by jboullion | Jun 10, 2010 | Uncategorized
From an editorial in the Sheboygan Press:
We don’t yet know the final solution to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, so we surely don’t know the final cost of the cleanup and the restoration of the fishery and the beaches.
But what we should know by now is that offshore oil drilling will have to be more closely monitored in the future. We should also know that we have to make a deeper commitment to reducing our dependence on oil — foreign and domestic.
The Disaster in the Gulf, as the now nearly two-month-long oil spill is being called, should be the wake-up call of all wake-up calls. It should spark bold action — in the offshore drilling regulatory process and in weaning the U.S. from oil.
President George W. Bush said in 2006 that the U.S. was “addicted to oil.” Yet today, we remain as hooked on oil and gas as we were then — and, like any addiction, it can be destructive. We are seeing its effect now in the Gulf of Mexico.
Although the U.S. needs to reduce its reliance on oil, there is no way to go “cold-turkey.” Our economy relies heavily on transportation — delivery of goods and services and people getting to and from jobs.
Oil, along with coal and natural gas, is also used to generate electricity and heat our homes. Many of the consumer goods we use have a base in petroleum.
In recent years, due mainly to the slowdown in the nation’s economy, the demand for oil has slowed in the U.S. It is still growing in much of the rest of the world, particularly China.
But rather than simply returning to oil as the main source of fuel, there needs to be a plan to move the U.S. economy forward while also reducing the use of oil. We’re taking baby steps today to find alternative sources of fuel. It’s time to think giant leaps forward.
by jboullion | Jun 9, 2010 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by the Public Service Commission:
MADISON – – Utility bills can soar with rising temperatures. To stay cool this summer while conserving energy and keeping costs down, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) offers these easy, low-cost steps:
Use cold water for doing laundry and air dry your clothes on clotheslines.
Wash dishes with cold water and air dry.
Turn off lights when leaving a room.
Check the weather-stripping and caulking for leaks around doors and windows.
Use a microwave oven or cook outside instead of using the stove or oven.
Minimize the amount of time your refrigerator and freezer doors are open.
Use natural lighting and compact fluorescent light bulbs. Ninety percent of the energy used by an incandescent bulb makes heat.
by jboullion | Jun 4, 2010 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by the Public Service Commission:
MADISON – – Utility bills can soar with rising temperatures. To stay cool this summer while conserving energy and keeping costs down, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) offers these easy, low-cost steps:
Use cold water for doing laundry and air dry your clothes on clotheslines.
Wash dishes with cold water and air dry.
Turn off lights when leaving a room.
Check the weather-stripping and caulking for leaks around doors and windows.
Use a microwave oven or cook outside instead of using the stove or oven.
Minimize the amount of time your refrigerator and freezer doors are open.
Use natural lighting and compact fluorescent light bulbs. Ninety percent of the energy used by an incandescent bulb makes heat.
by jboullion | May 19, 2010 | Uncategorized
From a story by Brittany Earl on WSAW-TV, Wausau:
There are ways you can cut your electricity costs.
Wisconsin Public Service offers a variety of programs to help you save money.
For example the Time Of Use Program, helps people who use their electricity between 10PM and 7AM which are off peak hours. But you should always call in and speak to a representative first to make sure your lifestyle fits the program.
Kelly Zagrzebski of Wisconsin Public Service says, “You want to make sure your flexible, that you can do your laundry if you have an electric hot water heater during the off peak hours or if you have a electric heater.”
If you stick to the off peak hours time frame, you could save between 5 and 20 percent, possibly even 50 percent if you’re strict.
by jboullion | May 10, 2010 | Uncategorized
From an article by Cara Spoto in the Stevens Point Journal:
Hoping to reduce Portage County’s carbon footprint and save a little money in the process, county leaders will start work this month on a strategic energy plan.
The Smart Energy Team, led by Portage County Executive Patty Dreier and County Board Chairman O. Philip Idsvoog, has a goal of having a plan in place by Dec. 1. Toward that end, the group has received $12,000 in capital improvement dollars, along with a $4,500 grant, which may be used to hire a consultant.
Jennifer Stewart, community development educator with the University of Wisconsin-Extension in Whiting, said the first phase of the planning process will largely consist of taking a snapshot of how much energy the county consumes and in what ways.
“What we have talked about doing at the first meeting is reviewing the scope of the committee’s charge and start identifying first steps,” Stewart said.
From there, the team will draw on the knowledge of experts and its members, including Planning and Zoning Director Jeff Schuler, Facilities Director Todd Neuenfeldt and the chairs of the finance and space and properties committee, to establish a set of goals for consumption, alternative energy use and conservation.
Options for achieving such goals could include retrofitting buildings, altering building operations, purchasing energy-efficient equipment, using alternative energy sources and educating employees.
