by jboullion | Feb 1, 2012 | Uncategorized
From an editorial in the Green Bay Press-Gazette:
A committee wants Brown County to ask the state to pay medical bills for anyone becoming sick because of wind turbines, but we don’t think it’s the county’s place to make such a move.
The human services committee voted last week to seek emergency aid for families near the Shirley Wind Farm in the town of Glenmore, blaming the state for allowing what supervisors said was “irresponsible placement” of wind turbines. Several people testified to the committee that they or their neighbors have experienced conditions such as anxiety, depression and weight loss and fear they have been exposed to a greater cancer risk.
We feel for local residents who believe their health has been compromised by wind turbines. But until the state establishes setback rules and other regulations governing wind turbines, the county’s effort in this case is futile. . . .
If county supervisors want to make recommendations on setback limits or other issues involving wind turbines, they should do that and forward their opinions to the state. But a resolution seeking compensation for medical bills comes with the assumption that the wind turbines caused the problems in Glenmore. That’s a conclusion that hasn’t been determined.
Brown County has been a focus area for wind energy companies in recent years. The landscape is conducive to the placement of turbines because the topography helps produce a steady wind flow. An advocacy group — Brown County Citizens for Responsible Wind Energy — has lobbied for greater setback distances, saying turbines too close to residences and schools pose potential health problems.
The opposition led Illinois-based Invenergy Inc. to withdraw its plans to build a 100-turbine wind farm in the towns of Morrison and Glenmore.
The wind energy industry cites, with good reason, the fact that wind turbines provide a useful and necessary energy source. They also provide financial compensation for land owners who agree to have wind turbines erected on their property.
Still, some opponents say the negatives outweigh the benefits. Some have also claimed the turbines lower property values.
The responsibility for establishing wind energy rules rests with the Public Service Commission. A legislative committee suspended the PSC’s proposed turbine siting rules 11 months ago and instructed the state agency to work on a compromise that would be acceptable to both sides. PSC spokeswoman Kristin Ruesch told the Green Bay Press-Gazette Monday that no such compromise has been reached. She also said she doesn’t think the issue of medical bill payments has been part of the discussions.
We urge the PSC to accelerate the discussions to reach a compromise that will be acceptable to both sides and the state Legislature.
by jboullion | Feb 1, 2012 | Uncategorized
From an editorial in the Green Bay Press-Gazette:
A committee wants Brown County to ask the state to pay medical bills for anyone becoming sick because of wind turbines, but we don’t think it’s the county’s place to make such a move.
The human services committee voted last week to seek emergency aid for families near the Shirley Wind Farm in the town of Glenmore, blaming the state for allowing what supervisors said was “irresponsible placement” of wind turbines. Several people testified to the committee that they or their neighbors have experienced conditions such as anxiety, depression and weight loss and fear they have been exposed to a greater cancer risk.
We feel for local residents who believe their health has been compromised by wind turbines. But until the state establishes setback rules and other regulations governing wind turbines, the county’s effort in this case is futile. . . .
If county supervisors want to make recommendations on setback limits or other issues involving wind turbines, they should do that and forward their opinions to the state. But a resolution seeking compensation for medical bills comes with the assumption that the wind turbines caused the problems in Glenmore. That’s a conclusion that hasn’t been determined.
Brown County has been a focus area for wind energy companies in recent years. The landscape is conducive to the placement of turbines because the topography helps produce a steady wind flow. An advocacy group — Brown County Citizens for Responsible Wind Energy — has lobbied for greater setback distances, saying turbines too close to residences and schools pose potential health problems.
The opposition led Illinois-based Invenergy Inc. to withdraw its plans to build a 100-turbine wind farm in the towns of Morrison and Glenmore.
The wind energy industry cites, with good reason, the fact that wind turbines provide a useful and necessary energy source. They also provide financial compensation for land owners who agree to have wind turbines erected on their property.
Still, some opponents say the negatives outweigh the benefits. Some have also claimed the turbines lower property values.
The responsibility for establishing wind energy rules rests with the Public Service Commission. A legislative committee suspended the PSC’s proposed turbine siting rules 11 months ago and instructed the state agency to work on a compromise that would be acceptable to both sides. PSC spokeswoman Kristin Ruesch told the Green Bay Press-Gazette Monday that no such compromise has been reached. She also said she doesn’t think the issue of medical bill payments has been part of the discussions.
