by jboullion | Jun 5, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Sara Daehn in the Cresco Times-Plain Dealer:
Cresco, Iowa – Construction is underway on a 99-megawatt wind farm near Riceville.
The Crane Creek Wind Project will consist of 66 GE 1.5 megawatt wind turbines and is expected to generate electricity to provide for the energy needs of approximately 27,000 homes serviced by investor-owned electric and natural gas utility Wisconsin Public Service, who will take over ownership of the project upon completion.
About 50-60 construction workers began working at the site of the Crane Creek Wind Project, located at 9895 Fir Ave. in rural Riceville, on April 13. So far, crews have been busy mobilizing the construction site, pouring foundations for each turbine and creating access roads.
Meanwhile, Wisconsin wind energy development stands still because of local opposition to wind siting. In other words, local opposition hasn’t stopped Wisconsin utilities from developing and electricity customers from using wind-generated electricity. The opposition just sends the jobs to workers in Iowa and Minnesota.
by jboullion | Jun 5, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Kathleen Gallagher in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
A year ago, Erik Lindberg rented a boom lift with a bucket and hoisted 15 cubic yards of dirt to the roof of his north side remodeling business. In the process, he planted himself firmly in the middle of a growing urban agriculture movement.
Lindberg, owner of Community Building & Restoration, turned to rooftop gardening in the belief that his actions might encourage people to grow their own food or buy locally grown produce.
And by selling the vegetables he grows to subscribers and a nearby Outpost Natural Foods store, he may have become Milwaukee’s first commercial rooftop farmer.
“It’s an experiment,” said Lindberg, 42. “Can you develop a business plan out of something like this? The answer is, I don’t know yet.”
Rooftop farming is in its infancy, but the potential is enormous, said Steven Peck, founder and president of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, a 10-year-old Toronto-based association that claims more than 5,000 members.
“We have probably a handful of projects. A lot of the rooftop gardening we do may have a commercial or selling component, but it’s often set up because of the social benefits it provides,” Peck said. Those benefits include improved health, less stress, a sense of community among tenants of a building, better caretakers and lower crime rates, he said.
Green evolution
Restaurants such as Frontera Grill and Uncommon Groundin Chicago were among the pioneers of rooftop gardening.
Milwaukee is an evolving “green roof” community, Peck said.
Among the local buildings featuring rooftop gardens are a City of Milwaukee building at 809 Broadway; the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District building at 260 W. Seeboth St.; the Highland Gardens Public Housing Facility; the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Great Lakes WATER Institute; the Karen Peck Katz Conservation Education Center at the Milwaukee County Zoo; the Urban Ecology Center next to Riverside University High School; and the Grohmann Museum at the Milwaukee School of Engineering.
by jboullion | Jun 5, 2009 | Uncategorized
In a presentation to the Wisconsin Public Utility Institute, RENEW Wisconsin’s executive director Michael Vickerman reviewed wind generation’s role in baseload planning. He also reviewed the perspective on baseload of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA):
+ Baseload power is an obsolete concept
+ Both baseload plants and windpower are primarily energy resources
+ From a flexibility perspective, wind is superior
+ Curtailing windpower to allow inflexible baseload plants to keep operating is inefficient, wasteful and damaging to the environment.
by jboullion | Jun 5, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Nathaniel Shuda in the Marshfield News Herald:
WISCONSIN RAPIDS — Plans to eliminate a state fund that helped a local manufacturer lay the groundwork for a wind energy component plant aren’t expected to have an immediate impact on the company.
Members of the state Joint Finance Committee cut all $30 million Gov. Jim Doyle proposed for the Wisconsin Energy Independence Fund as part of an effort to wipe out the state’s $6.6 billion biennial budget deficit. The budget still needs approval from both chambers of the Legislature and the governor before going into effect.
“In an optimum world, of course we’d like to see that (funding),” said Sam Fairchild, chief executive officer of Energy Composites Corp., which merged with Wisconsin Rapids-based Advanced Fiberglass Technologies in October. “But at the end of the day, I can understand the pressures the state is facing.”
Advanced Fiberglass Technologies garnered a $1 million loan in September through the fund to assist in its move into the wind energy industry. The manufacturer plans to begin construction in July on a 350,000-square-foot plant that will produce blades for industrial wind turbines and create at least 400 jobs in Wisconsin Rapids.
The proposed two-year suspension of the Wisconsin Energy Independence Fund program would not affect the $7.3 million already awarded to 28 companies statewide, Doyle spokeswoman Carla Vigue said Thursday.
Although he cares about the 10-year, $150 million program, the governor would reluctantly approve the cut if it’s included in the Legislature’s final version of the budget, Vigue said.
by jboullion | Jun 5, 2009 | Uncategorized
2009
06.11.09 Increasing wind power would improve economy – The Capital Times
06.02.09 State should regulate wind farm siting – La Crosse Tribune
by jboullion | Jun 4, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by Wisconsin Environment:
Green Bay, WI –Reducing dependence on fossil fuels, creating new jobs and protecting the environment for future generations are all benefits resulting from the clean energy policies adopted in Wisconsin in recent years, according to a new report released today at events in Madison, Milwaukee and Green Bay by Wisconsin Environment. The group cited the report’s findings as clear evidence the state legislature should take the next steps toward a clean energy economy.
“This report shows that we can repower Wisconsin and revitalize our economy with homegrown clean energy solutions,” said Wisconsin Environment Director Dan Kohler. “With our abundant natural resources and strong manufacturing and agricultural base, we have the perfect combination of assets to be a national leader.”
Wisconsin Environment’s new report comes as state lawmakers are gearing up to consider new commitments to renewable energy and efficiency programs. Last August, Governor Doyle’s Global Warming Task Force recommended increasing the state’s renewable energy commitment from 10% by 2015 up to 25% by 2025, as well as using energy more wisely. Legislation stemming from the task force is expected to be announced later this summer.
