by jboullion | Jul 6, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an announcement from Focus on Energy:
Who is Eligible?
Nonprofit organizations and institutions, schools, and units of government are eligible for the Wind Electric Implementation Grant for Schools, Nonprofits and Units of Government if they purchase electricity from an electric provider participating with Focus on Energy. The renewable energy system must be installed on a site whose owner purchases electricity for that site. For a list of participating providers visit focusonenergy.com/utilities or call 888.476.9534.
What is an Implementation Grant?
Wind Electric Implementation Grants for Schools, Nonprofits and Units of Government provide financial support for the installation of commercially available wind electric systems that produce electricity and are rated over 20 kW and not more than 100 kW. For residential or business wind electric systems, please use the Cash-Back Rewards or Wind Electric Implementation Grant available at focusonenergy.com/reincentives.
Available Funding
On a competitive basis, a maximum grant of $150,000 will be available to provide financial support for the installation of wind electric systems over 20 kW to not more than 100 kW. This grant cannot exceed 35 percent of the system cost, the actual grant award is based on the estimated annual electrical production of the installed system (See System Guidelines for more information).
Important!
Before you sign an installation contract, order, purchase or begin to install any system components, your application must be approved by Focus on Energy and you must sign an Implementation Grant Agreement form. Payment of the Implementation Grant is made to you after the renewable energy system is installed and you submit a complete Notice of Installation.
by jboullion | Jul 3, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an editorial in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Wisconsin needs more wind-powered energy, and it should do what it can to encourage the growth of wind power. That should include the adoption of uniform statewide siting rules for large wind farms, as proposed in legislation sponsored by state Sen. Jeff Plale (D-South Milwaukee).
But municipalities such as Menomonee Falls are smart to move forward with their own rules governing the erection of a wind turbine in someone’s back yard to reduce energy costs. Local officials need to address the regulatory issue to give guidance to residents as interest in wind power grows.
In a Monday article, Journal Sentinel reporter Lisa Sink noted that Menomonee Falls village employees began researching the question after a local resident expressed interest in installing a small wind turbine in his yard. Staff could offer little guidance because the village does not have specific regulations on wind turbines.
Nor is Menomonee Falls alone. Staff found no ordinances in the Milwaukee area but reviewed about 10 from other parts of the state, mainly where major commercial wind farms have been built or are planned for construction.
Kelly Lang, marketing manager for Focus on Energy’s renewable energy program, told Sink that interest in smaller systems is growing. The program has assisted more than 50 small wind turbine installations across the state, with more than 15 to be added by the end of the year and others planned for 2010, she said. About 10 have been installed in southeastern Wisconsin, including two in Mequon.
So communities need to start thinking about what they want.
by jboullion | Jul 2, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an post by Jeramey Jannene on Urban Milwaukee:
When the budget finally made it to his desk, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle used his extensive veto powers in a lot of ways. The most significant of which was arguably the line-item veto of the Milwaukee Transit Authority and the proposed 0.65% sales tax increase for Milwaukee County. Doyle did not veto SERTA, the authority which is to run the KRM commuter rail line, and the $18 rental car tax. This veto puts back on the drawing board Doyle’s proposal for a three-county sales tax to fund the KRM and bus service in Kenosha, Racine, and Milwaukee Counties, while at the same time not delaying the KRM development process.
The move, which many see as a slam of Milwaukee by Doyle, arguably shouldn’t be completely viewed that way. Doyle did propose a three-county sales tax of up to 0.5% for Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha Counties to establish an authority that would operate all of the transit in the area including the KRM. Doyle’s reasoning for the veto was that the MTA didn’t have a regional approach.
by jboullion | Jul 1, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Joe Potente in the Kenosha News:
The vetoes Gov. Jim Doyle issued and the state budget he signed into law Monday produced a mixed bag for backers of the Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee commuter rail proposal.
While the adopted budget retains an $18 fee on rental car transactions to fund KRM, it strips provisions allowing for a Milwaukee regional transit authority and dedicated funding for the Kenosha and Racine bus lines.
KRM supporters say the latter initiatives are necessary to secure federal funding for KRM. That, they say, leaves the Legislature to return to the drawing board to devise an acceptable funding source for regional transit.
“It definitely has an impact, because the federal government made it very clear that to have a successful new-starts application, the region would have to address both reliable funding for KRM and show that there is reliable dedicated funding for the existing bus systems in Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha,” said Karl Mueller, a spokesman for the existing Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Transit Authority.
The Milwaukee authority provision that Doyle vetoed would have allowed Milwaukee County to levy up to a 0.65 percent sales tax to fund the area’s bus system and other county expenses.
by jboullion | Jun 30, 2009 | Uncategorized
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From a news release issued by Madison Gas and Electric:
MADISON, Wis. – (Business Wire) Wisconsin’s first large-scale wind farm began producing clean, renewable electric power 10 years ago today in Kewaunee County. The 17-turbine, 11.22-megawatt facility built and owned by Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) is located near Rosiere. Since 1999, the facility has produced over 215,000 megawatt-hours of electricity, enough power to supply 3,000 homes annually.
The facility was built in direct response to MGE customers who wanted to purchase green energy for their homes and businesses. The wind farm’s generating capacity available for green energy sales was sold out in less than four months. Over the last 10 years, MGE has increased its wind energy portfolio by 12 times as strong customer support for renewable energy continues. MGE customers have one of the highest participation rates nationally in green energy programming offered by investor-owned utilities.
“We are grateful to the landowners and communities that support this project,” said Lynn Hobbie, MGE senior vice president. “We also thank the customers who have made our green pricing program so successful.”
“In 10 years, wind generation has completed the transition from boutique energy to a bulk power,” said Michael Vickerman, executive director of RENEW Wisconsin. “Early commitments to wind power from utilities like MGE helped make that happen and were instrumental to that industry’s subsequent growth and maturation.”
At the time, MGE’s Rosiere facility was the largest wind farm in the Eastern United States. Today the wind farm is one of nine commercial facilities in Wisconsin. Wind-generating capacity in Wisconsin totals nearly 450 megawatts.
