by jboullion | Apr 15, 2010 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by the Advocates for Renewable Energy, a coalition of organizations, including RENEW Wisconsin:
Act Will Save Wisconsin Utility Customers at Least $1.2 Billion
The Public Service Commission (PSC) released a study today finding that the Clean Energy Jobs Act substitute amendment will save Wisconsin electricity customers at least $1.2 billion over the next 15 years, and could save Wisconsin electricity customers up to $6.4 billion over that period, compared to the business as usual approach. The study is based on the energy cost savings of provisions included in the Clean Energy Jobs Act substitute amendment released on Wednesday.
“The PSC study confirms that the Clean Energy Jobs Act will save Wisconsin residents and businesses money,” said Vicky Lipinski of Procorp Enterprises, a water and wastewater treatment solution company in Milwaukee. “Sustainable energy solutions reduce costs for businesses and allow them to be more competitive and create jobs.”
The study finds that average customer electricity bills will be lower in 2015 and 2020 under all scenarios with the Clean Energy Jobs Act compared to the business as usual approach. These savings will be realized by customers even without any federal carbon regulation. When modest federal carbon regulation is assumed, the cost savings of the Clean Energy Jobs Act are even greater.
“Our continued reliance on fossil fuel generation provides great uncertainty in the energy market, as costs of coal and natural gas are highly variable and unpredictable,” said Shaina Kilcoyne of the coalition Advocates for Renewable Energy. “As the PSC study demonstrates, renewable energy provides stability and predictability, as well as cost savings for residents and businesses.”
The study is further proof that the cost concerns alleged by opponents of the bill are without merit. The Clean Energy Jobs Act will reduce energy costs, create jobs, and improve our economy.
“The Clean Energy Jobs Act will move our state forward and establish a stronger, healthier, more sustainable Wisconsin economy,” said Kilcoyne.
by jboullion | Apr 14, 2010 | Uncategorized
Diverse groups lined up to support passage of the rewritten version of Clean Energy Jobs Act legislation when the new provisions were announced on Tuesday. Group already releasing statements of support include:
+ Clean Wisconsin.
+ AFL-CIO
+ Wisconsin Business Council
+ Clean, Responsible Energy for Wisconsin’s Economy (CREWE)
+ Wisconsin Environment
+ WPPI Energy.
According to the bill’s co-authors the highlights of the bill make the following changes:
+ Increases the use of renewable resources to meet the state’s future energy needs, requiring 25 percent of Wisconsin’s energy needs are met by renewable sources by 2025, creates new opportunities for Wisconsin.
+ Establishes graduated statewide electricity savings goals that lead up to a 2 percent reduction by 2015 and annual reductions of 2 percent thereafter, this will help reduce energy costs to businesses and homes across the state.
+ Large conservation and efficiency projects that meet workforce standards could count toward a portion of the RPS, which accelerates savings and provides options for utilities to create jobs.
+ Supports the development of small scale renewables such as solar, wind and manure digesters through expanded Focus on Energy grants and loans that will now total $25 million per year each year for a four year period. This will allow Wisconsin Companies to grow their business and create more jobs.
+ Modifies, but not repeal, Wisconsin’s moratorium on nuclear power plants. The language has been tightened to remove the threat of constitutional challenge by tying those changes to the state’s traditional regulatory authority over the need and siting of any plant.
+ Adjusts several transportation provisions, including the elimination of the California vehicle emissions standard; the proposed low carbon fuel standard tied to decisions in other states; and boiler efficiency standards that could cause conflict with EPA regulations.
The co-authors also asked the Public Service Commission to update its cost analysis of the legislation, taking into account the changes made in the substitute amendment.
by jboullion | Apr 13, 2010 | Uncategorized
From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
A revised state clean energy and global warming bill unveiled Tuesday scales back the scope of the bill but retains a commitment to expand use of renewable energy and open the door to construction of nuclear reactors in Wisconsin.
The revisions, obtained by the Journal Sentinel, were drafted in response to concerns raised by business groups and politicians that the original bill was too unwieldy, too controversial and potentially too costly.
Jettisoned from the package were mandates concerning transportation fuels, including a requirement that Wisconsin require greater use of low-carbon transportation fuels such as biofuels.
To reduce the overall cost of the package, the bill allows energy efficiency gains to count toward a portion of a mandate that 25% of Wisconsin’s electricity come from renewable power sources by 2025.
A combined energy efficiency and renewable energy standard is also part of federal legislation that passed in the U.S. House of Representatives last year.
The state bill would allow one-fifth of the mandate to come through energy savings, most likely from major energy saving initiatives by factories and other big energy users.
