Energy Composites reports revenue increase, second quarter net loss

by | Aug 24, 2009 | Uncategorized

From an article by in the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune:

Energy Composites Corp. had an 18.1 percent increase in revenue during the second quarter from the same period in 2008, the Wisconsin Rapids-based company announced today.

Despite the increase and a 7.5 percent increase in gross profit, the manufacturer had a net loss of $579,781, about 45 percent higher than the second quarter of 2008, according to the company’s quarterly financial results.

Company leaders attributed the loss to continued investments in its planned 350,000-square-foot manufacturing plant it expects to build in the Rapids East Commerce Center. Announced March 31, the new plant will construct industrial wind-turbine blades and create more than 400 local jobs.

Energy Composites Chief Executive Officer Sam Fairchild said the company also continues to diversify its product line and soon will have several significant contractual and personnel announcements as a result of those efforts.

Switchgrass Establishment & Maintenance Practices for Biomass Production Field-Day

by | Aug 24, 2009 | Uncategorized

From an announcement distributed by Southwest Badger RC & D Council:

September 3, 2009
1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
1291 Rawson Lane, Platteville, Wisconsin

Southwest Badger Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council is in the second year of a project to determine the best management practices for maximizing switchgrass yields in Southwest Wisconsin. The field day will provide a tour of demonstration plots planted in 2008 at the Jim and Terry Schaefer farm. NRCS and Southwest Badger staff will provide an overview of the project and discuss the various field trials being conducted. Researchers from UW Madison will provide information on weed pressure resulting from the various herbicide treatments and how that corresponds to yield. Fertility trials implemented in 2009 will be viewed and discussed. A side-by-side comparison of pure switchgrass plantings and a nine species prairie mix will be observed. A representative of Alliant Energy will discuss their plans to perform a test burn of switchgrass at the Cassville plant this fall.

Homegrown renewable energy bus tour slated for Eau Claire area on September 8

by | Aug 24, 2009 | Uncategorized

From an article on Wisconsin Ag Connection:

Several groups are joining forces to hold a homegrown renewable energy bus tour around Northern Wisconsin next month. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Office of Energy Independence, Wisconsin Farmers Union, [RENEW Wisconsin], and other partners are sponsoring the daylong tour on September 8.

Organizers say stops will be made at four locations where exciting developments in renewable energy production are being made.

The tour includes visits at Cadott School District, where the district uses buses that run on natural gas and and has examples of electric and alternative fuel vehicles; Five Star Dairy near Elk Mound, uses a manure to energy digester system to generate electricity; Barron High School, which produced wood chips, instead of fossil fuels, to provide heat for the school; and Bioenergy Crop Research Site, where attendees can meet the people behind the cutting edge research into bioenergy crops.

The stops on the tour coincide with each policy item of the Homegrown Renewable Energy Campaign. All four policies will come before the state legislature this fall.

Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. at the Cadott Junior/Senior High School. The tour will conclude at approximately 5 p.m. Lunch and snacks will be provided and the cost of the tour is $10.

For more information or to sign-up, call 715-723-5561.

New interactive Milwaukee maps shows solar installations

by | Aug 24, 2009 | Uncategorized

From Milwaukee Shines:

The . . . map features 65 of the estimated 175 homes and businesses with solar energy installations in the 7-county Milwaukee metro area.

The City of Milwaukee, through the Solar America Cities program, has a goal of installing at least 100 solar electric systems and 50 solar hot water systems with a combined production of one megawatt of solar energy in Milwaukee by 2012.

Using data from Focus on Energy, Milwaukee Shines estimates that the City of Milwaukee currently has approximately 30 solar electric systems and 20 solar hot water systems in operation that produce a combined 350 kW of energy.

Help us reach our goal! Solar is a viable energy source in southeastern Wisconsin. Contact Milwaukee Shines, Focus on Energy, or We Energies to find out if you qualify for a solar installation incentive.

Finally, if you have a solar energy system on your home or business and would like to be featured on our map, please contact Andrea Luecke at 414-286-5593 or aluecke@milwaukee.gov.