by jboullion | Oct 9, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by the Public Service Commission:
Heating moratorium begins November 1st
MADISON – The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) urges energy consumers to contact their local utility if their heat is currently disconnected. The PSC also encourages residents to take advantage of energy-efficiency programs and the state’s low-income bill payment assistance programs to reduce the burden of utility bills this winter.
Wisconsin law states that consumers cannot be disconnected during the heating moratorium period from November 1 to April 15, if they are connected at the start of the moratorium. Consumers who are currently disconnected must make arrangements with their local utility to pay outstanding bills in order to have service restored. If a consumer has not made arrangements to pay an outstanding bill, the utility is not required to reconnect the service until payment arrangements have been made.
Consumers who need to set up a payment agreement should call their local utility. Phone numbers for the largest utilities in Wisconsin are listed below. If consumers cannot reach an agreement with their utility, they may contact the PSC at 608-266-2001 or 1-800-225-7729.
Alliant Energy, 1-800-862-6222
Madison Gas & Electric, 608-252-7144
Superior Water, Light & Power, 715-394-2200
We Energies, 1-800-842-4565
Wisconsin Public Service Corp., 1-800-450-7260
Xcel Energy, 1-800-895-4999
Energy Assistance
Due to increased federal funding and recent changes in program eligibility, many more households across the state may be eligible for heating assistance this winter. Consumers may qualify for assistance in paying their heating bills through the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP), which provides financial assistance to low-income residents. WHEAP is part of the state’s comprehensive Home Energy Plus program which provides assistance with emergency energy needs, emergency furnace repairs, conservation service, and weatherizing for low-income households.
For the 2009-2010 heating season, the income eligibility limit for WHEAP and Weatherization has increased from 150% of the federal poverty level to 60% of the State’s Median Income. The state anticipates nearly 256,000 Wisconsin families will receive energy assistance to pay a portion of their fuel costs this heating season, a 40 percent increase over last year.
Payments under these programs are based on household size, income level, and home energy costs. A family of four, with an annual income of $45,067 or less may be eligible for energy assistance. For more information about applying for the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program, call the Home Energy Plus hotline at 866-432-8947, or visit www.homeenergyplus.wi.gov.
by jboullion | Oct 6, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Tony DiZinno in the Marquette Tribune:
Two major points came out of Tuesday’s business forum on future green job growth in Wisconsin.
A panel of experts said more money needs to arrive as expected from part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act — commonly known as the stimulus package — and potential candidates to fill the new jobs require higher levels of education and skill sets.
Before the panel spoke, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett gave a speech on his blueprint of the green job movement.
“Green jobs are a continuum of what jobs are now,” Barrett said. “Since work is done at the local levels, it is important to us to be involved in this. We have such a need for business development.”
Money appropriated as a part of the stimulus package, the panelists said, has been slow to arrive and will largely determine the future of green jobs in Milwaukee and Wisconsin.
“There’s been a lot of talk, but very little has actually entered the market,” said Tom Boldt, chief executive officer of Oscar J. Boldt Construction in Appleton. He added that he expects 2010 and 2011 to attract more funds.
Clay Nesler, vice president of global energy and sustainability for the building efficiency sector of Johnson Controls, said the stimulus package had the unintended consequence of halting projects that were in progress because workers and investments slowed while waiting for the “free money.”
He added he hopes companies can attract matching funds and create projects with “seed money,” funds that can be extrapolated over a longer period of time.
The described longer period of time involves integrating the new workers into the workplace. The jobs that have the potential to be created offer higher salaries on average, but require a corresponding higher level of available skills, the panel said.
by jboullion | Oct 1, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article in Northland’s News Center:
Governor Jim Doyle is urging Wisconsin residents to take action now to keep their households warm during this winter.
Residents are urged to contact their local utility if their heat is currently disconnected and to take advantage of the state’s energy-efficiency programs as well low-income bill payment assistance programs to ease the burden of household energy costs during the winter season.
“During a Wisconsin winter, no family should have to choose between putting food on the table and heating their homes,” Governor Doyle said. “There are many programs in place to ensure that hard working low-income households make it safely through the season and now is the time to take advantage of the services the state offers.”
Under Wisconsin law, consumers cannot be disconnected during the heating moratorium period from November 1 to April 15 so long as they are connected at the start of the moratorium. . . .
Residents may also qualify for assistance paying their heating bill through the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP), which provides financial assistance to low-income residents who may struggle to pay utility bills this winter.
WHEAP is part of the state’s comprehensive Home Energy Plus program which provides assistance with emergency energy needs, emergency furnace repairs, conservation service and weatherizing low-income households. . . .
To receive more information about how to apply for the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program, call the Home Energy Plus hotline at 866-432-8947, or visit www.homeenergyplus.wi.gov.
by jboullion | Sep 29, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a story on WEAU-TV:
Teachers, students, and local professionals gathered Friday to talk about ways to prepare for energy usage in the future.
The event called “Tomorrow’s Energy Technology” was held at CVTC in Eau Claire Friday.
Business people from agriculture, construction, transportation, and energy industries talked about the trends, challenges, and opportunities coming in the future of energy.
CVTC President Bruce Barker says “As our economy recovers we have to look at what the new growth industry is, and in West Central WI, renewable fuel can certainly be a growth industry.”
by jboullion | Sep 28, 2009 | Uncategorized
“Green Jobs: Growing Wisconsin Employment” is part of a series of forums at Discovery World and aims to assess Wisconsin’s future in the green jobs market.
The forum, sponsored by the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters, UW-Milwaukee, Midwest Renewable Energy Association, We Energies, Wisconsin Environmental Initiative and Johnson Controls, begins at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 9 a.m. Breakfast begins at 7:15 a.m.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett will provide remarks about his city’s efforts to cultivate green jobs.
Confirmed panelists include:
* UW-Milwaukee Engineering School Dean Michael R. Lovell
* Tom Boldt, CEO of Boldt Construction
* UW-Madison School of Agriculture Dean Molly Jahn
* Clay Nesler, Vice President, Global Energy and Sustainability, Johnson Controls, Inc.
The event is organized by WisPolitics.com/WisBusiness.com with the help of MMAC, Discovery World, and UW-Milwaukee. More sponsorship opportunities are available; contact Jim Greer at 608-237-6296 or greer@wispolitics.com.
The event is open to the public, and the price is $30 per person. But WisPolitics.com and WisBusiness.com subscribers, members of the Wisconsin Academy, the UW-Milwaukee community, and members of MMAC and Discovery World are able to attend for $20 per person.
The price includes the breakfast buffet but not parking.
Call Debra Jordan (414) 287-4127 or djordan@mmac.org to register.
