Stimulating Wisconsin's green economy, May 14, Turner Hall, Milwaukee

by | May 12, 2009 | Uncategorized

4th STREET FORUM
at MILWAUKEE TURNER HALL

Stimulus money is flowing. It could nurture green jobs, energy, and transit.

But will bureaucratic inertia and a powerful status quo stifle Wisconsin’s green future?

FORUM DATE AND TIME: MAY 14, NOON
WHERE: Milwaukee Turner Hall, 2nd Floor, 1034 N. 4th Street (Main entrance across from the Bradley Center on 4th; elevator access off the parking lot on 4th and Highland.)

MODERATOR: ENRIQUE FIGUEROA, PhD, Director, Roberto Hernández Center, UW-Milwaukee, www.uwm.edu

WITH GUESTS
ANN BEIER is the director of Milwaukee’s Office of Environmental Sustainability. She coordinates the City’s efforts to improve water quality, reduce energy consumption, and to create more green technology jobs throughout Milwaukee. Prior to accepting her position here, Ms. Beier worked on environmental issues in government both in Oregon and in Washington DC. www.ci.mil.wi.us/greenteam

CURT HARRIS is the executive director of the African American Chamber of Commerce, which works to increase minority business involvement in Milwaukee and the region. A more recent focus is to encourage minority entrepreneurship in the green sector. Mr. Harris is also a business consultant. www.aaccmke.org

MELISSA SCANLAN is the founder and senior legal counsel for Midwest Environmental Advocates, which provides legal services to implement innovative solutions for environmental problems. Ms. Scanlan is the author of, “Blueprint to Wisconsin’s Green Economy.” www.midwestadvocates.org

NEAL VERFUERTH is president and CEO of Orion Energy Systems that employs over 250 people in Manitowoc and Plymouth. Recently, President Obama recognized Orion in a White House speech, applauding the company for creating green collar jobs in the clean energy sector. www.oriones.com

CAN’T ATTEND?
Milwaukee Public Television will broadcast this forum on Friday, May 15, Channel 10.1and 10, 10PM and Sunday, May 17, Channel 36.1 and 36, 3PM.

Programs also run on Time Warner’s, “Wisconsin on Demand,” (WIOD), Channel 1111. Check listing.

All programs will be available for checkout from your local public library.

Podcasts of the programs will be posted after broadcast at www.4thStreetForum.org.

Innovative energy efficient apartment building opens for low-income Milwaukee residents

by | May 8, 2009 | Uncategorized

From a news release issued by Focus on Energy:

MILWAUKEE (May 5, 2009) — On April 4, 2009, Prairie Apartments, an innovative eco-friendly new construction building, opened its doors to low-income Milwaukee residents experiencing obstacles such as homelessness and mental illness. With the help of Focus on Energy, developers Heartland Housing of Chicago and Guest House of Milwaukee were able to integrate energy efficiency measures into the 24-unit complex.

“Not only does the apartment provide high-quality affordable housing for Milwaukee residents in need, it incorporates important energy efficient features,” said Carter Dedolph, Focus on Energy Program Manager. “Prairie Apartments is a shining example of our goal to help buildings throughout the state reduce their energy use, operating costs and environmental impact.”

Energy Efficient Features
To save energy and money, Focus on Energy worked with the developers to make extensive use of ENERGY STAR® qualified compact fluorescent fixtures and lighting occupancy sensors in most of the common areas. In addition, ENERGY STAR qualified appliances, programmable thermostats and windows were also used throughout.

Moreover, the building’s well-sealed envelope reduces air leakage, and works hand in hand with high efficiency cooling and heating equipment. In fact, the facility’s standards of design are so high it was built to achieve the prestigious Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Homes certification. Overall, the improvements should save the building more than 4,000 therms of natural gas and about 72,500 kilowatt hours of electricity annually; not to mention $13,000 a year on energy costs.

Regional transit authority for Milwaukee gets state budget panel OK

by | May 1, 2009 | Uncategorized

From a story by Scott Bauer in The Capital Times:

The Legislature’s budget committee on Friday approved a plan to use a mixture of higher sales taxes and car rental fees to pay for high-speed rail and other transit projects in the two most populated parts of the state.

The measures, part of the two-year state budget, must pass the full Legislature and be approved by Doyle before it becomes law.

In Dane County, a half-cent sales tax could be imposed to pay for commuter rail and other transit projects.

In Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha counties up to $16 could be charged on car rentals to pay for a commuter rail line connecting the three southeastern Wisconsin cities. A new board created to oversee the rail line’s construction also could levy $50 million in bonds to help pay for it. The project has been discussed for years but always stalled over ways to pay for it.

Also, Milwaukee County would be allowed to impose a 1 percent sales tax to pay for a countywide regional transit authority. The $132 million raised each year would pay for transit, parks, cultural and emergency medical services. Fifteen percent would go to the city of Milwaukee.

On a 9-7 vote, the committee voted against Gov. Jim Doyle’s proposal to create a regional transit authority in the Fox Cities to help pay for the existing regional bus system using up to half a cent sales tax. . . .

Commuter rail supporters include environmentalists, business groups, organized labor and local governments, and organizations representing the disabled and elderly. They supported commuter rail to ease congestion, create jobs and spur economic development.