technology. “You don’t freeze. You don’t get wet. You don’t get hot. If they’re going to run it, we might as well use it.”
In January the Dunn County Express began offering a continuous bus circuit around campus and the surrounding area for off-campus students. The busing program is offered by Dunn County Transit, which operates buses in Menomonie and the county.
So far the route has been a big success. Broton-Anderson is among 16,404 riders who have ridden the university bus route since it began. The route averages between 1,500 and 1,800 riders per week.
“The bus is really being used,” Dunn County Transit manager Kent Conklin said. “Students are getting on 50 at a time. We didn’t know what to expect. It’s been a tremendous success.”
Because of the number of riders the transit bought two used 45-passenger, 40-foot buses, the first large transit buses to be operated in the city in 40 years, Conklin said.
by jboullion | May 5, 2011 | Uncategorized
From an editorial in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Pay attention to this number.
$4.39.
That was the price of regular unleaded gasoline at a station on Milwaukee’s south side on Tuesday. It’s a number that’s likely to rise. It’s also a number that Gov. Scott Walker and the Legislature are so far ignoring as they put together a budget that does much for roads and highway funding but threatens to gut public transit systems across the state.
On Tuesday, the Legislature’s budget committee took another step backward on transit when it voted to repeal authority for four regional transit authorities created in 2009. One of those would have been responsible for a commuter rail line connecting Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee.
Keep in mind that Walker’s budget also cuts aid to transit by 10%, moves transit aid from the state transportation fund to the general revenue budget and bars municipalities from raising taxes to make up for the loss in aid. By repealing the RTAs, the budget also removes another tool – a cooperative one – that local communities could have used to help them deal with the loss of funding.
The committee also voted to eliminate a $100 million bonding program for capital transit projects in southeastern Wisconsin and to eliminate all state funding – $5 million over two years – for bike and pedestrian paths.
Why does this matter? Several reasons, but let’s talk about just two.
First, there are people without cars who rely on transit to get them to jobs, appointments, shopping and friends. Some can’t afford a vehicle; others prefer not to have one. Having a car should not be a requirement for living in urban areas such as Milwaukee, Madison, Racine and Waukesha. Giving people options that include transit as well as good roads make those areas more attractive for economic development.
Second, as gas prices continue to rise, many commuters are looking for alternatives to driving to their jobs. In a recent informal and unscientific poll by the Editorial Board, a slight majority of respondents said that a $4-per-gallon price for gasoline would be enough to make them change their driving habits.
by jboullion | May 4, 2011 | Uncategorized
From a story on WHOTV.com, Des Moines:
A wind energy plant wants to bring jobs to Iowa
A Maryland-based company is making plans to employ 175 people at a new plant in Iowa City. North American Ductile Iron Company will initially focus on making parts for the wind turbine market.
The $85-million project is subject to state and city review. The company hopes to begin operation by 2013.
by jboullion | May 4, 2011 | Uncategorized
From a story on WHOTV.com, Des Moines:
A wind energy plant wants to bring jobs to Iowa
A Maryland-based company is making plans to employ 175 people at a new plant in Iowa City. North American Ductile Iron Company will initially focus on making parts for the wind turbine market.
The $85-million project is subject to state and city review. The company hopes to begin operation by 2013.