Another change responds to concerns raised by utilities concerning a mandate that had been in the earlier bill concerning small renewable energy projects around the state. The mandate has been replaced with expanded funding for small renewable energy projects. The new proposal states a preference that much of that money be allocated toward manure digesters on Wisconsin dairy farms.
The latest version also underscores the consequences of the weak economy and declining sentiment for taking action on global warming.
Doyle signed an executive order creating the task force in April 2007 – well before the collapse in the economy. In December 2009, after details were known, many business groups attacked it and said the recommendations would harm the energy-intensive manufacturing sector.
But some other industries and companies, notably Johnson Controls, the state’s largest public company, said the bill would create jobs and align the state to take advantage of emerging trends in sustainability.
At the same time, the public appears less concerned about climate change. A national Gallup Poll in March showed that the percentage of respondents who believe the seriousness of global warming is “generally exaggerated” has increased from 35% to 48% in two years.
“As introduced, the Clean Energy Jobs Act would reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create jobs, and help keep rising energy bills in check,” said Keith Reopelle, senior policy director at the environmental group Clean Wisconsin, said in a statement. “The substitute amendment represents a compromise that will still accomplish all of these goals, but to a lesser degree than the original bill.”
Clean Wisconsin is still reviewing the details of the changes.
“As we understand them, the changes in the substitute amendment will result in even more jobs and lower energy bills in the next few years by increasing short-term commitments to energy efficiency,” Reopelle said. “However, paring back the renewable energy standard will likely result in less rate relief in the long term, because renewable energy helps hedge against the rising cost of fossil fuels.”
by jboullion | Apr 12, 2010 | Uncategorized
From an article in the Wausau Daily Herald:
When Wausau East High School senior Maddy Schwede goes to school in the morning, she almost always glances up.
She’s looking to see if, 155 feet in the air, the giant propeller of the school’s Northwind 100 wind turbine is spinning. If it is, she knows the school is making electricity.
“It definitely catches your eye,” Schwede said.
The wind power generator was installed in October, and a second, smaller turbine soon will be put up. A solar panel that moves with the sun also is producing green energy on the site.
It all will cost about $650,000, mostly funded by grants from the Walter Alexander Foundation and Wisconsin Focus on Energy. Once they’re all running, the three units are expected to save the district more than $14,000 a year on its electricity bills. If so, it’ll take a little more than 46 years for the system to start making money beyond its cost.
But for students, teachers and those who helped make the wind turbine installation a reality, the money part of the project isn’t the point.
Instead, the ultimate hope is that a student will look up at the turbine like Schwede does and will feel a spark of imagination. She’ll learn about alternative energy in an environmental science class, learn about the design of a propeller in a technical education class and learn about the principles involved in producing electricity in a physics class.
And then she’ll go the University of Wisconsin-Madison or the Massachusetts Institute of Technology or another school and learn more. And maybe, just maybe, she’ll design a better turbine or a more effective solar panel that eventually will help make green, sustainable energy production a mainstream endeavor, instead of a niche area.
by jboullion | Apr 9, 2010 | Uncategorized
From an article by Paul Snyder in The Daily Reporter:
A local dispute over a proposed $255 million biomass plant in Rothschild is morphing into a debate over whether the opposition can force a referendum on the project.
“Based on what our attorney’s said, I question the validity of any referendum they would offer,” said Rothschild Village President Neal Torney.
Yet Village Voice, a group organized in opposition to the We Energies project, still wants a special referendum. Paul Schwantes, a member of the group and owner of Wausau-based Sydney Development LLC, said if the village does not agree to a special referendum, he will force one during the November election.
“I need a petition with 330 signatures,” he said. “I can get that.”
We Energies has proposed building the plant on the site of the Domtar Corp. paper mill to produce 50 megawatts of electricity. Torney said the site is zoned for industrial use, so short of approving site plans such as storm water systems and the height of chimney stacks, Rothschild has little room to reject the project if the project complies with local zoning laws.
“I’m almost certain there would be a legal challenge if we did,” said Torney, who added the village is not spending money on the project.
But that does not prevent Village Voice from petitioning for a referendum, said Dale Thorpe, an attorney for Delavan-based Thorpe & Christian SC, which represents municipalities in the state. He said citizens have a right to petition for a referendum if they are unhappy with government expenditure.
Even though the village would not spend money on the project, Thorpe said, the law is broad enough to cover construction projects residents do not want.
“By the same logic,” he said, “it can be used on building, zoning or rezoning approvals or for residents that just want to see a project stopped.”