We urge the PSC to accelerate the discussions to reach a compromise that will be acceptable to both sides and the state Legislature. Sincerely, Jeff Anthony American Wind Energy Association Milwaukee, WI Peter Bakken, Public Policy Coordinator Wisconsin Council of Churches Sun Prairie, WI Rich Bannen, Owner Prairie Solar Power & Light Prairie du Chien, WI Barb Basaj SunSpec, LLC Milwaukee, WI Thomas Brown, Architect Stevens Point, WI Brent Brucker, General Manager Helios Solar Works Milwaukee, WI Justin Castleman Castleman & Sons Plumbing Franklin, WI Chris Collins, Marketing Director H&H Solar Energy Services Madison, WI Lisa Conley, President Town and Country RC&D Jefferson, WI Lisa Daniels, Executive Director Windustry Minneapolis, MN Mark Dawson Sand Creek Solar Amherst, WI Susan De Vos Madison Area Bus Advocates Madison, WI Tom DeBates, Owner Habi-Tek Geneva, IL Michael Dearing, Owner Driftless Solar Spring Green, WI Trang Donovan Unlimited Renewable Energies Prairie du Sac, WI Jeff Ehlers, President Renewegy, LLC Oshkosh, WI Jim Erdman Solar Electric and Small Wind Certified Site Assessor Menomonie, WI James Erickson, Owner Antech Properties Janesville, WI Brian Evans, Production Manager Associated Housewrights Madison, WI Randy Faller, Owner Kettle View Renewable Energy Random Lake, WI Pete Flesch, Chair, Crawford County Board of Supervisors Prairie du Chien, WI Scott Freier Freiers Electric and Heating Ellsworth, WI Greg Fritsch, CEO Clean Energy North America Glendale, WI Jim Funk, Owner Energize, LLC Winneconne, WI Mark Furst Grading Spaces, LLC Fort Atkinson, WI David Goepfert, President Thermal Design, Inc. Stoughton, WI David Hansen, Proprietor Lake Country Energy Oconomowoc, WI Daniel Harkins, Manager Trantow Properties, LLC Stoughton, WI Ryan Harkins, Project Manager Synergy Renewable Systems, LLC Stoughton, WI Michael Harvey Able Electric Co. River Falls, WI Charlie Higley, Executive Director Citizens Utility Board Madison, WI John Hippensteel, President Lake Michigan Wind and Sun Sturgeon Bay, WI John Imes, Executive Director Wisconsin Environmental Initiative Madison, WI Micah James, General Manager Energycraft Synergy Systems, LLC Stoughton, WI Andrea Kaminski League of Women Voters Wisconsin Education Network Madison, WI James Kerbel Photovoltaic Systems, LLC Amherst, WI Joe Klein Applied Plastics Oak Creek, WI Richard Klemme, Dean and Director UW-Extension, Cooperative Extension Madison, WI Randy Knox System Owner Whitewater, WI Jeff Knutson A-A Exteriors, com Waupaca, WI Fritz Kreiss Community Green Energy, LLC, Lake Geneva, WI Eco-Vision Sustainable Learning Center, Inc., Lake Geneva, WI Green Leaf Inn, LLC, Delavan, WI Larry Krom L&S Technical Associates Spring Green, WI Alicia Leinberger, Marketing and Development Manager Seventh Generation Energy Systems Madison, WI Vicki Lipinski Marketing and Sales Coordinator Procorp Enterprises Milwaukee, WI Randy Mader Faith Technologies Sun Prairie, WI Tom Martin, CEO Convergence Energy Lake Geneva, WI Neil Matthes Duck Creek Engineering, Inc. Helenville, WI Heather McCombs Wisconsin Green Building Association Milwaukee, WI Natalie McIntire enMac Energy Consulting Viroqua, WI Christine Merritt, Ph.D TAPCO – Traffic and Parking Control, Inc. Brown Deer, WI Eric Meyer Werner Electric Wisconsin Neenah, WI Randy Moberg Werner Electric Minnesota Cottage Grove, MN Ingrid Nahm Appleton Solar Appleton, WI Andy Olsen Environmental Law & Policy Center Madison, WI Jim Olson E3Coalition Viroqua, WI Burke O’Neal, Director Full Spectrum Solar Madison, WI Robert H. Owen, Jr. Consulting Engineer/Meteorologist Middleton, WI George Penn Global Energy Options Madison, WI Katie Peterman, Manager, Cooperative Affairs Organic Valley Family of Farms LaFarge, WI Ted Petith Greenlink Projects, LLC Madison, WI Greg Phillips American Power, Inc. Electrical Contractors Janesville, WI Eric Pipkin Pipkin Electric, Inc. Sparta, WI John Price Access Solar, LLC Waukesha, WI Bob Ramlow Artha Sustainable Energy Center Amherst, WI Alex Rein Verona, WI Kurt Reinhold Solar Connections, LLC Madison, WI Ed Ritger Ritger Law Office Random Lake, WI Cathy Robinson Chippewa Valley Alternative Energy Chippewa