by jboullion | May 5, 2010 | Uncategorized
From a story by Chuck Quirmbach on Wisconsin Public Radio:
Energy efficiency advocates are trying to keep the energy savings momentum going in Wisconsin, despite the legislature’s failure to pass a major clean energy bill.
The Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) would have counted some energy efficiency moves toward a mandate to make more use of renewable energy. But leaders of the state Senate killed the measure. Five years ago, lawmakers did pass a bill that transferred oversight of the rate-payer funded Focus On Energy program to the Public Service Commission. The PSC’s Jolene Shield says her agency is continuing a planning process to revise goals and priorities for energy efficiency. Shield says phase two of the process means digging into the details.
Shield says PSC commissioners will be deciding how much energy savings should come from households and how much from businesses, and try to judge the impact energy prices will have. Then the PSC will look at whether to go to the legislature’s Joint Finance Committee for additional money to spur access to efficient technology.
by jboullion | May 5, 2010 | Uncategorized
From a story by Chuck Quirmbach on Wisconsin Public Radio:
Energy efficiency advocates are trying to keep the energy savings momentum going in Wisconsin, despite the legislature’s failure to pass a major clean energy bill.
The Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) would have counted some energy efficiency moves toward a mandate to make more use of renewable energy. But leaders of the state Senate killed the measure. Five years ago, lawmakers did pass a bill that transferred oversight of the rate-payer funded Focus On Energy program to the Public Service Commission. The PSC’s Jolene Shield says her agency is continuing a planning process to revise goals and priorities for energy efficiency. Shield says phase two of the process means digging into the details.
Shield says PSC commissioners will be deciding how much energy savings should come from households and how much from businesses, and try to judge the impact energy prices will have. Then the PSC will look at whether to go to the legislature’s Joint Finance Committee for additional money to spur access to efficient technology.
by jboullion | May 5, 2010 | Uncategorized
From an article by Nick Paulson in the Stevens Point Journal:
A Plover food processing plant has been chosen as one of 50 companies to participate in a state pilot program to help manufacturers improve their next-generation initiatives.
Foremost Farms USA, which makes whey products at its Plover plant, will take part in a $1.75 million program run through the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
State energy auditors will canvass the Foremost plant to look for ways the company can save energy.
“Does it make sense to invest in a more energy-efficient system?” The company hopes to find out, communications director Joan Behr said. “We’ll be able to tap the expertise of these folks.”
After working with the auditors and determining what changes need to be made, each company will apply to the Wisconsin Department of Commerce for the money to complete the sustainability initiatives.
by jboullion | May 4, 2010 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by Governor Jim Doyle:
CHICAGO – Governor Jim Doyle announced today the creation of the Clean Energy Generation, Transmission and Storage Systems (CEGTS) Consortium that combines the expertise of state industry and government partners with the research and development capabilities of the public and private academic institutions of Wisconsin. Governor Doyle made the announcement at the BIO 2010 International Convention – the world’s largest biotech conference – in Chicago.
“It is crucial that Wisconsin develop and maintain a leadership role in these emerging energy technologies to provide the needed expertise to its companies,” Governor Doyle said. “Enhanced R&D capacity, combined with the development of industry supply chains, will serve as an important tool to attract and retain high value-added business. The consortium also will play a vital role in educating a world-class workforce essential for this industrial sector to thrive and grow.”
The consortium will build upon the strong network of energy research expertise between Madison and Milwaukee academic institutions and industry. Wisconsin has a rich history of being a center of excellence for energy, power, controls, and information technology. The Center for Renewable Energy Systems (CRES) in Madison and the Southeastern Wisconsin Energy Technology Research (SWETR) consortium in Milwaukee will join together as a focused single statewide Power and Energy organization. . . .
The consortium will have access to the Center for Renewable Energy Systems (CRES), developed at UW-Madison to conduct sponsored research that focuses on the integration of new clean and renewable energy technologies into highly efficient systems. CRES will be one of the first tenants in the new Wisconsin Energy Institute, a $50 million building project initiated by Governor Doyle to house the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center. The university will begin construction of the Institute facilities in June 2010. . . .
Consortium activities will be conducted at the UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee campuses, as well as Marquette University and the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE), by researchers from a variety of disciplines.
by jboullion | May 4, 2010 | Uncategorized
The Wind Siting Advisory Committee, created to advise the Public Service Commission on statewide wind siting standards, toured Blue Sky Green Field Wind Energy Center and Forward Wind Center to gain first hand knowledge of turbine impacts.
by jboullion | May 4, 2010 | Uncategorized
A Community Solar Event
New Richmond WITC Campus
Edwin J. Cashman Conference Center, Burnett Room 105
1019 South Knowles Avenue
New Richomnd, WI 54017
Interested in finding more about Solar Electric Systems?? Find out how you can take control of your energy costs while making a positive impact on the environment! Craig Tarr, PE president of Hudson based Energy Concepts, Inc (ECI) will host an informative presentation on the benefits of solar electric systems, how they work and the available rebate and incentive programs.
Energy Concepts, the State of WI’s “Renewable Energy Market provider of the year – 2009” designs and installs solar electric, wind and solar hot water systems for residential and commercial applications.
Thursday, May 6, 2010 – 6:30 – 8:30 pm
6:30-7:00 Light Refreshments/Socialize
7:00 – 7:45 Solar Electric – The Basics
7:45 – 8:00 Q & A
8:00 – 8:30 SUNPOWER – “The planet’s most powerful solar” presentation
www.energyconcepts.us
Craig Tarr – 715 381 9977
