by jboullion | Aug 5, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by Johnson Controls:
DETROIT, Aug. 5 /PRNewswire/ — Johnson Controls, Inc. (NYSE: JCI) today announced that it has been awarded a $299 million grant by the United States Department of Energy under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to build domestic manufacturing capacity for advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles. This award represents approximately half of the company’s total planned investment of $600 million in domestic advanced battery manufacturing capacity and infrastructure development.
“This investment is an important step toward creating and building an industry in the United States that addresses market requirements and long-term opportunities for growth and new jobs in this country,” said Alex Molinaroli, president of Power Solutions for Johnson Controls. “We have assembled a world-class team of suppliers and automotive manufacturers, and we believe this comprehensive approach will enable the United States to establish a domestic industry that is competitive, economically viable and sustainable.”
In April, Johnson Controls and its joint venture partner Saft announced that Johnson Controls-Saft was awarded incentives for $148.5 million from the State of Michigan for the establishment of a U.S. manufacturing facility for lithium-ion cells and complete hybrid battery systems in Holland, Michigan. The Holland, Michigan facility will serve the company’s global customers, including Ford, for its first plug-in hybrid vehicle for 2012, Azure Dynamics, for its 2010 launch of the next generation Balance™ Hybrid Electric commercial vehicle, Daimler AG and BMW.
by jboullion | Aug 4, 2009 | Uncategorized
The Wisconsin State Fair runs from August 6 thorugh the 16th.
NEW! WAUKESHA COUNTY AREA SHUTTLE
Jump on the new Waukesha County Area Shuttle Service that will drop-off and make return trips from the U.S. Cellular Main Gate. The shuttle will run every 30 minutes starting at 7:30am with the last departure 30 minutes after the Fair closes. Pick-up the shuttle at the Hwy 83/I-94, Hwy G/I-94 and Barker Road/Goerkes Corners Park-N-Rides. Regular round trip fare is $8.00 but $6.00 with discount coupons. Seniors $6.00 and children 5 & under FREE. For more details visit statefairshuttle.com or call (262) 292-9992
Riteway Bus Service – Washington County Area State Fair Shuttle
Enjoy an air conditioned motor coach ride with Riteway’s daily round-trip service to the 2009 Wisconsin State Fair. Motor coach departs from two locations in Washington County beginning at 8:30 a.m. from Washington County Fairgrounds and at 9:30 a.m. from Germantown. Fares are $12 adults aged 12-59; $10 seniors 60+ and disabled; $5.00 children aged 7-11 and children under 7, free. For boarding locations and departure times please visit www.ritewaybus.com or call 262-677-3282.
Pedal to the Park Presented by wheel & sprocket
Getting to the State Fair just got easier, healthier and more affordable. The State Fair encourages guests to save on gas, leave their cars at home and “Pedal to the Park” instead. In collaboration
with the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, FREE dedicated bicycle parking will be offered outside of the U.S. Cellular Main Gate on the north side of the Fair Park (enter from 76th Street at Gate 8, near the RV Park) and inside Gate 2 on the south side of the Fair Park (enter from Greenfield Avenue). Spaces are limited.
RIDE THE BUS!
Riding the bus to the Fair is easy, convenient, and economical. To determine the public transportation option that best suits your needs, call the Milwaukee County Transit System Bus Line at 414.344.6711 or visit RideMCTS.com. Remember, children (6 & under) ride FREE.
MILWAUKEE COUNTY TRANSIT SYSTEM SHUTTLES
The shuttle from Watertown Plank Road Park & Ride Lot at HWY 45 operates to the State Fair Transit Center near Gate 4 every day of the Fair. Shuttles operate every 15 minutes from 7:30am until one half-hour after Fair closure. Shuttle fares are only $3 round-trip for adults (ages 12 – 64) and $1.50 for children (ages 7-11), seniors (65 & over) and disabled persons with proper I.D. Parking is FREE.
FREEWAY FLYERS
Park FREE at any of the following Park-Ride lots: Brown Deer Road west of I-43; Loomis Road at I-894; Green Bay Road just north of Brown Deer Road; Southridge Mall Parking Lot on Edgerton Avenue at 72nd Street; Whitnall / Hales Corners at I-43 east of South 108th Street; MATC-South at Jewell Ave. at Howell Ave. Buses drop off and pick up at the State Fair Transit Center near Gate 4.
Freeway Flyers operate between 7:30am until one half-hour after Fair closure. Service is every half-hour EXCEPT at the Brown Deer and Green Bay Park & Ride Lots which have hourly service. Buses will serve the Green Bay Lot every hour at 20 minutes past and the Brown Deer Lot will be served hourly at 30 minutes past the hour. Round-trip fares are $6 for adults (ages 12 – 64), $3 for children (ages 7-11), seniors (65 & over) and disabled persons with proper I.D. Don’t forget daily service is available via regular Milwaukee County Transit System routes 18, 67, and 76. Regular bus
fares apply.
by jboullion | Aug 3, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a story on WISN-TV:
MILWAUKEE — Wisconsin State Fair has a new creation on a stick, but it’s not something fair goers can eat. It’s called “energy on a stick.”
Solar panels have been installed on top of the Wisconsin Products Pavilion, as well as a single stick on Grandstand Avenue.
The stick can produce 34,000 kilowatts of electricity a year.
“That’s really the future we’re working toward,” said Niels Woleter, Solar Electric Program Manager for Focus on Energy. “Part of that future is preparing everyone, by showing them yes, here it is. This is what it looks like. It does work in Wisconsin. Today might be a cloudy day, but its still generating power.”
State Fair officials said in 1 year the panels will generate enough power to make cream puffs for 3 years, as well as run the sky gliders for 12 years.
by jboullion | Jul 31, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article in the Wisconsin State Journal:
WASHINGTON — The government plans to suspend its popular “cash for clunkers” program amid concerns it could quickly use up the $1 billion in rebates for new car purchases, congressional officials said Thursday.
The Transportation Department called lawmakers’ offices to alert them to the decision to suspend the program at midnight Thursday. The program offers owners of old cars and trucks $3,500 or $4,500 toward a new, more fuel-efficient vehicle. . . .
A White House official said later that officials were assessing the situation facing the popular program but auto dealers and consumers should have confidence that transactions under the program that already have taken place would be honored. . . .
Congress last month approved the Car Allowance Rebate System program, known as CARS, to boost auto sales and remove some inefficient cars and trucks from the roads. The program kicked off July 24 and was heavily publicized by car companies and auto dealers.
Through late Wednesday, 22,782 vehicles had been purchased through the program and nearly $96 million had been spent. But dealers raised concerns about large backlogs in the processing of the deals in the government system, prompting the suspension.
by jboullion | Jul 30, 2009 | Uncategorized
From blog post by Stacy Forster on JSOnline:
Madison – Lawmakers who represent the City of Milwaukee are appealing to a Spanish train company planning to make two trains for Wisconsin to locate their manufacturing facility in the state’s urban center.
The train maker, Talgo, is expected to make two 14-car train sets to be used on Amtrak’s Milwaukee-to-Chicago Hiawatha Service, which will cost the state $47 million. The train sets include the cab car that powers the train. The order will create about 80 manufacturing and maintenance jobs, with the possibility the company could add more if other states buy its trains, Gov. Jim Doyle has said.
Talgo hasn’t chosen a location for its assembly and maintenance facility, but Doyle said it was likely to be located in south-central or southeastern Wisconsin. Antonio Perez, chief executive officer and president of Talgo Inc., the company’s U.S. subsidiary, said it has scouted locations in Milwaukee and Janesville.
