by jboullion | Jan 7, 2009 | Uncategorized
From the list of items in an article on a vision for 2009 from the Shepherd Express:
Develop a green economy. We must also create jobs that will last, and hopefully will not be easily exported to another state or country. Good options are green jobs that will benefit Wisconsin residents by helping the state to use our resources wisely. Right now, Wisconsin is an energy island-that is, a fossil fuel energy island. But the state is rich in clean energy potential, such as wind, solar, hydro and biomass. We absolutely must wean ourselves from our reliance on gas and coal.
What’s more, these green job projects will train workers in skills that will be helpful in the coming decades, whether they’re upgrading the city’s aging housing stock, house by house, or launching massive clean energy projects like a wind farm or a green roof.
by jboullion | Jan 6, 2009 | Uncategorized
From the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters:
Join Us For CONSERVATION LOBBY DAY 2009!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 – RSVP here!
*RSVP Required—RSVP DEADLINE is February 13!
Since the first Conservation Lobby Day in 2005, it has grown from just over 100 citizens to over 500! Each year these citizens from across Wisconsin descend on the Capitol to share their conservation values with their Legislators. As we head into the 5th annual Conservation Lobby Day, there is one thing we can guarantee-when citizens come together to make their conservation values known, legislators listen, and conservation victories soon follow!
The reauthorization of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund and the passage of the Strong Great Lakes Compact are two great examples of how citizen lobbying resulted in ground-breaking conservation laws.
The participation of local groups and citizens like YOU is incredibly important to the success of Conservation Lobby Day. Every day throughout the state, countless citizens work tirelessly to protect the local land, water, and wildlife.
Conservation Lobby Day is a unique opportunity to share your conservation stories and experiences with legislators and have a huge impact on conservation policies affecting all of Wisconsin.
In 2009-2010, the conservation community will be fighting to:
Preserve Groundwater: Wisconsin’s Buried Treasure: manage Wisconsin’s groundwater resources to preserve drinking water supplies, lakes, streams, and wetlands.
Stop Global Warming in Wisconsin: address the threats of global warming in Wisconsin through clean, renewable energy jobs and energy conservation.
Restore Conservation Integrity: return Wisconsin to an Independent DNR Secretary and a timely appointment of Natural Resource Board members.
Protect Wisconsin’s Drinking Water: protect Wisconsin’s drinking water supplies by making sure we safely spread agricultural, municipal, and industrial waste.
For a 1-page brief on each of these issues, click on their title above.
by jboullion | Jan 5, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Tom Kertscher in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Mequon – The largest wind turbine on a technical college campus in Wisconsin has been erected at Milwaukee Area Technical College in Mequon, where officials hope that what’s been dubbed “Blades of Freedom” will reduce campus energy costs and help train students for sustainable energy jobs of the future.
The turbine, which at 160 feet high and 56 feet wide easily is visible from Highland Road, also is aimed at raising awareness among the public about renewable sources of energy, said Michael Townsend, vice president of the Mequon campus.
Questions about the turbine’s appearance, noise and other issues initially caused City of Mequon officials to pause when they took up MATC’s request in April 2006. But four months later, after hiring a consultant, the city gave the turbine a green light.
The school purchased a reconditioned 90-kilowatt, V-17 turbine from Vestas, a company in Denmark.
The original cost to MATC was pegged at $150,000, but it has since climbed to $188,000. With $67,000 in grants from We Energies and the state’s Focus on Energy program, the total cost is about $255,000.
The MATC portion rose because a vendor that the school originally intended to use withdrew from the deal, said MATC spokeswoman Kathleen Hohl. And after the turbine was purchased, it sustained damage while being stored on the Mequon campus as the school waited for approvals from the city, she said.
