by jboullion | Jul 30, 2009 | Uncategorized
From blog post by Stacy Forster on JSOnline:
Madison – Lawmakers who represent the City of Milwaukee are appealing to a Spanish train company planning to make two trains for Wisconsin to locate their manufacturing facility in the state’s urban center.
The train maker, Talgo, is expected to make two 14-car train sets to be used on Amtrak’s Milwaukee-to-Chicago Hiawatha Service, which will cost the state $47 million. The train sets include the cab car that powers the train. The order will create about 80 manufacturing and maintenance jobs, with the possibility the company could add more if other states buy its trains, Gov. Jim Doyle has said.
Talgo hasn’t chosen a location for its assembly and maintenance facility, but Doyle said it was likely to be located in south-central or southeastern Wisconsin. Antonio Perez, chief executive officer and president of Talgo Inc., the company’s U.S. subsidiary, said it has scouted locations in Milwaukee and Janesville.
by jboullion | Jul 29, 2009 | Uncategorized
Dave Jenkins, mentioned in the news release issued by Governor Doyle, will speak in the Energy Efficiency in Manufacturing Pavilion at the Wisconsin Machine Tool Show:
MADISON – Governor Jim Doyle today announced that Wisconsin has been approved for $28 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act federal funds for its State Energy Program (SEP). The funds are the first part of the $55 million in Recovery Act funding the state is receiving for this program. . . .
Projects must create or retain jobs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce fossil fuel use, and/or deploy renewable energy.
Applications and program information will be available at the Commerce website: http://commerce.wi.gov/BD/BD-SEP-ARRA.html
For more information on the SEP, contact Amy Cumblad at Commerce, amy.cumblad@wisconsin.gov; or David Jenkins at the Office of Energy Independence, davidj.jenkins@wisconsin.gov
by jboullion | Jul 29, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by the Department of Workforce Developing announcing a green jobs project in five Wisconsin cities, including Wisconsin Rapids:
. . .Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Roberta Gassman today announced a Wisconsin American Recovery and Reinvestment (ARRA) project employing young adults in “green jobs” to help homeowners cut utility bills, saving money and energy.
“With this Recovery-funded pilot, we are employing young adults in ‘green jobs,’ opening the door to career opportunities,” Secretary Gassman said. “We are helping homeowners save money and conserve energy while protecting our environment.”
On behalf of Governor Doyle, Secretary Gassman officially unveiled the ARRA-funded “Energy Advocate Youth Pilot” at the home of DeCarlos and Michelle Nora in Beloit’s Merrill Neighborhood. As part of the announcement, she accompanied five “energy advocates,” as they inspected the young couple’s home and suggested ways to make the house more energy efficient. . . .
With federal ARRA funds, Governor Doyle provided for the employment of 25 individuals, who are 18 to 24 years of age, from low-income households, and meet one of six other criteria for disadvantaged youth. The project is one of many ARRA-funded efforts that will employ approximately 4,000 Wisconsin young adults statewide through June 2011.
Besides Beloit, five energy advocates will work in each of the following cities: Green Bay, Racine, Superior and Wisconsin Rapids, communities with high unemployment, predominantly older homes, and many young people seeking jobs. In June, Beloit had the highest unemployment rate, 18.6 percent. Milwaukee has a similar, independent project.
For more information about Wisconsin ARRA efforts, visit: http://recovery.wisconsin.gov
For more information about WECC’s Focus on Energy initiative, visit: http://www.focusonenergy.com
by jboullion | Jul 29, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a special project description of HomeEnergy+:
As part of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Wisconsin Department of Administration received $141 million for weatherization programs for low and moderate income families. These Recovery funds will help expand the current weatherization program as well as fund a new initiative to weatherize 3,000 units in large multifamily buildings.
Owners of residential multifamily buildings are encouraged to apply for the Large Multifamily Weatherization Recovery Project if their building meets the following criteria:
· Twenty or more residential dwelling units in one structure
· Two-thirds of the tenants have an income at or below 60% of the state median income
Buildings selected for the project could receive heating system replacement, ventilation, insulation, reduction of air leakage and refrigerator replacement.
by jboullion | Jul 29, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture:
WASHINGTON, July 29, 2009 – USDA Farm Service Agency Administrator Jonathan Coppess today announced that biomass conversion facilities can begin signing up to participate in the Biomass Crop Assistance Program, which will help increase production of renewable energy. The program, authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill, provides financial assistance to producers who deliver eligible material to biomass conversion facilities and FSA will provide financial assistance to collect, harvest, store and transport eligible materials.
“This program will benefit producers, the developing biomass industry, the general public and the environment as we continue working to expand production and availability of renewable energy,” said Coppess. “Owners of eligible material can receive financial assistance for delivering qualified biomass to conversion facilities that use biomass for heat, power, bio-based products or advanced biofuels.”
Biomass conversion facilities and material owners or producers should contact their FSA state offices or visit www.fsa.usda.gov for more information. FSA will begin accepting applications from biomass facilities interested in participating in the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP).
by jboullion | Jul 28, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation:
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today kicked off a buyer incentive program designed to help consumers purchase new fuel efficient vehicles and boost the economy at the same time. The Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS), commonly referred to as Cash for Clunkers, is a new federal program that gives buyers up to $4,500 towards a new, more environmentally-friendly vehicle when they trade-in their old gas guzzling cars or trucks.
“With this program, we are giving the auto industry a shot in the arm and struggling consumers can get rid of their gas-guzzlers and buy a more reliable, fuel-efficient vehicle,” Secretary LaHood said. “This is good news for our economy, the environment and consumers’ pocketbooks.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also released the final eligibility requirements to participate in the program. Under the CARS program, consumers receive a $3,500 or $4,500 discount from a car dealer when they trade in their old vehicle and purchase or lease a new, qualifying vehicle. In order to be eligible for the program, the trade-in passenger vehicle must: be manufactured less than 25 years before the date it is traded in; have a combined city/highway fuel economy of 18 miles per gallon or less; be in drivable condition; and be continuously insured and registered to the same owner for the full year before the trade-in. Transactions must be made between now and November 1, 2009 or until the money runs out.
The vehicle that is traded in will be scrapped. NHTSA estimates the program could take approximately 250,000 vehicles that are not fuel efficient off the road.