Falls, WI Rik Rosenlund Midwest Solar Power Madison, WI Mick Sagrillo Sagrillo Power & Light Forestville, WI Kris Schmid Legacy Solar, LLC Frederic, WI Brian Schwaller, Owner EcoManity, LLC (owner) The Sustainable Living Group (president) Elkhart Lake, WI Al Schulz, Owner/CEO Safe Work La Crosse, WI Roy Settgas, Owner Sunrise Energy Services Washburn, WI Carl Siegrist Carl Siegrist Consulting Whitefish Bay, WI Wes Slaymaker WES Engineering Madison, WI Judy Spring Sustain Sauk County Baraboo, WI Zeus Stark, Owner Next Step Energy Eau Claire, WI Doug Stingle, Development Director Midwest Renewable Energy Association Custer, WI Josh Stolzenburg North Wind Renewable Energy, LLC Stevens Point, WI Amy Taivalkoski, Principal ALT Energy Sussex, WI Craig Tarr, President Energy Concepts Hudson, WI Todd Timmerman Timmerman’s Talents Platteville, WI Melissa Van Ornum DVO, Inc. Chilton, WI Michael Vickerman, Policy Director RENEW Wisconsin Madison, WI Larry Walker Walker Energy Systems Madison, WI Ray Walter, Ph.D, President MyEnergy, LLC Pewaukee, WI Michael Ward E & W Heating and Air Conditioning Middleton, WI David Washebek Lemberg Electric Company Brookfield, WI Robert Weier, Vice President ELEXCO, Inc. Seymour, WI Laura West West Winds Renewable Resources, LLC Plover, WI Tom Wilson HOME REMEDIES Residential Energy Services, Viroqua, WI Northern Thunder, Eau Claire, WI Dona Wininsky American Lung Association (Wisconsin) Milwaukee, WI Niels Wolter, Owner Madison Solar Consulting Madison, WI Mark Yeager Sun & Daughters Solar, LLC Rhinelander, WI Jim Yockey, CEO Seventh Generation Systems Integration Madison, WI John Young Resource Solar Madison, WI Michael Zander, CEO Biogas Direct Sauk City, WI Ed Zinthefer Arch Electric, LLC Plymouth, WI
by jboullion | Jan 24, 2012 | Uncategorized
From a guest commentary by Keith Reopelle and Charlie Higley in the Janseville Gazette:
In spring 2011, Gov. Scott Walker and legislative leaders significantly cut funding to Focus on Energy, the energy efficiency program that helps residents and businesses lower energy bills. A recent legislative audit demonstrates that the benefits of Focus on Energy more than double the program’s costs, and legislators should quickly restore lost funding in order to maximize the program’s cost-saving potential.
Focus on Energy was created in 2001 to help homeowners and businesses reduce energy costs. More than 2 million Wisconsin residents and businesses have participated in the program.
The statewide program helps keep energy bills affordable for all Wisconsinites by reducing energy use and preventing the need to build expensive new power plants and transmission lines that we all pay for with increased electricity bills.
In addition, Focus on Energy helps reduce the amount of money we spend to fuel our power plants. Wisconsin spends $12.5 billion every year on imported electricity and dirty, out-of-state fossil fuels. Much of that is spent on coal, oil and natural gas to generate electricity and heat our homes. Investing in energy efficiency is the No. 1 way we can reduce that and keep money circulating within our own economy.
The audit released by the bipartisan Legislative Audit Bureau confirms that Focus on Energy successfully lowers energy bills and provides environmental and economic benefits that far outweigh program costs. For every $1 invested, residents and businesses save more than $2 on energy bills, according to the audit. This helped save more than $264 million on energy bills in 2010 alone. Since its inception, Focus on Energy has helped residents and businesses save more than $2 billion. . . .
Keith Reopelle is senior policy director at Clean Wisconsin, the state’s largest environmental advocacy organization. Contact him at kreopelle@cleanwisconsin.org. Charlie Higley is executive director of the Citizens Utility Board of Wisconsin. Contact him at higley@wiscub.org.
by jboullion | Jan 19, 2012 | Uncategorized
From a report by Alex Brasch on RENEW’s Energy Policy Summit:
MADISON, Wis. – Can local governments work together with citizen action groups to effectively transition America away from reliance on fossil fuels? The answer in Wisconsin and Colorado seems to be yes.