MATC expects to recoup its investment because the turbine will generate about 8% of the Mequon campus’ electricity. . . .
by jboullion | Jan 2, 2009 | Uncategorized
From the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA):
PV Systems For Your Home
Course Instructor: Jim Funk, Energize LLC
Wednesday, January 28, 2009 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Metropolitan Builders Association
N16 W23321 Stone Ridge Drive
Waukesha, WI 53188
Thursday, March 19, 2009
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Outpost Natural Foods – Bay View
2826 S. Kinnickinnic
Milwaukee, WI 53207
Saturday, April 25, 2009
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Keep Great Milwaukee Beautiful
1313 Mount Vernon Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53233
Saturday, May 16, 2009
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Urban Ecology Center – Riverside Park
1500 E. Park Place
Milwaukee, WI 53211
Solar Water Heating for Your Home
Course Instructor:
Roak Parker, Beyond Green
Thursday, March 5, 2009 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Metropolitan Builders Association
N16 W23321 Stone Ridge Drive
Waukesha, WI 53188
Thursday, March 26, 2009
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Outpost Natural Foods – Bay View
2826 S. Kinnickinnic
Milwaukee, WI 53207
Saturday, April 25, 2009
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Keep Great Milwaukee Beautiful
1313 Mount Vernon Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53233
Saturday, May 16, 2009
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Urban Ecology Center – Riverside Park
1500 E. Park Place
Milwaukee, WI 53211
Course descriptions and registration details
PV (Solar Electric) Systems for Your Home: Participants in this two hour seminar will learn about: how photovoltaic (PV) systems create electricity from the sun; what components make up a PV system; how to determine what size system will meet your needs; where to locate a system on your home or property; what PV systems cost and the financial incentives that are available. This program includes handouts, demonstrations, and a question and answer period. We Energies and the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) have partnered to offer this seminar, and it is only available to We Energies Customers. Cost: $15/person, or $5/We Energies’ Energy For Tomorrow Customers. To register visit: www.we-energies.com/RE, or call the MREA at 715-592-6595.
Solar Water Heating for Your Home: Participants in this two hour seminar will learn how to supplement their existing water heating system with a solar water heater that uses the sun’s energy to heat water. They will also learn about the components that make up a solar water heating system, the most reliable system types for cold climates, where to locate a system on a home or property, what solar water heating systems cost and the financial incentives available, and the steps to get started with an installation. We Energies and the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) have partnered to offer this seminar, and it is only available to We Energies Customers. Cost: $15/person, or $5/We Energies’ Energy For Tomorrow Customers. To register visit: www.we-energies.com/RE, or call the MREA at 715-592-6595.
by jboullion | Dec 31, 2008 | Uncategorized
From a Business Journal interview with Ann Beier, Milwaukee’s director of environmental sustainability, conducted by Pete Millard:
1. Since your appointment just over two years ago, what’s been your most satisfying achievement?
“The most satisfying achievement has been the overall success of Mayor Barrett’s sustainability initiatives. I am also pleased with Milwaukee’s reputation as a ‘green’ city. Each year, Sustain Lane, a nonprofit group that provides information on sustainability practices for individuals, businesses and governments, ranks the 50 largest U.S. cities for their sustainability programs. In 2008, Milwaukee was ranked 12th. This a move up from 16th in the prior ranking. This is an important recognition and shows how well we are doing among much larger cities.
We’ve also been named by the U.S. Department of Energy as one of only 24 Solar American Cities, and we are working with the department to reduce barriers to installation of solar technology in Milwaukee.”
2. What are some specific examples illustrating how Milwaukee is more energy efficient today than two years ago?
“The mayor has directed city departments to reduce energy use by 15 percent over the period 2005-2012. By reducing our energy use, we are also reducing our carbon foot print and saving taxpayer dollars.
“We have focused on making our buildings more efficient. We’ve worked with Focus on Energy, the state’s energy efficiency program, to conduct audits of our highest energy-using buildings. We’ve implemented efficiency projects as a result of the audit findings. For the municipal building complex (City Hall, the municipal building and 809 Broadway building), we saved $35,000 in the first year and reduced energy use by 9 percent.
We are also converting stoplights to more efficient LED lights, reducing energy use for stoplights by about 50 percent annually. Another part of our strategy is to convert to cleaner fuels. We now fuel our diesel fleet with B-20 biodiesel fuel. We’ve also installed renewable energy in several facilities.”
