by jboullion | Jan 12, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a letter to the editor by Marty Anderson in the Marshfield News Herald:
In my capacity as chairman of the Sustainable Marshfield Committee, I’ve had the opportunity to present throughout central Wisconsin about sustainability principles. In each presentation, I begin by defining what sustainability is, because the word is often overused and not well defined when it is used.
Put simply, sustainability is defined as living and working in ways that do not jeopardize our current and future social, environmental and economic resources. In other words, we can’t take away from the ability of future generations to have a standard of living similar or better than our own conditions today.
In February 2007, the city of Marshfield approved a resolution to become one of the first sustainable communities in the state. In doing so, we also adopted the sustainability framework called The Natural Step, originally founded in Sweden by Dr. Karl Henrik Robèrt in 1989. The Natural Step is made up of four basic principles:
• Reduce dependence upon fossil fuels and extracted underground metals and minerals.
• Reduce dependence on chemicals and other manufactured substances that can accumulate in nature.
• Reduce dependence on activities that harm life-sustaining ecosystems.
• Meet the hierarchy of present and future human needs fairly and efficiently.
These principles are purposely general in their scope. Dr. Robèrt was trying to create a vision for a sustainable definition that everyone can agree with and support. In addition, it gives those working on implementing sustainability a litmus test to determine if what they are doing is moving their community towards sustainability.
Anderson, a former alderman and the current chairman of the Sustainable Marshfield Committee, be reached by e-mail at mande047@solarus.net.
by jboullion | Jan 9, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a letter to the editor by Bobby Gifford:
In print we recently heard from a member of the Stevens Point Plan Commission regarding the pace of planning for downtown, including the mall. We need to look not at the pace of planning, but at the assumptions of planning and how they square with our new economic reality.
A key component of the mall plan is spending over $2 million on parking spaces. It appears that PDI, the paid consultants we are using in Point, are unaware of the peak oil problem, or ignore it. It seems that most planning in our region is based on the assumption that cheap oil and gas will persist far into the future.
The global peak of oil production is still here. The global economic collapse has not increased global petroleum supply. Instead, crashing petroleum prices are driving supply capacity from the market. The next upswing in crude oil and natural gas prices will be a brake on recovery.
Our recovery from global recession will be very slow. The retail sector as we know it is probably already history.
Our Plan Commission and local sustainability groups need to be on the same page. Local elected officials need to consistently consult with local sustainability activists such as Farmshed, Sustain Central Wisconsin, Eco-municipality committees, UWSP, students, and the Interfaith Council for the Earth and read all available sustainability literature.
Gifford offered these Web sites for research:
http://www.energybulletin.net
http://www.peakoil.net
http://www.theoildrum.com
http://aspo-usa.com
http://www.simmonsco-intl.com/research.aspx?Type=msspeeches
by jboullion | Jan 7, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article in the Wausau Daily Herald:
Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s energy efficiency and renewable energy initiative has announced that Clark Electric Cooperative officially became a program member as of Jan. 1.
The utility serves about 8,800 customers in Clark, Chippewa, Jackson, Marathon, Taylor and Wood counties.
“Clark Electric Cooperative’s decision to participate in Focus on Energy will result in a healthier environment for Wisconsin and will provide options for its customers to make sound energy decisions,” said Eric Callisto, chairman of the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, the agency that manages the Focus on Energy program.
Clark Electric will participate in the business, residential and renewable energy offerings under the Focus on Energy umbrella. Benefits of participating include:
• Business programs that help manufacturers, commercial businesses, farmers, schools and local governments reduce operating costs, increase their bottom line and improve productivity and employee and customer comfort.
• Wisconsin Energy Star Homes, a program that helps homeowners and landlords integrate energy improvements in their remodeling projects.
• Lighting and appliance programs that increase the availability of Energy Star-qualified products, ranging from compact fluorescent light bulbs to heating and cooling equipment.
• Renewable energy programs that help residents and businesses harness energy from sunlight, wind and organic materials.
by jboullion | Jan 6, 2009 | Uncategorized
From the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters:
Join Us For CONSERVATION LOBBY DAY 2009!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 – RSVP here!
*RSVP Required—RSVP DEADLINE is February 13!
Since the first Conservation Lobby Day in 2005, it has grown from just over 100 citizens to over 500! Each year these citizens from across Wisconsin descend on the Capitol to share their conservation values with their Legislators. As we head into the 5th annual Conservation Lobby Day, there is one thing we can guarantee-when citizens come together to make their conservation values known, legislators listen, and conservation victories soon follow!
The reauthorization of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund and the passage of the Strong Great Lakes Compact are two great examples of how citizen lobbying resulted in ground-breaking conservation laws.
The participation of local groups and citizens like YOU is incredibly important to the success of Conservation Lobby Day. Every day throughout the state, countless citizens work tirelessly to protect the local land, water, and wildlife.
Conservation Lobby Day is a unique opportunity to share your conservation stories and experiences with legislators and have a huge impact on conservation policies affecting all of Wisconsin.
In 2009-2010, the conservation community will be fighting to:
Preserve Groundwater: Wisconsin’s Buried Treasure: manage Wisconsin’s groundwater resources to preserve drinking water supplies, lakes, streams, and wetlands.
Stop Global Warming in Wisconsin: address the threats of global warming in Wisconsin through clean, renewable energy jobs and energy conservation.
Restore Conservation Integrity: return Wisconsin to an Independent DNR Secretary and a timely appointment of Natural Resource Board members.
Protect Wisconsin’s Drinking Water: protect Wisconsin’s drinking water supplies by making sure we safely spread agricultural, municipal, and industrial waste.
For a 1-page brief on each of these issues, click on their title above.
by jboullion | Jan 2, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a the first of two articles by Adam Wise in the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune:
Note: This is the first of a two-part report on how the Wisconsin Rapids School District is spending money that residents approved in a 2006 referendum. The second story will appear Friday.
Wisconsin Rapids School District leaders plan to cope with rising utility costs by increasing energy efficiency with money approved through the referendum process.
A little more than two years ago, residents in the district approved a four-question, approximately $10 million referendum for building, technology and curriculum upgrades.
With most of the money — about $8.3 million — slated for district facilities, Buildings and Grounds Director Tom Helgestad and staff members developed a three-year plan to conduct a majority of the work during the district’s summer breaks.
As an example of the upgrades, Helgestad said the district achieved an almost 45 percent decrease in natural gas usage at Grove Elementary School after replacing the old heating system.
“Because of the age of the equipment, our infrastructure and heating systems were between 50 and 60 years old,” said Helgestad, specifically referring to Howe, Mead, and Grove elementary schools. “They were at the end of their life; parts were unavailable. We had to retrofit to keep things going.”
Wisconsin Rapids School Board members have been receiving periodic updates from Helgestad regarding the progress of the three-year plan.
“We’re actually going to be able to save even though the prices have gone up,” board member Mary Rayome said.
