by jboullion | Dec 21, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an Associated Press article by Ryan J. Foley in the Green Bay Press Gazette:
MADISON — Gov. Jim Doyle has backed off a campaign promise that the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and three other UW campuses will be energy independent by 2012 after determining it was not practical as proposed.
Weeks before he was re-elected in 2006, Doyle said campuses would “go off the grid” by becoming the first state agencies to purchase or produce as much energy from renewable sources as they consume. He said they would achieve that by replacing fossil fuels with cleaner energy sources like solar, wind and biomass.
The goal has since been changed to require the campuses to sharply reduce their carbon dioxide emissions, instead of ending them altogether or going off the grid entirely, by 2012. The change came into public view this month during a Board of Regents meeting.
Some university officials say the original plan never made much sense because “going off the grid” would have required them to start producing their own electricity instead of buying it from utilities, which was not feasible or cost-effective.
At the same time, they credit the challenge with spurring them to conserve energy, study alternative fuels, and purchase more renewable sources from the utilities that provide their electricity.
Doyle told reporters Wednesday his original vision may have been unrealistic because of the challenges associated with producing energy on campuses, but the program would still motivate students and university employees to reduce pollution.
by jboullion | Dec 18, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Larry Bivins in the Wausau Daily Herald:
WASHINGTON — Despite concerns over whether China and other nations will allow emissions inspections, Congress should pass legislation to reduce the release of greenhouse gases in the United States, Gov. Jim Doyle said Wednesday.
In a conference call from Copenhagen, Denmark, where he is attending an international climate change summit, Doyle said legislation to reduce emissions was too critical to the nation’s economic growth to let die in the Senate.
“We better seize the moment,” Doyle said.
Since arriving in Copenhagen on Monday, Doyle said he has met with dozens of government officials from around the world.
On Wednesday, Doyle announced that he and Manitoba, Canada, Premier Greg Selinger have agreed to host bilateral workshops on building a green economy, following up on a memorandum of understanding signed in October.
The United Nations Climate Change Conference began Dec. 8 and is scheduled to end today. World leaders hope to agree on a plan for reducing emissions.
by jboullion | Dec 16, 2009 | Uncategorized
With little fanfare, legislative leaders releases a copy of the bill to implement the recommendations of the Task Force on Global Warming. Use these links to access:
+ Bill draft
+ Index to the bill
+ Short overview
+ Detailed summary
by jboullion | Dec 14, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Chad Dally in The Daily Press (Ashland):
More than 100 scientists and researchers have called on Wisconsin’s Congressional delegation to support cuts in emissions and other policies to address climate change.
“Controlling carbon emissions will allow for Wisconsin and the United States to take full advantage of the clean renewable resources and energy efficient technologies that are available today,” the letter states. “A workable federal policy to combat global warming will also encourage researchers, investors, and businesses to accelerate development and deployment of next generation energy technologies.”
The House passed a climate bill earlier this year, but it is on the back burner while the Senate works through health care reform legislation. Wisconsin Democrats Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl last month signed a letter to Senate leaders urging them to tweak the permitting process under a cap-and-trade system to avoid a potential increase in energy costs. The letter from Wisconsin scientists was sent the day after the opening of the world climate summit in Copenhagen, with nearly 200 countries negotiating financing, emissions cuts and other factors involved with global climate change.
The letter also was issued on the same day the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced its “endangerment” finding for greenhouse gases, ruling carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouses gases as a public health threat and giving the agency at least some regulatory authority outside of Congress.
Professor Jonathon Patz of UW-Madison, and a lead author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, said last week’s endangerment finding signals a stance from the EPA that climate change is a public health risk, and the greenhouse gases that cause climate change, therefore, should be regulated as a public health measure
“People think about the polar bears and think about the ice caps, but public health impacts from climate change are significant,” he said.
by jboullion | Dec 10, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a Tom Content post on JSOnline:
Nine Wisconsin companies including Briggs & Stratton Corp. and Kohler Co. will receive $14.5 million in energy efficiency fencing through the federal stimulus package.
Gov. Jim Doyle announced the moves during an appearance at Kohler Co. The money is funded through the state Focus on Energy program, after the state won the funding from the U.S. Department of Energy.
The announcement was the second made Thursday by Doyle concerning energy efficiency and green jobs for state manufacturers.
The companies receiving funds include Briggs & Stratton Corp., Wauwatosa, $1.29 million; Didion Milling Inc. of Cambria, $5.59 million, Domtar Paper, Rothschild, $870,500; Kohler Co., $1.72 million; NewPage, Wisconsin Rapids, $495,000; Quad/Graphics, Sussex, $868,466; Thilmany Paper, Kaukauna, $1.07 million; and Wausau Paper Specialty Products, which will receive $706,968 for its Mosinee mill and $1.97 million for its Rhinelander paper mill.
