by jboullion | Sep 4, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article in the Business Journal of Milwaukee:
Cardinal Glass Industries will receive a $500,000 loan to help finance an upgrade to the company’s photovoltaic glass production facility in Portage.
Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle announced the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act loan Tuesday at the opening of the Cardinal Solar Technologies facility in Mazomanie, a 180,000-square-foot plant that will grind, drill and temper two types of glass for use in photovoltaic solar panels. Another 80,000-square-foot section is planned as part of a second phase of construction.
At full capacity, the Mazomanie plant will produce 64 million square feet of tempered glass annually, Doyle said. The plant employs 54 workers but once it reaches full production, the plant has the potential to add an additional 60 to 70 employees.
by jboullion | Sep 2, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an editorial in the Wausau Daily Herald:
The news that Milwaukee’s We Energies is planning to build a massive 50-megawatt power plant at the Domtar paper mill in Rothschild is an almost immediate boon to the local economy. Beyond that, it could be a promising sign for future economic development in central Wisconsin.
. . . .the new plant will burn waste generated by Domtar — sawmill waste and other recycled mill waste, as well as waste wood — to produce steam that will fuel turbines that generate electricity. That electricity will make the Domtar mill virtually self-sufficient, and the rest of the power will be sent to We Energy’s grid.
It’s estimated that the new, $250 million biomass plant will create 150 permanent jobs throughout the supply chain. And locally it will create 400 temporary construction jobs between now and 2013.
That alone promises to hold create economic benefits for local workers and construction companies.
Beyond economics, the expansion of biomass power is a part of a broad movement toward renewable energies and away from fossil fuels, which are polluting and increasingly expensive. Since 2002, Domtar has increased its use of renewable fuels by 12.5 percent.
This move comes with a series of benefits to the environment and to the economy. To the extent that cleaner, renewable and local resources can be used, it makes sense that all sorts of manufacturing companies would want to move in this direction.
by jboullion | Sep 1, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by We Energies:
ROTHSCHILD, Wis. – We Energies announced today the proposed construction of a $250 million biomass-fueled power plant at Domtar Corporation’s Rothschild, Wisconsin paper mill site. Wood, waste wood and sawdust will be used to produce 50 megawatts of electricity and will also support Domtar’s sustainable papermaking operations. The project would be funded by We Energies.
The partnership between We Energies and Domtar will result in a highly efficient use of resources and will add another technology to We Energies’ renewable energy portfolio.
That portfolio includes the state’s largest wind development — the 145 megawatt Blue Sky Green Field Wind Energy Center in Fond du Lac County and the proposed 162 megawatt Glacier Hills Wind Park in Columbia County. Together, these three projects will be capable of delivering nearly 360 megawatts of renewable energy, enough to supply approximately 120,000 homes. . . .
Under Wisconsin law, utilities statewide must use renewable energy to meet 10 percent of the electricity needs of retail customers by the year 2015.
The project is expected to create approximately 400 construction jobs and 150 permanent jobs in the surrounding community, including independent wood suppliers and haulers from northern and central Wisconsin who will secure waste wood for the project.
by jboullion | Aug 24, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by in the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune:
Energy Composites Corp. had an 18.1 percent increase in revenue during the second quarter from the same period in 2008, the Wisconsin Rapids-based company announced today.
Despite the increase and a 7.5 percent increase in gross profit, the manufacturer had a net loss of $579,781, about 45 percent higher than the second quarter of 2008, according to the company’s quarterly financial results.
Company leaders attributed the loss to continued investments in its planned 350,000-square-foot manufacturing plant it expects to build in the Rapids East Commerce Center. Announced March 31, the new plant will construct industrial wind-turbine blades and create more than 400 local jobs.
Energy Composites Chief Executive Officer Sam Fairchild said the company also continues to diversify its product line and soon will have several significant contractual and personnel announcements as a result of those efforts.
by jboullion | Aug 18, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by the Department of Workforce Development:
WISCONSIN RAPIDS – On behalf of Governor Jim Doyle, Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Roberta Gassman today awarded a $100,000 workforce training grant to prepare the first of 400 workers for green jobs when a new Wisconsin Rapids business starts manufacturing wind turbine blades. . . .
The $100,000 grant awarded to the North Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Board will be matched by more than $60,000 locally. Among the goals of the Renewable Electric Power project is to train 35 individuals, including dislocated workers, for the first openings at the Energy Composites Corporation. Earlier this year, the firm announced its plans to construct of a 350,000-square-foot, composites fabrication plant to manufacture wind turbine blades.
As part of the project, Mid-State Technical College is creating a 12-credit Composite Certificate, intensive , short-term, customized training in turbine blade fabrication. The 35 trainees are to complete six-months of instruction in June, allowing others to enter the pipeline for employment opportunities at the plant. In the process, the project will develop a green job career pathway for the emerging renewable energy sector in the north central region.
“This is our future,” Secretary Gassman said, “seizing green opportunities that will create good jobs for our citizens and fuel economic growth in the emerging industries of renewable energy, biotechnology and advanced manufacturing.”
