by jboullion | Feb 5, 2010 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by Govenor Doyle:
WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Governor Jim Doyle today signed into law Senate Bill 440, which allows the state to maximize federal bonds to help fund projects that will create hundreds of jobs in Wisconsin. The Governor signed the bill at Energy Composites, a wind blade manufacturing plant in Wisconsin Rapids that could benefit from the measure.
The federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act allows certain local units of government to issue Recovery Zone Facility bonds for private sector economic development projects. Wisconsin received $238 million in bonding authority to be divided among 63 counties, plus the cities of Milwaukee, Madison and Green Bay. Under the Recovery Act, most counties did not receive a large enough share of the funding to effectively provide assistance to businesses that need it. These bonds must be issued by January 1, 2011.
Under SB 440, any county or city that does not use its original bond allocation in a timely manner has its share re-entered into a statewide pool. The Department of Commerce will then administer that pool to provide needed financing to help companies like Energy Composites move forward projects to expand and create jobs.
“Thanks to President Obama and Congressman Obey, the Recovery Act has given us this powerful tool to create new jobs here in Wisconsin, especially in the emerging clean energy economy,” Governor Doyle said. “By pooling these resources together, we will make sure we take full advantage of this opportunity and move forward job-creating projects across the state.”
Energy Composites is looking to break ground on a 535,000 square foot wind blade manufacturing plant next month, a project that will create more than 600 good-paying clean energy jobs for the Wisconsin Rapids area. The signing of SB 440 will allow the company to request bonds from Commerce to help move the project forward.
by jboullion | Feb 5, 2010 | Uncategorized
From an editorial in the Kenosha News:
Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle and President Barack Obama were talking the same language Wednesday: renewable energy and jobs.
The president was in Washington speaking to a group of governors about his energy policy, which includes spending more money on biofuels such as ethanol.
“It’s good for our national security and reducing our dependence on foreign oil. It’s good for our economy, because it will create jobs.”
Gov. Doyle was in Kenosha, speaking at Gateway Technical College’s Horizon Center.
He said Wisconsin spends $16 billion a year for coal, petroleum and natural gas, money that goes out of the state because Wisconsin doesn’t produce those fuels. If the state used 25 percent of its energy from renewable sources, that would mean $4 billion remains here to boost our economy.
Wisconsin’s wind energy production has been growing for several years. Ethanol also has a lot of promise. So far, most ethanol in Wisconsin is produced from corn, because that was the technology that developed first, but other sources for ethanol continue to develop, including wood products, waste from paper mills and grasses. Wisconsin can produce grass and wood probably a lot easier than many states, and those crops take less energy to produce because the don’t need the cultivation of fertilization corn requires.
by jboullion | Feb 4, 2010 | Uncategorized
From a story on WXOW-TV (La Crosse):
LA CROSSE, WI (WXOW) – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle spoke about jobs and energy efficiency during a stop in La Crosse on Tuesday.
“My number one priority is helping our businesses create jobs and giving our workers the opportunities to get those jobs,” said Doyle.
He spoke at Fowler & Hammer General Contractors recognizing the company’s energy efficiency and business growth.
The Governor recently awarded $106,000 dollars in state assistance for the company’s $2.3 million dollar expansion project.
Fowler & Hammer built an energy efficient office building.
Fowler and Hammer must create 16 new jobs and retain 41 positions in La Crosse since they received state assistance.
by jboullion | Feb 4, 2010 | Uncategorized
From an article by John Krerowica in the Kenosha News:
Gov. Jim Doyle reiterated support for renewable energy and green, sustainable jobs as he spoke Wednesday at Gateway Technical College in Kenosha.
Doyle told the crowd of about 100 people at the Horizon Center for Technology, 4940 88th Ave., the college and other schools must train students for tomorrow’s technology and equipment.
“We’re moving in a new direction, and vehicles in the future will have increased, complex technology,” he said. “I’m not sure we even know what the cars of 10 to 15 years from now are going to look like, and we’ll need people trained and adaptable to work on those vehicles.”
Doyle has challenged the Legislature to expand the state’s reliance on renewable energy from today’s goal of 10 percent by 2015 to 25 percent by 2025.
by jboullion | Feb 4, 2010 | Uncategorized
From a story on WEAU-TV (Eau Claire):
Governor Jim Doyle visited Evrisko Systems in Eau Claire this morning. During his visit, Governor Doyle discussed his plans to position Wisconsin to seize opportunities in energy efficiency manufacturing, invest in the state’s innovative manufacturing and clean energy business, and create thousands of new jobs.
“I am very, very proud of what’s happened in Wisconsin in the last seven years, and NanoRite is a good example of this. We have developed a really strong and growing entrepreneurial, high-tech culture in this state,” Doyle said. “My number one priority is helping our business create jobs and giving our workers the opportunities to get these jobs.”
Governor Doyle also mentioned that Wisconsin is recognized across the United States for having one of the best early start-up tax credit systems. The Governor has called on the legislature to pass the clean energy jobs act to accelerate the state’s clean energy economy in hopes of creating at least 15,000 jobs.
by jboullion | Feb 4, 2010 | Uncategorized
From a story on WSAW-TV (Wausau):
Governor Jim Doyle is pushing for a clean energy bill to pass, and making his case in North Central Wisconsin.
He spoke at the Wausau business incubator today.
“This is where Wisconsin is going — and when you invest in green energy – this is the kind of new energy you should be investing in,” says Governor Jim Doyle.
Governor Doyle supports the ‘Clean Energy Jobs Act,” to make sure local clean energy businesses will be first in line to succeed.
“China is currently making greater investments in green energy than all of the United States and all of Europe. The world is moving rapidly in this direction and Wisconsin can’t just sit back watch it happen,” says the Governor.
The Governor says the energy bill would require the state to use renewable sources for 20 percent of its energy by 2020 and 25 percent by 2025.
He says this will reduce our need to rely on other states for things like coal and oil.
And he hopes it will add about 15,000 jobs to the Badger State.
