by jboullion | Oct 25, 2010 | Uncategorized
From a commentary by Michael Flaherty on BizOpinion.com:
PARIS – The train starts to pick up speed, almost imperceptibly, and within 20 minutes the Eurostar high-speed train has left Paris behind, quietly slicing through the French countryside at 185 miles per hour on its way to London.
Just over two hours later, the five-football-field-long train – one of 20 trains that day – deposits 500 passengers at the St. Pancras International station in central London.
The high-speed Eurostar announced last year it has now transported more than 100 million passengers. That’s 100 million business people, tourists, educators, students, 100 million generators of economic activity among nations that fought each other almost constantly for centuries.
When a Wisconsinite rides the Eurostar, it’s difficult not to reflect on Europe’s success and the debate we’re having over rail in Wisconsin. Or, more succinctly, the debate we’re not having – but ought to.
Wisconsin’s proposed rail system will be nothing like the Eurostar, of course. It will be relatively slow. The trains will be emptier and less efficient, at least at first. They won’t bring nations together or link destinations as world-famous as Paris and London.
But a trip on the Eurostar is a slap on the forehead. It’s a vivid example of what an investment in high-speed rail can do to accelerate growth and economic activity. It’s a window into the future for those willing to invest in a regional economy such as the “I-Q Corridor,” the intellectually rich route connecting Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison and the Twin Cities.
For Wisconsin “conservatives” opposed to rail (note the quotes), the Eurostar is a stark reminder that this debate isn’t about a train or the growth of government. It’s about economic growth, economic efficiency and the development of urban and rural areas alike.
by jboullion | Oct 25, 2010 | Uncategorized
From an article by Nate Enwald in The Pointer, Stevens Point, WI:
Students at the University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point are in for a few changes in their dining routines at DeBot Dining Center; some may have noticed a change in the Oct. 11 Monday menu and what it served, or lack thereof.
The University Dining Services department has taken to the “Meatless Monday” movement that has been a spreading trend in other schools across the country. The new meatless menu that began on Oct. 11 is scheduled to take effect for the Mondays of Nov. 8, Feb. 7, and April 11.
The Monday Campaigns originally started the “Meatless Monday” movement in association with the Johns Hopkins’ Bloomberg School of Public Health, with the goal of reducing the consumption of meat by 15 percent. This movement hopes to ultimately better public health and reduce the carbon footprint left by the production, transportation and cooking of meats.
“We are doing this [Meatless Monday] to raise awareness about the program and the benefits of lowering meat consumption,” said Kathleen Gould, the Public Relations representative and Marketing Coordinator of University Dining Services.
At meatlessmonday.com, the organization promotes going meatless at least once a week to aid in efforts of reducing the public health issues of cancer, diabetes and obesity along with the inevitable ecological benefits that go with a meatless diet.
by jboullion | Oct 20, 2010 | Uncategorized
From a story on WDIO-TV, Duluth, Minnesota:
It may surprise you but 44 states–including Minnesota and Wisconsin—don’t guarantee their residents the right to line dry their laundry. But a Superior lawmaker is making sure his clothesline-using constituents aren’t hung out to dry.
There’s a million different ways Northland residents can enjoy a Sunny sunday, but at Jan Conley’s household perfect weekend weather is reserved for hanging the laundry.
“There’s something iconic about hanging clothes out,” said Jan Conley of Lake Nebagamon. “I think there’s something really nice about it you know you feel good you’re outside you’re hanging clothes you’ve accomplished something and then when you’re done great I washed these clothes and they’re hanging out.”
A movement, dubbed the “Right to Dry” revolution by followers, began some years ago in Oregon, when homeowners’ associations began banning residents from line drying their laundry. Although none of those communities exist here, Representative Nick Milroy wants to protect those rights for his Wisconsin residents before they’re taken away.
“People really cherish their freedom in this country and I think taking away something as simple as allowing people to line dry their clothes is save money save energy it just doesn’t make send to me,” said Wisconsin State Representative, Nick Milroy of Superior.
