by jboullion | Jun 4, 2009 | Uncategorized
A story from WEAU News:
A western Wisconsin hospital wants to harness some of the mighty Mississippi’s power for its own energy needs.
Gundersen Lutheran Hospital is hoping to get approved to build seven hydrokinetic turbines at a Mississippi River dam, which the hospital says would provide about 90% of its energy needs. The hospital says it would take millions of dollars to create, and would use a local power company to convert the power. It’s in the permit stages now, which the hospital says could take three years.
“Versus wind which you never know whether the wind is going to be blowing or the sun is going to be shining so we think that this is a really good alternative as a renewable energy source,” says Jeff Rich with Gundersen Lutheran.
Rich says the hospital could recoup the cost of the project in about ten years.
by jboullion | Jun 4, 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 4, 2009 | Uncategorized
From the UW-Extension, Lincoln County:
A Workshop for Local Government on Working with Small Scale Wind Powered Generators
There is no charge for this program but we’d appreciate it if you let us know if you’ll be attending. Please call the Lincoln County Extension Office at 715-539-1072 by June 5th to register.
When: TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2009
Where: Room 257, Lincoln County Services Center, 801 N. Sales Street, Merrill, WI
Wind powered generators have been around for decades but as the market for ustainable power sources and the technology to meet that market has developed public and private investments into wind power has been speeding up. At the same time local and state governments have been faced with the challenge of how or if they should regulate them. This workshop provides local elected and appointed officials, and those in the public who are interested, with an opportunity to find out what the state of the industry is for smaller private and community based wind generators, talk about the variety of state and local regulations that are currently in place to guide their placement and operation, present some model ordinances that communities can consider, review the resources that are available for supporting and/or promoting the adoption of wind and other alternative energy sources, and actually visit a couple of privately installed wind powered generators. . . .
Featured Morning Speaker
Mick Sagrillo, Sagrillo Power and Light and Wisconsin Focus on Energy, has over 25 years experience with wind technology and founded in 1983 Lake Michigan Wind & Sun, Ltd, a company which manufactures wind generator components & towers, remanufactures and repairs equipment, and installs wind systems. He has been involved in over 700 projects in 46 states and 29 foreign countries. He is also an author and has written many of the most influential articles published on small-scale wind technology. He is the wind editor and a regular contributor of wind power articles to Home Power Magazine; monthly columnist for the American Wind Energy Association’s Windletter; columnist for Solar Today magazine and has written various articles on wind power for PV/Wind Energy News and Backwoods Home magazine. Many of his articles have been widely reprinted and translated into other languages. He has led many workshops on wind energy, is a founding member of the Midwest Renewable energy Association and has served as president of the board. He has an unparalleled record of service to organizations working to promote sustainable energy and has received numerous awards for his outstanding work. He is currently the owner of Sagrillo Power and Light, a consulting firm specializing in home-sized wind turbine technology and educational workshops and serves as a consultant for Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy Program.
Wind site tours
1:30 PM
Randee Block Farm
Lincoln County – Town of Scott
3:30 PM
Mike and Kathy Anderson Farm
Marathon County – Town of Marathon
by jboullion | Jun 3, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an announcement issued by the USDA:
On May 26, 2009, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it is accepting applications for Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants and loan guarantees. REAP (Section 9007 of the 2008 Farm Bill) is the former Section 9006 under the 2002 Farm Bill and provides incentives for the development/construction of renewable energy projects, such as anaerobic digester projects.
REAP renewable energy grants can provide up to 25 percent of eligible project costs, up to $500,000. Loan guarantees or grant and loan guarantee combinations are capped at 75 percent of eligible project costs. More details are available in the Federal Register at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-12178.pdf or on the USDA Web site http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/busp/9006grant.htm.
Application materials may be obtained by contacting one of USDA Rural Development State Offices, which are listed at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html or by downloading at http://www.grants.gov. Applications are due on July 31, 2009.
by jboullion | Jun 3, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an announcement issued by the USDA:
On May 26, 2009, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it is accepting applications for Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants and loan guarantees. REAP (Section 9007 of the 2008 Farm Bill) is the former Section 9006 under the 2002 Farm Bill and provides incentives for the development/construction of renewable energy projects, such as anaerobic digester projects.
REAP renewable energy grants can provide up to 25 percent of eligible project costs, up to $500,000. Loan guarantees or grant and loan guarantee combinations are capped at 75 percent of eligible project costs. More details are available in the Federal Register at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-12178.pdf or on the USDA Web site http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/busp/9006grant.htm.
Application materials may be obtained by contacting one of USDA Rural Development State Offices, which are listed at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html or by downloading at http://www.grants.gov. Applications are due on July 31, 2009.
by jboullion | Jun 3, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Wind turbine prices have fallen significantly in recent months amid the economic slowdown, and that, in turn, has brought down the projected cost to build the state’s largest wind farm.
The Glacier Hills Wind Park in Columbia County is now projected to cost a maximum of $413.5 million, down from a projection of $525.6 million when We Energies announced the project last year.
The Milwaukee utility is seeking to build the project in the next several years to comply with a state law that requires 10% of Wisconsin’s electricity be supplied by wind turbines and other renewable energy sources by 2015.
“Market conditions for the procurement of wind turbine equipment have changed considerably” since the utility first submitted its proposal to the state Public Service Commission, We Energies said in a filing with state regulators.
We Energies is proposing a 90-turbine wind power project, the Glacier Hills Wind Park, northeast of Madison. It would be the largest wind farm in the state, slightly bigger than the 88-turbine Blue Sky Green Field wind farm We Energies began operating near Fond du Lac last year.
Glacier Hills would generate enough power over a year to supply 45,000 typical homes, the utility says.
The utility also said it has reached an agreement with Vestas to supply turbines for the wind project, if the development is given the go-ahead by state regulators.
The drop in prices for wind turbines is linked to the recession and a slowdown in wind power development caused by both the economy and tight credit markets.
