by jboullion | Nov 6, 2008 | Uncategorized
One of several open letters in the Sheperad Express to President-elect
The first priority for the next administration regarding transportation needs to be correcting the serious imbalance between huge federal funding and support for highway expansion and automobile use, compared to only modest support for public transportation. Just months ago, billions of dollars were shifted from the federal mass transit fund into the highway fund to cover our national highway spending binge. Greater federal support for transit infrastructure (longdistance rail, commuter rail, light rail, and bus), as well as for operating expenses, is needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to improve air quality in densely populated cities and to reduce the national insecurity that results from our overwhelming dependence on foreign oil. Ending the existing tilt in the playing field in favor of highways will encourage smart growth, urban infill development and redevelopment, and higher employment in our cities. It will also provide additional environmental benefits ranging from increased energy efficiency to preservation of agricultural land.
The impending government bailout of the American automobile industry—a dinosaur that has survived for the last decade or more by trying to sell every American a truck (SUV) in which to commute to and from work—provides an opportunity to try to reshape and refocus it for the future. The industry will only survive if it can produce technologically advanced, fuel-efficient vehicles that can compete with models from Europe and Asia. Requirements for continued improvement in fuel efficiency and air emission standards are necessary to spur constant innovation, rather than giving the industry a “pass” or exemption.
Dennis Grzezinski
Attorney Specializing in Environmental Law
by jboullion | Nov 5, 2008 | Uncategorized
From a column by State Senator Dale Schultz:
As Wisconsin employers increasingly turn to our state’s rail roads to get their goods to a global market, state residents and communities enjoy the benefits of keeping jobs here, cleaner air from less truck emissions, and safer roads with less truck traffic.
Those benefits make our state owned railroad system a great investment and explain why I believe, despite a tough fiscal climate, we should increase funding to preserve the infrastructure of our public rail system in the next state budget.
Our public railroad system, which serves numerous communities, has been a great benefit by helping employers compete in the global market and keep family supporting jobs in Wisconsin.
The system also helps many villages and cities with their community development goals by generating increased tax revenues as employers invest in plant expansions and equipment.
In the past two years, in just the region I represent as a state senator, our public rail system has led to new jobs and tax base through major projects in Boscobel, Reedsburg and Rock Springs. For numerous state communities, rail service has been an essential asset to save jobs and create new jobs.
As rail shipping replaces thousands of truck trips, our roads last longer, our carbon footprint shrinks and we all breathe cleaner air.
The state helps communities and rail shippers save freight rail service through its Freight Rail Preservation Program. FRPP grants fund up to 80 percent of projects to rehabilitate tracks and bridges on public rail lines, buy essential rail lines so they aren’t abandoned, and save rail corridors for future rail service and sometimes as recreational trails in the interim.
While freight rail traffic is growing in Wisconsin, FRPP funding is falling far short of the needs. In the current state budget, FRPP funds met less than ten percent of the needs, forcing delays of badly needed projects on public owned rail lines. Since 1992, most FRPP funding went to add rail lines to our public system as a last resort to avoid loss of rail service for communities.
by jboullion | Oct 30, 2008 | Uncategorized
From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
James Mulva, head of the nation’s third-largest oil company, said it’s time for politicians to develop an energy policy that addresses both energy security and climate change.
Mulva, a native of De Pere who is chairman and chief executive of ConocoPhillips, said the economic crisis has resulted in an unexpectedly rapid drop in oil and gasoline prices that serves as a “temporary timeout” in a longer-term trend of rising demand for energy.
The economic crisis is resulting in flattening or dropping demand for energy.
“But our experts tell us that this represents really a temporary timeout in what we see as a global competition for development of energy around the world,” Mulva told more than 400 students and businesspeople Wednesday at the Marquette University Business Leaders Forum.
“When this happens the energy market will tighten. But this timeout does not extend to climate change. Global warming continues,” he said.
The time will be ripe for a new president and Congress to address energy and climate issues, but Mulva said economic concerns and restoration of stability to financial markets will and should remain government’s first priority.
by jboullion | Oct 29, 2008 | Uncategorized
From an Associated Press article posted on INO.com News:
(AP:MILWAUKEE) Electric and natural gas utility Wisconsin Energy Corp. said Wednesday its third-quarter profit fell 7 percent as cool summer weather lowered demand for air conditioning.
For the quarter ended Sept. 30, Wisconsin Energy earned $77.5 million, or 65 cents per share, compared with $82.9 million, or 70 cents per share, for the same quarter in 2007.
Earnings from continuing operations _ which excludes results from businesses that have been, or are in the process of being sold _ totaled $77 million, or 65 cents per share, compared with $83.1 million, or 71 cents per share, in the year-ago quarter.
Revenue declined 3 percent to $852.5 million from $881.5 million in the 2007 period.
On average, analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected a more modest profit of 55 cents per share, on $892.8 million in revenue.
Wisconsin Energy said residential use of electricity fell 5 percent in the quarter from a year ago. Among small commercial and industrial customers, consumption was off by 1.4 percent, while use among large commercial and industrial customers was down 3.5 percent versus a year ago.
by jboullion | Oct 28, 2008 | Uncategorized
From a page on the Web site of We Energies:
This program assists qualified not-for-profit customers install solar water-heating systems. Customer incentives are provided from We Energies Renewable Energy Development Program. The incentive amount is a dollar-for-dollar match of the Focus on Energy Solar Water-Heating System Cash-back Reward Program or the Solar Water-Heating Implementation Grant for larger systems. Supporting solar water-heating system installations helps We Energies demonstrate to customers the benefits of solar water-heating energy systems.
Eligibility: Applicants must be We Energies retail electric customers located in Wisconsin, and one of the following:
+ Not-for-profit organization.
+ Not-for-profit educational/academic institution, unit of government, or special district or authority defined as government under Wisconsin law.
