by jboullion | Jul 20, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee are trying to figure out ways to make power from wind keep flowing even when the wind isn’t blowing.
One phase of that research received a $422,266 grant Thursday from the U.S. Department of Energy for a project that could boost the efficiency of wind turbines by relieving some of the wear and tear on turbine gear boxes.
The engineering school research is taking place in phases – with the final leg studying the use of batteries to capture wind power generated when demand for electricity is low, storing it and then sending it to the grid when demand for power rises.
“What happens is that the wind speed is very high and we have very good wind speed after midnight, and very early morning when there is not much load (demand) on the grid,” said Adel Nasiri, an assistant professor in the electrical engineering department. “In the afternoon when there is high demand, there is no wind.”
The UWM research is another example of efforts under way in the Milwaukee area to create an economic-development cluster centered on energy storage and advanced batteries. Others include partnerships between Eaton Corp. and ZBB Corp. of Menomonee Falls, and work by Johnson Controls Inc. in Glendale and its joint venture partner, Saft, to develop lithium-ion batteries for plug-in hybrid cars.
by jboullion | Jul 17, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Paul Snyder in The Daily Reporter:
Wisconsin utilities have a track record of building, operating and maintaining their own wind farms, leaving independent producers little reason to build in the state.
But when those same utilities build wind farms in other states, Wisconsin’s economy and construction work force suffer, said Michael Vickerman, executive director of RENEW Wisconsin.
“There’s quite a lot of construction going on in places like Illinois and Iowa where wind producers can sell their product to utilities,” he said. “But here, the market is controlled by utilities.”
And that keeps independent developers from considering Wisconsin, said Timothy Polz, senior project developer with Chicago-based Midwest Wind Energy.
“If utilities prefer to own the projects, it takes away some of the benefits developers can get from constructing or maintaining the farms while selling the power,” he said.
But more troubling, Vickerman said, is that even though utilities have the power to push new developments, they are building beyond state borders. The only major wind farm under development in Wisconsin is We Energies’ Glacier Hill Wind Farm in Columbia County, which will have about 90 turbines and produce 162 megawatts of electricity.
by jboullion | Jul 17, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by Governor Doyle:
MADISON – Governor Jim Doyle today announced the creation of a new nonprofit organization, the Wisconsin Climate Change Action Initiative, Inc. (WCCAI), to build on Wisconsin’s strong efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Formation of the nonprofit organization was recommended in the report from Governor Doyle’s Task Force on Global Warming as a way to build upon Wisconsin’s national leadership on climate change. . . .
WCCAI will focus on providing education, practical advice and expertise to residents, communities and businesses on simple, effective steps to reduce our carbon footprint, without affecting comfort or productivity. This effort will complement existing programs like the Focus on Energy Schools and Government Program and the Wisconsin Energy Independent Community Partnership which are designed to achieve Governor Doyle’s goal of getting 25 percent of our electricity and 25 percent of our transportation fuels from renewable sources by 2025.
Initial funding will be provided through a $5 million contribution from We Energies, Madison Gas & Electric and WPPI Energy under an agreement with Clean Wisconsin and Sierra Club to resolve outstanding permit issues related to the Elm Road power plants under construction in Oak Creek.
The initial members of the Board of Directors of the Initiative are:
Roy Thilly, WPPI Energy
Tia Nelson, BCPL
Gale Klappa, We Energies
Mark Redsten, Clean Wisconsin
Matt Frank, Secretary Department of Natural Resources
Judy Ziewacz, Director Office of Energy Independence
Paul Meier, UW Energy Institute
Clay Nessler, Johnson Controls
Roger Dower, The Johnson Foundation
Mary Jo Carson, Mayor, WI Rapids
Dave Gilles, Attorney, Godfrey & Kahn
by jboullion | Jul 17, 2009 | Uncategorized
A question from AskFocusonEnergy:
Quesiton: Would I save more energy by replacing my old dishwasher or doing my dishes by hand?