Members of Wisconsin’s renewable energy industry convened in Madison for the RENEW Wisconsin Energy Policy Summit last week. The diverse crowd of renewable energy manufacturers, installers, state utilities, environmental advocacy groups, university representatives, and government officials, including Dane County Executive Joe Parisi and Madison Mayor Paul Soglin, came together to focus their efforts on retaking the initiative in the fight for a more sustainable energy future for Wisconsin.
Members heard from keynote speaker Leslie Glustrom, a biochemist who belongs to a similar organization in Boulder, Colo. – a group that recently led a successful ballot initiative to authorize creation of a municipal utility in that city.
Don Wichert, founder of RENEW and former chief of energy resources with the Wisconsin Department of Administration and current director of renewable energy services at the Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation created the advocacy group more than 20 years ago to address government officials about clean energy development in the state.
Wichert said Wisconsin spends nearly $6 billion per year on imported coal, petroleum, and natural gas. “As a renewable energy advocacy group composed of concerned citizens, clean energy businesses, environmental organizations, and government employees, RENEW Wisconsin seeks to change the way people think about and consume energy through a combination of advocacy, education, and creative partnerships with state and local governments, businesses, utilities, and citizen groups,” Wichert said.
Michael Vickerman, long-time executive director of RENEW, expressed optimism that, “despite current rollbacks of renewable energy policies, including the suspension of clean energy incentives and a weakening of state laws that leverage utility-purchased renewable energy, there is still a network of supportive local officials throughout the state.” He challenged advocates to resist acquiescing to the current political situation, and instead, use the sum influence of the clean energy industry, including non-profits and concerned citizens, to drum up support for clean energy development. Vickerman provided three guiding principles as a springboard to start discussion on how to retake the initiative.
First, reframe the message by presenting the industry’s true potential as a group of highly-motivated, dynamic organizations with a unifying business plan that will generate green jobs. Second, assert the fact that renewable energy is something intensely desired by businesses and citizens, because it gives customers more options, businesses increased market appeal, and a surefire pathway to more local jobs. And finally, pursue community-owned renewable projects that will keep energy production local and redirect investment into the area economy.
by jboullion | Jan 19, 2012 | Uncategorized
From a report by Alex Brasch on RENEW’s Energy Policy Summit:
MADISON, Wis. – Can local governments work together with citizen action groups to effectively transition America away from reliance on fossil fuels? The answer in Wisconsin and Colorado seems to be yes.
Members of Wisconsin’s renewable energy industry convened in Madison for the RENEW Wisconsin Energy Policy Summit last week. The diverse crowd of renewable energy manufacturers, installers, state utilities, environmental advocacy groups, university representatives, and government officials, including Dane County Executive Joe Parisi and Madison Mayor Paul Soglin, came together to focus their efforts on retaking the initiative in the fight for a more sustainable energy future for Wisconsin.
Members heard from keynote speaker Leslie Glustrom, a biochemist who belongs to a similar organization in Boulder, Colo. – a group that recently led a successful ballot initiative to authorize creation of a municipal utility in that city.
Don Wichert, founder of RENEW and former chief of energy resources with the Wisconsin Department of Administration and current director of renewable energy services at the Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation created the advocacy group more than 20 years ago to address government officials about clean energy development in the state.
Wichert said Wisconsin spends nearly $6 billion per year on imported coal, petroleum, and natural gas. “As a renewable energy advocacy group composed of concerned citizens, clean energy businesses, environmental organizations, and government employees, RENEW Wisconsin seeks to change the way people think about and consume energy through a combination of advocacy, education, and creative partnerships with state and local governments, businesses, utilities, and citizen groups,” Wichert said.
Michael Vickerman, long-time executive director of RENEW, expressed optimism that, “despite current rollbacks of renewable energy policies, including the suspension of clean energy incentives and a weakening of state laws that leverage utility-purchased renewable energy, there is still a network of supportive local officials throughout the state.” He challenged advocates to resist acquiescing to the current political situation, and instead, use the sum influence of the clean energy industry, including non-profits and concerned citizens, to drum up support for clean energy development. Vickerman provided three guiding principles as a springboard to start discussion on how to retake the initiative.
First, reframe the message by presenting the industry’s true potential as a group of highly-motivated, dynamic organizations with a unifying business plan that will generate green jobs. Second, assert the fact that renewable energy is something intensely desired by businesses and citizens, because it gives customers more options, businesses increased market appeal, and a surefire pathway to more local jobs. And finally, pursue community-owned renewable projects that will keep energy production local and redirect investment into the area economy.
