Focus on Energy helps rural businesses become major energy savers

by | Jun 11, 2009 | Uncategorized

From a news release issued by Focus on Energy:

MADISON, Wis. (June 1, 2009) – Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s energy efficiency and renewable energy initiative, recognizes that most of the more than 78,000 farms in Wisconsin are being hit hard by the current economic downturn. Focus has resources and incentives in place to help farmers and rural businesses meet these challenges.

“We know farms and rural businesses can use large amounts of energy in their daily practices. Focus on Energy can help reduce their energy consumption,” said Rich Hackner, sector manager for the Agriculture and Rural Business Program. “Focus recognizes the importance that energy savings can have on the overall bottom line and sustainability of many rural businesses.”

Focus is no stranger to assisting Wisconsin’s farmers and rural businesses. In 2008 alone, Focus on Energy helped implement 806 energy-saving projects at 687 farms and rural businesses statewide.

Focus will continue to help Wisconsin farms and rural businesses reduce operating costs by providing grants and incentives for the installation of energy efficient equipment. Changes large and small – from updating barn lighting and fans to milking and pasteurizing equipment with energy efficient alternatives – can have a significant financial impact.

How Focus on Energy Can Help
Focus on Energy can help by assisting farms and agribusinesses to look at how they use energy. By installing energy efficient equipment and changing processes agribusinesses can see results in increased profits and improved productivity. By providing expert advice, technical training and financial incentives, Focus helps farmers and rural businesses take the steps necessary to achieve these results.

Focus offers no-cost energy assessments with trained energy advisors to provide information on potential energy savings and incentives at farms that will help offset the costs. By assessing each farm, energy advisors can identify areas where the implementation of energy efficient systems and equipment will have the greatest impact on the efficiency of the overall operation.

Incentives Large and Small Available
Incentives and grants are available to help farmers and rural businesses implement many energy efficient technologies.

Increasing wind power would improve economy

by | Jun 11, 2009 | Uncategorized

From a letter to the editor of The Capital Times on June 11 by Scott Ribin:

Dear Editor: I’m writing in regard to recent letters about wind energy in Wisconsin. In my opinion, one of the best reasons to use more wind energy is that it will strengthen our economy.

First, using wind power will allow us to stop importing fossil fuels from out-of-state sources, which will lead to the creation of thousands of in-state middle-class manufacturing jobs, an area hit hard by the recent recession.

Second, constructing wind farms is also more cost-effective than building new coal or nuclear power plants because they have a greater direct impact on the local economy.

Third, northeastern Wisconsin is one of the best areas in the country to construct and place turbines because of its wind strength and speeds. This area already has a well-developed manufacturing base that is eager to thrive under a renewable revolution.

Wind power also will lower health care spending. Fossil fuel use is directly related to rising asthma and lung cancer prevalence rates. This especially occurs in lower-income families without insurance, further increasing health care costs.

Editorials

by | Jun 11, 2009 | Uncategorized

2009
06.12.09 Unnecessary obstacles – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
05.16.09 A wind for wind power in Wisconsin – Wisconsin State Journal
04.19.09 Have uniform rules for siting wind turbines – Sheboygan Press
04.19.09 State should loosen read tape that restricts wind power – Eau Claire Leader
04.03.09 Enact statewide standards for wind turbines – The Tomah Journal
03.08.09 Don’t blow chance for wind power – Wisconsin State Journal
01.28.09 Not-in-my-backyard attitude a continuing problem – The Country Today

2008
02.26.08 Blowin’ in the wind – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Wisconsin's clean economy: "Small and losing"

by | Jun 10, 2009 | Uncategorized

From a post on Tom Content’s blog on JSOnline.com:

Wisconsin’s clean-energy economy is smaller than the national average and lost jobs between 1997 and 2007, a new report published Thursday says.

Wisconsin employed more than 15,000 jobs in the clean-energy sector, according to a study by the Pew Charitable Trusts. But employment in the clean sector fell 5% during that decade, at a time the state’s overall job growth was more than 3%, according to the report.

As a result, the company ranks with Maryland, Utah and West Virginia as states where the clean-energy sector is described as “small and losing.”

Despite that stark description, Wisconsin ranked well in one area, the report found. With 2,801 people employed in the energy efficiency field, Wisconsin employed more people in this area than all but five other states.

The state has attracted $46 million in clean-technology venture capital in the past three years, but even that pales in comparison with other states. Wisconsin ranks behind Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota in raising clean-tech funding — ranking 24th among all states and the District of Columbia.

The Pew report, “The Clean Energy Economy: Repowering Jobs, Businesses and Investments Across America,” found there were 68,200 businesses nationwide in the clean-energy sector, accounting for 770,000 jobs.

Workshop: Alcohol Can Be A Gas, Osseo, June 27-28

by | Jun 10, 2009 | Uncategorized

From a news release issued by the Wisconsin Farmers Union:

Chippewa Falls, Wis. (June 10, 2009) – The International Institute for Ecological Agriculture (IIEA) announced today that it is working with the Wisconsin Farmers Union and the Wisconsin Office of Energy Independence along with agencies and groups across the region to present its next series of educational workshop programs. The two-day Intensive workshops, (June 27 and 28 in Osseo, WI and July 6 and 7 in Madison, WI) promote rural and urban economic revitalization and non-exportable job creation through the optimized production of food and fuel source crops and related by-products.

The workshops will be led by David Blume, renowned Permaculture and Biofuels expert and author of Alcohol Can Be A Gas. Mr. Blume, is the recent author recipient of the American Corn Growers Association’s Truth in Agricultural Journalism award, and will teach attendees how they can:

•Earn federal and state renewable energy tax incentives that can offset as much as 80% of the startup costs for a small-scale alcohol fuel business.
•Beat the fuel and food price increases predicted for 2009.
•Produce clean alcohol fuel for less than a dollar per gallon from waste, toxic and spoiled food, common weeds, as well as high-return crops.