Answer: Compared to washing dishes by hand, an ENERGY STAR qualified dishwasher:
+ Can lower utility bills
+ Uses half as much energy
+ Saves nearly 5,000 gallons of water per year
ENERGY STAR qualified dishwashers:
+ Use 25% less energy than conventional models
+ Use less hot water, saving you $90 over their lifetime
+ Internal water heaters, which reduce water heating costs by 20%
+ Boost water temperatures to 140 degrees — well above scalding temperatures. Washing dishes with hotter water allows for improved disinfection compared to washing by hand at much lower temperatures.
+ Run quieter than older models — over 50% quieter than models produced 10 years ago!
by jboullion | Jul 17, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by Governor Doyle:
MADISON – Governor Jim Doyle today announced the creation of a new nonprofit organization, the Wisconsin Climate Change Action Initiative, Inc. (WCCAI), to build on Wisconsin’s strong efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Formation of the nonprofit organization was recommended in the report from Governor Doyle’s Task Force on Global Warming as a way to build upon Wisconsin’s national leadership on climate change.
“The Wisconsin Climate Change Action Initiative brings together leaders of business, government, non-governmental advocacy organizations and the research community to increase voluntary conservation practices that will save money and have positive environmental impacts,” Governor Doyle said. “As we continue to move forward on the recommendations of my Global Warming Task Force will we be building our economy with clean and renewable energy, growing green jobs, and finding savings through energy conservation.”
WCCAI will focus on providing education, practical advice and expertise to residents, communities and businesses on simple, effective steps to reduce our carbon footprint, without affecting comfort or productivity. This effort will complement existing programs like the Focus on Energy Schools and Government Program and the Wisconsin Energy Independent Community Partnership which are designed to achieve Governor Doyle’s goal of getting 25 percent of our electricity and 25 percent of our transportation fuels from renewable sources by 2025.
“This is an exciting endeavor that will provide long term benefits to Wisconsin,” said Roy Thilly, WPPI Energy CEO. “As a co-chair of the Governor’s Task Force on Global Warming, I appreciate very much Governor Doyle’s leadership on the issue of climate change and his commitment to this important initiative.”
“Providing opportunities for environmental education informed citizens empowered with the info they need to make informed decisions about their future,” said Tia Nelson, co-chair of the Governor’s Task Force on Global Warming.
Initial funding will be provided through a $5 million contribution from We Energies, Madison Gas & Electric and WPPI Energy under an agreement with Clean Wisconsin and Sierra Club to resolve outstanding permit issues related to the Elm Road power plants under construction in Oak Creek.
by jboullion | Jul 16, 2009 | Uncategorized
A low-speed vehicle made by Columbia ParCar in Reedsburg, Wisconsin.
From an article by Anita Zimmerman in The Chetek Alert:
If you’re looking for a cheap cruise around town this summer, it’ll cost you about 33cents to charge up a modified golf cart.
Regulation of neighborhood electric vehicles, as the street-legal carts are called, isn’t currently in Chetek’s code book, but forces-in the form of local man-about-town John Banks-are intent on securing their legality.
If Chetek wants to be a retirement-friendly community, officials need to enact retiree-oriented ordinances, Banks insists.
“My reason is, be proactive,” he urges. “Let’s get a jump on this.”
Mike and Lynnette Leavens, owners of Bloomer NEV retailer Master Cart, can go for 100 miles on $1 of electricity. That’s an inexpensive, and impressive, operating cost-but there’s a catch. If you’re not seeing models like E-MERGE out on the streets, it’s probably because the lack of a gas bill doesn’t make up for the other expenses.
Despite federal attempts to promote use of eco-friendly cars and electric- and battery-operated vehicles, Wisconsin’s strict regulations offer little encouragement. In a number of states, uninsured golf carts can be legally driven through town, but not here.
To make NEVs street-legal, manufacturers have to add a host of extras: a parking brake, specially coated windshield, reflectors in the back, headlights, turn signals and stop lamps in the front, seat belts, exterior mirrors and a rearview mirror.
Those costs get passed on to consumers. Carts sell for nearly as much as a cheap car, from $6,000 to $7,000 apiece, and that’s only going to increase. According to Lynnette Leavens, the 2009 E-merge runs $1,000 higher-and that’s just to dealers.
Although NEVs are classified as low-speed vehicles-25 mph at top speed-drivers are required to have full insurance coverage. Leavens called around; average cost of a plan: $32 to upwards of $50 per month.
