by jboullion | Aug 6, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article on the Milwaukee Consumer:
The Wisconsin State Fair kicks off tomorrow, August 6th, and runs through August 16th. If you do visit the Fair, you might want to consider stopping by the WE Energies Energy Park to learn more about electricity, natural gas, and energy efficiency. The Park is located along the West side of the fairgrounds (along 84th street) and is just North of Gate 4.
Focus on Energy has a game show called “Watt’s it to Ya” at the WE Energies Energy Park at 6:30pm each evening. The game show pits contestants against each other to identify the greatest energy users in a home. If you beat your competitor and move on to the showcase, you have a chance to prove your skills and learn how much you can save by using energy efficiency in your home. To review the complete list of activities at the WE Energies Energy Park, visit the WE Energies website.
by jboullion | Aug 5, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an editorial in The Capital Times:
Wisconsin is closer than ever to gaining the high-speed rail service that is needed to put this state on the regional and national transportation map.
In fact, the likelihood that a Chicago-Twin Cities route will make stops across the state is now so real that communities are fighting to be on it.
It was long thought that the service would go from Chicago to Milwaukee to Madison to La Crosse and then across the Mississippi River and up toward Minneapolis and St. Paul.
The “phase one” connector between Madison and Milwaukee is still on target — despite the efforts of the anti-rail naysayers to try to slow things down. All that is needed is for the project to get a piece of $8 billion in stimulus money that is being made available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act — a prospect that seems entirely possible now that Midwestern governors are uniting to push for the plan.
But there is suddenly a debate about whether the service will go through La Crosse or Eau Claire.
A final version of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Connections 2030 plan, which identifies the design, construction and operation of the Madison-Twin Cities corridor, now suggests that the choice of which Wisconsin city will get the service is open to question.
The WisDOT plan refers to the La Crosse and Eau Claire routes as “project alternatives … to be determined during environmental and engineering studies.”
That introduces an uncertainty to the process, which is to some extent understandable.
The return of real rail service to Wisconsin is an exciting prospect, especially as gas prices spike. And cities have every right to compete for the service.
But our sense is that Bob Fisher, a member of the Wisconsin Association of Rail Passengers, is right when he says that La Crosse’s claim is well settled. The city already has Amtrak service. It’s rail infrastructure is in place and there’s strong local support for the project.
by jboullion | Aug 5, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by Johnson Controls:
DETROIT, Aug. 5 /PRNewswire/ — Johnson Controls, Inc. (NYSE: JCI) today announced that it has been awarded a $299 million grant by the United States Department of Energy under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to build domestic manufacturing capacity for advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles. This award represents approximately half of the company’s total planned investment of $600 million in domestic advanced battery manufacturing capacity and infrastructure development.
“This investment is an important step toward creating and building an industry in the United States that addresses market requirements and long-term opportunities for growth and new jobs in this country,” said Alex Molinaroli, president of Power Solutions for Johnson Controls. “We have assembled a world-class team of suppliers and automotive manufacturers, and we believe this comprehensive approach will enable the United States to establish a domestic industry that is competitive, economically viable and sustainable.”
In April, Johnson Controls and its joint venture partner Saft announced that Johnson Controls-Saft was awarded incentives for $148.5 million from the State of Michigan for the establishment of a U.S. manufacturing facility for lithium-ion cells and complete hybrid battery systems in Holland, Michigan. The Holland, Michigan facility will serve the company’s global customers, including Ford, for its first plug-in hybrid vehicle for 2012, Azure Dynamics, for its 2010 launch of the next generation Balance™ Hybrid Electric commercial vehicle, Daimler AG and BMW.
by jboullion | Aug 5, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Richard Thomas in Business North:
At least $100,000 in scholarships is available per year for students who enroll in the University of Wisconsin’s Sustainable Management bachelor program, the nation’s first such degree available online, Dean David Schejbal said July 29.
The program is using faculty and financial aid offices at UW campuses: Parkside, River Falls, Stout and Superior.
The Wisconsin Board of Commissioners of Public Lands provides the scholarship money. Proceeds from sale and forestry on these lands go to K-12 library systems, loans to municipalities, teaching colleges in Wisconsin, commonly referred to as the Normal Schools, and others.
Recently the Normal School fund began showing positive financial returns. The state constitution directed this money to go to the UW general fund.
The board asked Sen. Mark Miller (D-Monona) for an amendment to direct these monies to three areas: a full-time position for Environmental Studies K-12 curriculum development, the Nelson Institute for need-based scholarships, and the Sustainable Management degree program.
Schejbel expects the scholarship fund to grow each year.
The two-year, 21-course (63 credits) degree aims to turn the theories of sustainability into tangible business strategies. The program teaches the fundamentals of “triple bottom line” — ecological, social and financial performance. . . .
For more information, go to sustain.wisconsin.edu.
by jboullion | Aug 5, 2009 | Uncategorized
On a 6-1 vote, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Utilities, Energy, and Rail passes SB185, wind siting reform
Date: August 4, 2009
Contact: Noah Seligman, 608-310-3338
The 7-member Senate Committee on Commerce, Utilities, Energy, and Rail voted 6-1 to advance SB 185 (Assembly companion AB 256), wind siting reform, to the full Senate.
The vote was bipartisan, with four Democrats and two Republicans on the committee voting in favor of the bill.
Wind siting reform has 20 cosponsors in the Assembly and 11 in the Senate, with support from both parties.
A substitute amendment was added on a unanimous vote that would require the PSC to hold two public hearings outside of Dane County as part of its rule-making. The amendment also provided additional wildlife protections, technical changes, and responsible consideration of Smart Growth planning in regulating wind energy projects.
“The bipartisan committee approval demonstrates strong consensus on the need for wind siting reform,” said Curt Pawlisch, spokesman for Wind for Wisconsin. “Wind siting reform will be an engine for economic activity in Wisconsin, attract new investment opportunities, and support current state energy policy.”
Wind for Wisconsin is optimistic that a floor vote in the Senate would garner the same strong bipartisan support demonstrated in committee and among cosponsors.
by jboullion | Aug 4, 2009 | Uncategorized
A story by Shawn Johnson of Wisconsin Public Radio and posted on KQDS-TV:
MADISON (WPR) A state senate panel is scheduled to vote Tuesday (8/4) on a plan that would establish statewide standards for siting wind farms in Wisconsin.
One of the most sensitive questions this plan would ultimately address is how close to peoples homes wind turbines can be built. The plan would leave it up to the Public Service Commission (PSC) to decide that setback. In the past, the PSC has settled on a 1,000-ft. barrier.
But some rural residents who live near the turbines say that’s too close. Lynda Barry, head of the group “Better Plan, Wisconsin” says when turbines are only a thousand feet from a home, the noise they create keeps people from sleeping and the strobing shadow they cast drive people away from their windows. She says it would be wrong to ignore the health and safety aspects in the plan.
Barry cites a Minnesota Department of Public Health report, that suggests noise and shadow issues generally go away when turbines are a half mile from homes.
But the bill has widespread support from business, farm, labor groups, and several environmental groups as well. Ed Blume with Renew Wisconsin says it’s a necessary step to end the “hodge podge” of local regulations that have restricted wind development. He says in the long-term, it’ll mean cleaner air and economic development for the state. Blume says noise issues have been overblown by wind farm opponents, and the shadow flicker cast by these turbines can be solved by closing blinds or planting trees in front of windows.
On Tuesday, August 4, the senate committee voted 6 to 1 to recommend passage of the bill.
