by jboullion | Jul 15, 2009 | Uncategorized
From the written decision of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District 2 in ruling against Calumet County’s restrictive ordinances that blocked the Ecker Brothers from adding turbines to the one already on their farm:
To encourage the use of renewable sources of energy, the legislature resolved to remove legal impediments to such systems in four ways: (1) codifying the right of individuals to negotiate and establish renewable energy resource easements; (2) clarifying the authority of, and encouraging, political subdivisions to employ existing land use powers for protecting access rights to the wind and sun; (3) creating a procedure for issuing permits to owners and builders of active solar and wind energy systems; and (4) encouraging political subdivisions to grant special exceptions and variances for renewable energy resource systems. Numrich, 242 Wis. 2d 677, ¶18 (citing Laws of 1981, ch. 354, § 1(2)(b)). No. 2007AP210913
These strategies indicate that the legislature determined it appropriate to give political subdivisions the power to assist in the creation of renewable energy systems and thus become an integral and effective factor in the State’s renewable energy goal. But, this history does not indicate that the State intended to delegate the power of policymaking. Instead, the evidence is that the State delegated the authority to execute and administer its established policy of favoring wind energy systems, and the statutory scheme was intended to create avenues for political subdivisions to assist the State. If the County and other similarly situated localities believe that localities should be able to decide for themselves whether and to what extent wind systems are welcome in their geographical area, their argument is best made to the legislature.
Because the legislature did not delegate legislative powers to localities, the County cannot make findings of legislative fact. The County thus exceeded its authority under WIS. STAT. § 66.0401 when it created its wind energy ordinance. We therefore hold the ordinance to be [beyond the authority of the county].
We reverse and remand with directions that the circuit court reconsider the Ecker Brothers’ declaratory judgment action given that the ordinance is [beyond the authority of the county].
by jboullion | Jul 14, 2009 | Uncategorized
An announcement by Wisconsin Public Service:
Green Bay, WI – For seven days, from July 15 – July 22, the Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation (WECC), in partnership with Wisconsin Public Service, will provide $25 as an incentive to turn-in an older, inefficient, working dehumidifier or room air conditioner, $40 toward the purchase of a new Energy Star dehumidifier or room air conditioner, or $75 for both the turn-in and new purchase at selected sites in Green Bay, Wausau and Stevens Point.
Participating Retailers (limit: three units per customer)
•Green Bay – Best Buy, Gmack, Martin Hardware, Sears and Van Vreedes
•Wausau – Best Buy and Grebes Appliance
•Stevens Point – Best Buy and Sears
Customer questions can be directed to WECC at (800) 875-1335.
The program could end early if supplies of qualifying units are exhausted or extended through July if targets are not met.
For More Information, contact:
•WECC
(800) 875-1335
•Wisconsin Public Service Customer Service
800-450-7260
by jboullion | Jul 13, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a commentary by Michael Vickerman, RENEW Wisconsin, July 12, 2009:
In a unanimous vote, the Public Service Commission (PSC) recently cleared the way for Alliant Energy’s Wisconsin utility to construct a 200 megawatt (MW) windpower plant project in southern Minnesota. Once operational, the Bent Tree project, costing upwards of $450 million, will be a productive source of renewable energy that will provide lasting benefits to Minnesota’s economy and environment. Since it will be Alliant’s Wisconsin customers who foot the bill, however, it is reasonable to inquire whether the current utility practice of outsourcing renewable energy production to other states is a good thing for Wisconsin’s economy.
Because we can’t see it, taste it, hear it or smell it, we tend to lose sight of the fact that electricity is a manufactured product. To make it, capital is amassed and expended on machinery that convert raw resources like coal, flowing water, and wind into this highly useful form of energy. The electricity is then transported via networks of wires to power factories, illuminate residences and streets, propel commuter trains, and energize the complex communications systems that allows to store vast quantities of instantly retrievable information. It is hard to name a manufactured product that adds more value to an industrialized society than electricity.
Yet electricity’s impact on the economy is not defined solely by the activities it supports. There is as well the intense amount of economic activity that goes into building the power plants themselves. In the case of Bent Tree, the capital used to manufacture, transport and erect 122 wind turbines will unleash a year-long burst of construction work in Freeborn County employing hundreds of skilled laborers and technicians. The work will also ripple through nearby component manufacturers involved with the project, as well as ports and other transfer points where components are unloaded and loaded onto special vehicles and hauled to the project zone. . . .
If Wisconsin truly desires to provide a home to a viable renewable energy economy, it will have to redefine the public interest standards that govern the expenditure of ratepayer dollars. This means giving such economic benefits as job creation, component manufacturing, workforce participation, increased tax receipts to local and state government, and reduced dependence on future transmission upgrades as much due consideration as cost per megawatt-hour. Granted, this is a form of industrial policy. However, if state policymakers don’t take steps to build a solid market structure for generating more renewable electricity here at home, Wisconsin’s ability to compete for good jobs and business opportunities could become hopelessly compromised.
by jboullion | Jul 9, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Tim Ryan from the Shawano Leader:
City officials Wednesday approved a resolution showing support for Gov. Jim Doyle’s goal of moving toward renewable energy, but not before several Common Council members expressed some reservations.
The resolution states the city is “committed to advancing the state of Wisconsin’s vision for energy independence by replacing 25 percent of the city of Shawano’s buildings and operations electricity use and 25 percent of its transportation fuels from renewable energy by 2025.”
Aldermen Brian Retzlaff and John Hoeffs voted against the resolution.
“Our governor took $45,000 away from us (in shared revenue) and increased our (landfill) tipping fees,” Retzlaff said. “I have a hard time supporting this when our governor actually is being two-faced with us.”
City Administrator Jim Stadler said the resolution was intended only as a show of support for the governor’s energy goals, not necessarily the governor, and could help the city in applying for renewable energy grants.
“This resolution will gain for the city some points in grantsmanship,” Stadler said.
The city previously voted to hire a consultant, at a cost of $5,000, to help apply for a potential $225,000 in renewable energy grant money.
by jboullion | Jul 8, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Nick Paulson in the Stevens Point Journal:
Treehaven, the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s residential natural resources education facility near Tomahawk, is one of nine sites around the state partaking in feasibility studies for biomass heaters.
The study, being funded by Focus on Energy, is analyzing utility bills, the size of Treehaven, and estimated costs in both the short term and long term to determine whether it makes sense to install a system at the facility.
How much a new heating system could save in bills won’t be known until the study is finished. But according to a report by the Biomass Energy Resource Center — a national nonprofit organization being contracted by Focus on Energy — two schools of differing sizes in Wisconsin both saved more than $50,000 in fuel costs in the first year after switching from natural gas to a biomass system.
Treehaven currently uses natural gas heaters, and while they are efficient, the chance to at least go through the feasibility study was too good to pass up, said Treehaven assistant director John Heusinkveld, even if the expected savings wouldn’t reach the level found in the study.
“We’re hopeful it’s something we can at least put in to back up our regular heating system,” Heusinkveld said. “If we get a large enough system and find the pathways, it could be the sole heating source for the property.”
Focus on Energy is considering three types of systems for the project, depending on the results from each site, all of which would use wood as the main fuel. The fuel can be wood chips, wood pellets or split logs.
