by jboullion | Feb 9, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a post on Milwaukee Rising:
It’s hard to figure: a governor who endorsed Barack Obama for president when it was a semi-risky thing to do is letting his transportation department show total disrespect for the man now that he holds the highest office in the land.
President Obama had made a few priorities absolutely clear: this country must reduce both greenhouse gases and dependency on foreign oil.
Gov. Jim Doyle’s WisDOT, in planning for a new Zoo Interchange, is taking a real slap at the president by totally ignoring those priorities. There will be no planning for any transit to be incorporated into the new design, nor will there be a freeway / transit alternatives analysis done, despite the city’s request.
It’s a road-only study — more greenhouse gases, more dependency on foreign oil. Guess the governor doesn’t like the president all that much. . . .
There is no valid engineering, environmental or geopolitical argument against including transit in the Zoo Interchange project. The opposite is true.
by jboullion | Feb 5, 2009 | Uncategorized
The Renewable Energy Summit opened online registration for the event at the Midwest Airlines Center, Milwaukee, March 25 – 28, 2009.
Fifteen program themes highlight bio industry energy; business technologies and practices; curriculum programs and course design; energy efficiency, energy management and renewable, sustainable and green practices; energy policy, legal issues, drivers of the energy revolution, and opportunities for funding; green career pathways; green manufacturing; greening practices for colleges; green transportation; solar electric energy; solar thermal and geothermal energy; utility issues; water technologies; and wind energy.
March 25 and 26 focus on the renewable energy industry with presentations on all sectors of the industry. March 27 features Green Career Day with the focus on educational and job opportunities. March 28 offers workshops and short courses at the MATC Oak Creek Campus. For details see www.renewableenergysummit.org.
by jboullion | Feb 4, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Tom Kertscher in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Oak Creek – An explosion Tuesday morning inside a We Energies coal dust silo rained flames down on a group of contract employees who were making preparations for repair work to begin.
Four employees were inside the 65-foot-tall structure and two outside when the explosion occurred, said a We Energies spokesman. A doctor said a 43-year-old man pulled his son, 22, and at least one other co-worker to safety.
The 22-year-old was the most severely injured, suffering burns to more than half his body, according to Tom Schneider, medical director of the Columbia St. Mary’s Regional Burn Center in Milwaukee.
The cause of the blast, reported at 10:53 a.m., has not been determined. Federal and local authorities will be investigating, officials said.
The six workers are employees of the Milwaukee branch of ThyssenKrupp Safway, a Waukesha-based company that provides scaffolding services, said Michelle Dalton, a company spokeswoman. She would not identify the workers.
ThyssenKrupp was hired as a subcontractor by United States Fire Protection, a New Berlin firm that provides fire protection services, according to We Energies spokesman Brian Manthey.
by jboullion | Feb 3, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Glendale-based Johnson Controls Inc. plans to make batteries for a Ford Motor Co. plug-in hybrid electric vehicle that is to be introduced in 2012.
Ford has selected the hybrid battery joint venture between Johnson Controls, the world’s largest battery supplier, and French battery developer Saft to supply lithium-ion batteries for plug-in hybrids.
“This is a great day for the automotive industry in America,” Alex Molinaroli, president of Johnson Controls Power Solutions, said in a statement prepared for release at the Washington Auto Show, where the Ford partnership is to be announced today.
“Today, nearly all batteries for hybrid electric vehicles are manufactured offshore. As the United States works to build a manufacturing infrastructure and supply base for hybrid and electric vehicles, this contract signals significant progress for our industry here. . . .”
Cell design, engineering and testing will take place at the joint venture’s research hub, the 58,000-square-foot Battery Technology Center in Glendale, the company said.
by jboullion | Feb 2, 2009 | Uncategorized
From Eco Racine’s Fair blog:
4/18/09
Holy Communion Lutheran Church
Fellowship Hall
2000 West Sixth Street
Racine, Wisconsin 53405
10:00 AM to 2:00 PM (maybe longer)
Cost Free!
More info: wclingman@wi.rr.com
Vendors, please contact Eco Racine for information
