by jboullion | Jul 21, 2009 | Uncategorized
From the direct testimony of Michael Vickerman on behalf of RENEW Wisconsin:
Q. What is the purpose of your testimony?
A. The purpose of my testimony is to communicate our organization’s support for the installation of a biomass gasification system that would produce biomass-derived synthetic gas (“syngas”) for serving Northern States Power’s Bay Front Unit #5.
Q. Why does RENEW support this particular application?
A. We note the following public policy objectives that would be advanced if the proposal submitted by Northern States Power Corporation (“NSPW”) were approved. These objectives include:
1) Meeting Wisconsin’s current Renewable Energy Standard;
2) Eliminating a source of coal-fired power from its system;
3) Using a locally available renewable energy resource;
4) Reducing carbon dioxide emissions and other gaseous pollutants;
5) Maintaining a strong generation source in northern Wisconsin; and
6) Investing Wisconsin capital in a renewable energy generating facility power plant within its borders.
by jboullion | Jul 21, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Mark Pitsch in The Capital Times:
In a first step toward building a Midwestern high-speed rail line connecting Madison with Chicago and the Twin Cities, Wisconsin is buying two passenger trains from a Spanish company that will hire state workers to assemble and maintain them.
The $47.5 million purchase is expected to create 80 jobs initially, and company officials said Friday they are considering assembling the trains at Janesville’s General Motors production plant, which closed in April idling 1,200 workers. Sites in Milwaukee are also under consideration.
Gov. Jim Doyle, local officials and transportation experts said the rail line would spur leisure travel to and from Madison and link the city, home to UW-Madison and its technology-related research, to the economies of Minneapolis-St. Paul and Chicago.
“It’s very exciting for our state, for the economic growth of our region,” said Teresa Adams, a UW-Madison engineering professor who runs the Midwest Regional University Transportation Center. “It’s certainly good for our economy. There are a lot of intellectual hubs to be connected.”
by jboullion | Jul 20, 2009 | Uncategorized
From the direct testimony of Michael Vickerman on behalf of RENEW Wisconsin:
Q. What is the purpose of your testimony?
A. The purpose of my testimony is to communicate our organization’s support for the installation of a biomass gasification system that would produce biomass-derived synthetic gas (“syngas”) for serving Northern States Power’s Bay Front Unit #5.
Q. Why does RENEW support this particular application?
A. We note the following public policy objectives that would be advanced if the proposal submitted by Northern States Power Corporation (“NSPW”) were approved. These objectives include:
1) Meeting Wisconsin’s current Renewable Energy Standard;
2) Eliminating a source of coal-fired power from its system;
3) Using a locally available renewable energy resource;
4) Reducing carbon dioxide emissions and other gaseous pollutants;
5) Maintaining a strong generation source in northern Wisconsin; and
6) Investing Wisconsin capital in a renewable energy generating facility power plant within its borders.
by jboullion | Jul 20, 2009 | Uncategorized
From the Web site of a new organization:
A farmshed is the network of people, businesses, organizations, and productive lands that create a local food economy.
Central Rivers Farmshed is a growing movement in Central Wisconsin to build and strengthen relationships between local farms, restaurants, retailers, and consumers.
To get involved, visit our wiki page at www.farmshed.pbwiki.com.
The site lists farmers’ markets and other food related events.
by jboullion | Jul 20, 2009 | Uncategorized
From the Web site of the 6th Annual Kickapoo Country Fair:
Saturday and Sunday, July 25-26, 2009
Live Music, Sustainability Workshops, Rural Heritage Exhibits, Beer and Dancing!
The 2009 Kickapoo Country Fair will be about hope, and a celebration of the simple things that make for a life rich in beauty, culture and connections, whether to the land, our past or the surrounding community. The 6th annual Kickapoo Country Fair will take place Saturday and Sunday, July 25-26, 2009 on the grounds of Organic Valley’s headquarters in La Farge, Wisconsin, set in the ancient and beautiful hills of the Kickapoo River Valley. The all-weekend event will feature organic farm tours, farmers and farm animals, sustainability workshops, hiking, Butter Churn Bike Tour, food and artisan vendors, not-for-profit exhibitors, family “farm-friendly” activities, all-day music and entertainment, and dancing!
Fair schedule.
by jboullion | Jul 20, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a story on WEAU.com:
A power company says its customers can now choose to have their residential or commercial energy generated by wind farms.
Xcel Energy’s Windsource program started in Wisconsin last month. Since then, Xcel says 200 customers have signed up. The wind farms that generate the power for the program are in Minnesota, North and South Dakota. Customers end up paying a $1.15 per 100-kilowatt hour block above the current electricity rate.