Conley joined the “Right to Dry” movement a few years ago. She said using a dryer is a waste of energy and she wishes more of her neighbors would let the wind to handle the job.
“It’s a part of America. Its part of who we are,” said Conley.
by jboullion | Oct 20, 2010 | Uncategorized
From an article by Nathaniel Shuda in the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune:
A Wisconsin Rapids-based manufacturer recently revised its plan for a wind-turbine blade manufacturing plant, making it a three-phase project, instead of a one-phase project, the company’s top executive said.
At one time, Energy Composites officials hoped to break ground on a 535,000-square-foot facility about a year ago, but a difficult bond market led to project downsizing, President Jamie Mancl said.
“Now we’re talking about … a smaller portion of that plan to get the shovel in the ground and started with something,” Mancl said Tuesday evening during a presentation to the Wisconsin Rapids Common Council. “We’re taking a more prudent approach to get this thing off the ground.”
The company, which includes the former Advanced Fiberglass Technologies, already retained Stern Brothers & Co., a private financing firm, to help secure $25 million from investors for the first phase, Mancl said.
“With the financing issues we’re experiencing in the country, it’s hard to put a timeline on it, but … within six months or less, they’re hopeful they’ll be able to secure (investors),” he said, declining to say how much money the company has raised.
by jboullion | Oct 19, 2010 | Uncategorized
From an article by Larry Bivins in the Wausau Daily Herald:
WASHINGTON — In the absence of a national policy that puts a cap on carbon emissions, some environmental activists see an opportunity to place more emphasis on efficiency as part of the solution to climate change.
Advocates say the potential benefits to the environment, the economy and individual pocketbooks cannot be ignored.
One 2007 study estimates the U.S. could reap $1.2 trillion in electricity savings by investing $520 billion in energy efficiency measures by 2020.
In Wisconsin, a 2009 report by the Energy Center of Wisconsin said the state could create 7,000 to 9,000 jobs by 2012 and generate $900 million in savings by tripling its investment in energy efficiency.
President Barack Obama’s administration set aside $16.8 billion in economic recovery act money for research and development, building retrofits, renewable energy projects and weatherization, among other things.
Wisconsin was awarded a $20 million grant in April for its Wisconsin Energy Efficiency (WE2) program to retrofit commerical, industrial and residential buildings.
“Wisconsin has made big steps forward in recent years through energy conservation, energy efficiency and by investing in a clean energy economy,” Gov. Jim Doyle said in a statement declaring October to be Energy Awareness Month. “Through greater awareness we can continue to increase our energy independence, save money for families and businesses and create thousands of new clean-energy jobs in Wisconsin.”
by jboullion | Oct 19, 2010 | Uncategorized
From an article by Larry Bivins in the Wausau Daily Herald:
WASHINGTON — In the absence of a national policy that puts a cap on carbon emissions, some environmental activists see an opportunity to place more emphasis on efficiency as part of the solution to climate change.
Advocates say the potential benefits to the environment, the economy and individual pocketbooks cannot be ignored.
One 2007 study estimates the U.S. could reap $1.2 trillion in electricity savings by investing $520 billion in energy efficiency measures by 2020.
In Wisconsin, a 2009 report by the Energy Center of Wisconsin said the state could create 7,000 to 9,000 jobs by 2012 and generate $900 million in savings by tripling its investment in energy efficiency.
President Barack Obama’s administration set aside $16.8 billion in economic recovery act money for research and development, building retrofits, renewable energy projects and weatherization, among other things.
Wisconsin was awarded a $20 million grant in April for its Wisconsin Energy Efficiency (WE2) program to retrofit commerical, industrial and residential buildings.
“Wisconsin has made big steps forward in recent years through energy conservation, energy efficiency and by investing in a clean energy economy,” Gov. Jim Doyle said in a statement declaring October to be Energy Awareness Month. “Through greater awareness we can continue to increase our energy independence, save money for families and businesses and create thousands of new clean-energy jobs in Wisconsin.”
