by jboullion | Apr 22, 2011 | Uncategorized
From an editorial in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
This Earth Day falls a year and a day after one of the worst environmental disasters to hit the United States. The explosion of BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil rig took the lives of 11 rig workers and released 206 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.
What have we done with the lessons learned in that year? Not so much.
Still missing: a comprehensive energy policy that would significantly reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and place more reliance on alternative or renewable fuels.
There has been some improvement. Cleanup efforts continue, but most of the mess has been removed or has disappeared through evaporation or microbes. The disaster was extensive, but the damage turned out not to be quite as devastating as some expected (although not all of the victims have received full compensation and some effects will certainly linger).
Beaches are open again. Commercial and recreational fishing is back in action. Deep water drilling is probably safer than it was before the explosion; the federal government’s inspection program is tougher and more independent.
But critics say this all could happen again – that, in fact, another disaster is inevitable. That’s the risk of drilling in ocean waters. The feds recently approved the 10th deepwater drilling permit since the disaster.
Some of that is necessary in the short term. But in the long term, relying on fossil fuels is unsustainable.
by jboullion | Apr 21, 2011 | Uncategorized
Madison Peak Oil Group listserve subscribers are debating coal vs. wind. To join the debate, drop an email to madisonpeakoil-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
by jboullion | Apr 15, 2011 | Uncategorized
For immediate release
April 15, 2011
More information
RENEW Wisconsin
Michael Vickerman
608.255.4044
mvickerman@renewwisconsin.org
We Energies Customers Will Pay the Higher Cost of Hauling Coal
We Energies’ electricity customers can look forward to coughing up an additional $25 million in 2011 due to the Public Service Commission’s approval yesterday [April14] of a rate increase to cover the escalating cost of transporting coal to Wisconsin power plants.
Milwaukee-based We Energies, Wisconsin’s largest electric utility, imports coal from such distant locations as Wyoming and Pennsylvania to generate electricity. Transportation now accounts for two-thirds of the delivered cost of coal to Wisconsin.
Diesel fuel costs have jumped to approximately $4.00 a gallon this year, propelled by political unrest in the Middle East, declining petroleum output from Mexico, a weakening dollar, and other factors. We Energies’ request predated the ongoing civil war in Libya.
“While we cannot control any of those price drivers, we can more effectively cushion their effects by diversifying our energy generation mix with locally produced wind, solar, small hydro, and biogas electricity,” said Michael Vickerman, executive director of RENEW Wisconsin, a statewide organization advocating for public policies and private initiatives that advance renewable energy.
“The coal mines aren’t getting any closer to Wisconsin. Therefore we have to be serious about reducing our dependence on fossil fuels that are tied to the global oil supply picture. Now is not the time to skimp on investments in conservation and renewable energy that will help stabilize the utility bills of businesses and residents,” Vickerman said.
“Do we have the will to pursue energy policies that take us off of the fossil fuel price escalator? Doing nothing will bake these rate increases into our future without any corresponding boost to Wisconsin’s job market and sustainable energy economy.”
–END–
by jboullion | Apr 1, 2011 | Uncategorized
From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
A new air pollution permit issued by state regulators for the coal-fired power plant near downtown Milwaukee doesn’t go far enough to protect public health, environmental groups said Thursday as they filed challenges to the permit.
We Energies’ Valley plant doesn’t have modern controls to reduce emissions linked to soot, smog and respiratory health problems.
The state Department of Natural Resources recently issued a permit for the plant to keep operating without installing more controls.
Sierra Club and Clean Wisconsin, backed by the Cleaner Valley Coalition, filed petitions with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the DNR seeking changes to the permit. The DNR filing seeks a contested case hearing before an administrative law judge.
In light of new EPA standards, the Milwaukee utility is continuing to evaluate whether to add controls to the plant or switch the plant from burning coal to burning natural gas.
A decision on changes for the Valley plant, which provides steam to heat and cool downtown Milwaukee buildings, is expected this year.
“It’s great that they’re deciding. We need a decision now because Milwaukee air quality is bad now. And we’re hoping they’ll make the right decision and move away from coal because it’s just going to get more expensive to continue to burn coal,” said Jennifer Feyerherm of the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign. “There are so many people living by that plant, and coal is too dirty to burn amid that many people.”
by jboullion | Feb 16, 2011 | Uncategorized
From an article by Thomas Content in the Milwaukeee Journal Sentinel:
Stricter EPA pollution rules leading to changes
We Energies managers expect to decide this year how the utility will clean up the Menomonee Valley power plant to comply with new environmental rules.
The Milwaukee power company is studying whether to add pollution controls at the downtown plant or to convert the plant to burn natural gas.
A coalition of health and environmental groups plans a petition drive calling on the company to make changes more rapidly.
The Valley plant has come under fire because it is the only large utility plant the company operates in Wisconsin that hasn’t been outfitted with state-of-the-art pollution scrubbers or shut down.
As part of a federal court settlement resolving alleged violations of the Clean Air Act, the state’s largest utility has added pollution controls to power plants in Oak Creek and Pleasant Prairie, and converted its oldest coal plant in Port Washington to burn natural gas.
The Cleaner Valley Coalition has expanded its coalition with the addition of the Milwaukee Inner-City Congregations Allied for Hope and the Wisconsin Interfaith Power & Light coalition, among others. Other members include the Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Latino Health Coalition, Midwest Environmental Advocates, Sierra Club and Clean Wisconsin.
“We are demanding We Energies to clean up its mess and the Environmental Protection Agency to hold We Energies accountable to meet modern and protective health standards,” said Virginia Zerpa, leader of the Cleaner Valley Coalition.
