by jboullion | Sep 16, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Nathaniel Shuda in the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune:
Sustainable building techniques are becoming increasingly popular in central Wisconsin and across the state, industry leaders say.
Most recently, the Mead Wildlife Area Education & Visitor Center near Milladore became the second new building in Wisconsin to receive LEED Platinum Green Building Certification, the highest possible level for sustainable-energy design.
“I believe the trend has been going up for the building of LEED-certified buildings in general,” said Sue Loomans, executive director of the Wisconsin Green Building Alliance. “People are seeing the importance of sustainable building.”
LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a nationwide energy-efficiency program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council and overseen by the Green Building Certification Institute.
The Mead building joins the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center near Baraboo, the renovated Hunzinger Construction Offices in Milwaukee and a private home in Madison in carrying the LEED Platinum rating.
by jboullion | Sep 15, 2009 | Uncategorized
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 15, 2009
MORE INFORMATION
Michael Vickerman
RENEW Wisconsin
608.255.4044
mvickerman@renewwisconsin.org
In a show of bipartisan support, the State Senate approved legislation that will open the door to new wind energy projects in Wisconsin.
Under the Wind for Wisconsin umbrella, more than 60 organizations as diverse as unions, trade associations, environmental advocates, health groups, and renewable energy manufacturers sought uniform permitting standards for future wind developments.
Six Republicans joined 17 Democrats to pass Senate Bill 185. The legislation directs the Public Service Commission to begin a rulemaking process that will lead to greater certainty and predictability in siting wind generation facilities.
“The Senate’s vote is critical to reviving the development of a high priority renewable energy resource in accordance with Wisconsin energy policy,” said Michael Vickerman, executive director of RENEW Wisconsin, a nonprofit sustainable energy advocacy organization.
“We believe that the wind energy suppliers will see the action as an invitation to locate and do business in Wisconsin. Our economy will benefit from the investment and jobs in a sustainable energy future,” Vickerman said.
“RENEW Wisconsin and its members thank the bill’s primary authors, Senator Jeff Plale (D-South Milwaukee) and Senator Randy Hopper (R-Fond du Lac), the leadership of both parties, and all of the state senators who recognized the need for a statewide approach to permitting windpower installations,” Vickerman added .
The Assembly will vote on the companion bill later this week. Then it will go to the governor.
END
RENEW Wisconsin (www.renewwisconsin.org) is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that acts as a catalyst to advance a sustainable energy future through public policy and private sector initiatives.
by jboullion | Sep 15, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an editorial in the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune:
Summer’s done? Already?
Despite its late date, Labor Day weekend kind of snuck up on the Wisconsin Rapids area this year. One reason: Cooler weather often made the warmest of seasons tough to recognize.
Still, with one last long holiday weekend and the unofficial end of summer to enjoy, it’s hard to complain — especially with the kickoff of local high school sports and the start of the college and professional football season.
Here are few more reasons to be thankful while relaxing, or contemplating all the yard work that needs to be done.
Seen what Mid-State Technical College has been doing lately? The school based in Grand Rapids is working to expand its five renewable energy programs.
This will be an important field in the coming years, as government and businesses work to “go green” for economic and environmental reasons.
Employers will need qualified workers in these burgeoning sectors, and it’s encouraging to see a local institution like Mid-State leading the way.
The college has been working with Energy Composites Corp. on a training program for future employees of the company, which plans to add at least 400 jobs to Wisconsin Rapids with a wind energy component plant.
In addition to Mid-State’s renewable thermal energy, renewable electricity and bio-refinery technology programs that began a year ago, the school’s renewable energy specialist and energy conservation specialist programs started up this week.
U.S. Rep. Dave Obey, D-Wausau, was in town Monday to check up on the programs for which he helped secure $428,000 in President Barack Obama’s 2009-10 budget.
The future looks bright if Wisconsin Rapids can build upon the solid base educational institutions like Mid-State and companies like Energy Composites are building. . . .
by jboullion | Sep 14, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article on Electric Light and Power:
Waukesha, WI – Marshfield and Plymouth Utilities, both headquartered in Wisconsin, are the first utilities in the state to own and add a Plug-In Hybrid Utility truck to their fleets. The units are available exclusively from two Wisconsin manufacturers Odyne Systems and DUECO, Inc.
Officials from Marshfield Utilities welcomed Wisconsin’s first Plug-In Hybrid Electric bucket truck delivered in May of this year. The Odyne Plug-in Hybrid Electric propulsion system minimizes fuel use (while driving) and emissions found in a typical bucket truck. When at a job site, batteries power all boom hydraulic functions and the climate control system for a full workday, without the use of the diesel engine. This means reduced noise from engine idle and elimination of any emissions while in electric mode.
Plymouth Utilities is the first utility nationwide to own a 4×4 Plug-in Hybrid Digger Derrick, a common piece of equipment used to dig holes and set electric poles by utility companies throughout the nation. This unit is a Terex C4047 with a full hydraulic control station at the pedestal. A foot throttle actuates the PHEV system, allowing the batteries system to turn on. The unit is equipped with a force option, only turning on the engine on if you need to dig in rough conditions.
Both the Marshfield and Plymouth Plug-in trucks are able to recharge their battery system at night by using off-peak energy from the electricity their own utility produces.
Design, manufacture and assembly for both the Marshfield and Plymouth trucks was done in Waukesha, WI, “We are excited our local utilities have chosen Odyne and DUECO to manufacture the first two Hybrid Plug-in work trucks in the state.” states Judie Taylor, president of DUECO. “It shows Wisconsin’s strong environmental commitment to enhance fuel economy and reduce emissions.”
by jboullion | Sep 11, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Nick Halter in the Wausau Daily Herald:
A new biomass power plant in Rothschild would cut dependence on fossil fuels, reduce acid rain and be nearly carbon-neutral, according to studies and experts.
It’s also a step, albeit a small one, toward Wisconsin reaching its goal of having 10 percent of all energy produced using renewable resources by 2015 — a goal established in Gov. Jim Doyle’s Clean Energy Wisconsin Plan.
We Energies announced plans Sept. 1 to build a $250 million power plant that burns low-quality and unusable wood and paper waste, powering the Domtar paper mill and providing electricity to homes in Wisconsin. The plant still needs state approval before construction can begin.
Burning wood is much cleaner than burning coal, the source of 70 percent of the electricity on Wisconsin’s power grid, said Keith Reopelle, senior policy director for the environmental advocacy group Clean Wisconsin.
“I think that biomass will and needs to play an important role in replacing coal generation in Wisconsin and I think there will be a trend towards it, Reopelle said.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, burning wood is nearly carbon-neutral because the carbon dioxide generated during combustion is equal to the carbon dioxide the tree consumes over its life. But the process will remain carbon-neutral only if forestry companies that supply wood to the power plant replace the trees that they cut.
