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.
by jboullion | Jul 28, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a story on WEAU-TV:
La Crosse County leaders are trying to find ways to improve efficiency and save money.
They’re “going green” by replacing old gas-guzzling vehicles with electric options.
“There are a lot of jobs that electric vehicles can do just as good, if not better, and save the county money in the long run,” said Nick Nichols, La Crosse County Sustainability Coordinator.
Nichols says you can only drive the electric vehicles on city streets – and the speed limit has to be under 35-miles-per-hour.
“Gasoline is up around $2.30, $2.40 a gallon right now,” he said. “To charge up this vehicle with gasoline, gallon-equivalent is about 15-cents.”
And with a tight budget, this move is something the county is excited about.
by jboullion | Jul 28, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Nathaniel Shuda in the Stevens Point Journal:
WISCONSIN RAPIDS — Although NewPage has discontinued work on a biofuels gasification project in Michigan, the decision does not affect a similar project in Wisconsin Rapids, a company spokeswoman said.
The Miamisburg, Ohio-based papermaker announced July 17 its plans to discontinue work on the project at its Escanaba, Mich., pulp and paper mill, citing poor market conditions in North America.
“While this type of new technology is exciting to consider, unfortunately, the escalating cost … and the lack of demand for these products in our country doesn’t support the feasibility of this project,” Rick Willett, NewPage’s president and chief executive officer, said in a statement.
In January 2008, the U.S. Department of Energy awarded NewPage a $30 million grant to build a small-scale biorefinery in Wisconsin Rapids. Stora Enso North America originally submitted the request for federal money, which NewPage inherited when it bought the former Wisconsin Rapids-based company in December 2007.
Since then, company leaders have been studying how to proceed with the project, spokeswoman Shannon Semmerling said.
“We remain on target to have those findings by the end of the year,” Semmerling said.
by jboullion | Jul 27, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by D.J. Slater in the Wausau Daily Herald:
A Stratford-based roofing company hopes its new venture will help residents and businesses go green even as the economy continues to slide.
Since mid-May, Kulp’s of Stratford has offered residents and businesses the chance to upgrade their properties with solar roofing. The systems allow property owners to generate electrical power from the sun, which they can use and sell to utility companies.
The roof panels can either replace conventional roofs or be placed over an existing roof, said Bob Kulp, co-owner of Kulp’s. The panels are designed to collect energy for about 30 years and last about 50 to 60 years before needing to be replaced, he said.
“We definitely see a bright future ahead for this service,” Kulp said.
Kulp’s midrange solar system, which are applicable for most homeowners, ranges from $20,000 to $30,000, but those costs can be cut by as much as 55 percent through federal tax credits provided by the Internal Revenue Service and grants from Focus on Energy.
Those incentives were enough to convince Edgar resident Debby Kregenow to invest in her own solar roof, which was installed last week.
“We figured, if we’re going to put new money into a roof, why not go solar?” she said. “We are very happy with it.”
by jboullion | Jul 27, 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 27, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Samantha Marcus in the La Crosse Tribune:
Recent changes to a plan for high-speed rail in Wisconsin has set up a potential tug-of-war between La Crosse and Eau Claire to be on the Chicago-Twin Cities route.
La Crosse officials and train enthusiasts considered it a foregone conclusion the much-desired span would route through La Crosse and into Minnesota.
But a final version of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Connections 2030 plan puts the choice of which west-central Wisconsin city back into play.
“We have worked for years ensuring La Crosse’s place on the high-speed rail route, but Eau Claire certainly has had their efforts as well,” said La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce President Dick Granchalek.
The essentially parallel routes are referred to in the plan as “project alternatives … to be determined during environmental and engineering studies.”
The studies have been done, argued Bob Fisher, a member of the Wisconsin Association of Rail Passengers. There’s a time for studies and there’s a time for moving dirt with a shovel, he added.
“The truth is the Midwest has a plan that was done 15 years ago, went through a whole scenario of economic studies and determined the route that Amtrak was currently operating on, and still does, was the most feasible route,” Fisher said. “This is the route that should logically be chosen.”
La Crosse has the infrastructure, the rail culture, the potential passenger load that should give it the edge, he added.
U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse, whose district includes both La Crosse and Eau Claire, said it shouldn’t be an either-or proposition. Kind said the La Crosse route makes the most sense for the first connection and then the Chippewa Valley route could be brought in.
