Backers still want passage of Wisconsin's scaled-back clean energy jobs bill

by jboullion | Apr 16, 2010 | Uncategorized

From an article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel by Tom Content:

A stripped-down version of a bill to control carbon emissions was introduced by lawmakers on Tuesday, a measure that would sharply increase the use of renewable energy and open the door to new nuclear reactors in Wisconsin.

The revisions were drafted in response to concerns of business groups and politicians who said the original bill was too unwieldy, controversial and, potentially, costly.

Supporters said their changes will answer many of those concerns, and in a statement, Gov. Jim Doyle termed the revised bill “a good compromise that will bring down consumer costs.”

“Wisconsin is a manufacturing state, and we can’t afford to lose this opportunity to become a leader in solar and wind manufacturing to other states and countries like China,” Doyle said.

By increasing renewable power and weaning Wisconsin’s reliance on out-of-state coal and natural gas, supporters aim to boost green jobs and the economy while cutting emissions of carbon dioxide. The state now spends $16 billion a year on fossil fuels imported to make electricity.

The bill, years in the making, joins a heavy legislative docket awaiting consideration before the end of the session on April 22. Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan (D-Janesville) indicated legislators are still working on the bill.

“We’re working to hopefully come together on a package,” he said. . . .

Republican opponents issued a statement saying that a survey of investor-owned utilities shows that compliance costs with the proposed regulations would exceed $15 billion.

They also complained lawmakers will not have adequate time to digest the 150-page legislation and demanded another public hearing.

“There will be little time to review this complicated piece of legislation before a vote is taken,” said Rep. Jim Ott (R-Mequon). “There will be no way most legislators will be able to fully absorb the content of a 150-page bill that was drafted in secret.”

Noting that electricity rates are rising in Iowa and Minnesota to pay for more wind power, Rep. Mike Huebsch, (R-West Salem), said, “Why we should going down the path to higher energy costs is beyond me.” [See RENEW Wisconsin’s response.]

No more hearings
A key sponsor, Rep. Spencer Black (D-Madison) called such talk “ideological rhetoric.” He said the bill wouldn’t get another hearing, but that lawmakers would have enough time to review it.

Also, a group that includes Milwaukee-based We Energies and renewable energy and energy efficiency firms such as Glendale-based Johnson Controls Inc., said Tuesday it was pleased with the modifications.

“It appears that this new legislation has taken into account many of the concerns over the cost and implementation of provisions in the original Clean Energy Jobs Act,” said Thad Nation, executive director of Clean Responsible Energy for Wisconsin’s Economy.

Roy Thilly, president and CEO of utility company WPPI Energy in Sun Prairie and co-chair of the state global warming task force, said the initial bill represented the full recommendations of the panel and that the revised bill underscores the dramatic change in the state’s economy since the task force wrapped up its work two years ago.

“They’ve done a really good job listening to what everybody said and they’ve made any number of changes,” he said of the bill’s authors. “It’s their bill now. They made some very substantial changes and fixed a number of problems that were identified.”

Environmental groups praised the compromise, saying it retained provisions that would boost energy efficiency, expand renewable energy and create jobs.

“On balance, if it’s passed we will be on a good track for the next 15 years,” said Michael Vickerman, executive director of Renew Wisconsin, a renewable-energy advocacy group. “Right now I’m seeing the signs of deceleration in Wisconsin’s renewable energy marketplace.”

Wisconsin's scaled-back global warming bill unveiled

by jboullion | Apr 13, 2010 | Uncategorized

From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

A revised state clean energy and global warming bill unveiled Tuesday scales back the scope of the bill but retains a commitment to expand use of renewable energy and open the door to construction of nuclear reactors in Wisconsin.

The revisions, obtained by the Journal Sentinel, were drafted in response to concerns raised by business groups and politicians that the original bill was too unwieldy, too controversial and potentially too costly.

Jettisoned from the package were mandates concerning transportation fuels, including a requirement that Wisconsin require greater use of low-carbon transportation fuels such as biofuels.

To reduce the overall cost of the package, the bill allows energy efficiency gains to count toward a portion of a mandate that 25% of Wisconsin’s electricity come from renewable power sources by 2025.

A combined energy efficiency and renewable energy standard is also part of federal legislation that passed in the U.S. House of Representatives last year.

The state bill would allow one-fifth of the mandate to come through energy savings, most likely from major energy saving initiatives by factories and other big energy users.

Another change responds to concerns raised by utilities concerning a mandate that had been in the earlier bill concerning small renewable energy projects around the state. The mandate has been replaced with expanded funding for small renewable energy projects. The new proposal states a preference that much of that money be allocated toward manure digesters on Wisconsin dairy farms.

The latest version also underscores the consequences of the weak economy and declining sentiment for taking action on global warming.

Doyle signed an executive order creating the task force in April 2007 – well before the collapse in the economy. In December 2009, after details were known, many business groups attacked it and said the recommendations would harm the energy-intensive manufacturing sector.

But some other industries and companies, notably Johnson Controls, the state’s largest public company, said the bill would create jobs and align the state to take advantage of emerging trends in sustainability.

At the same time, the public appears less concerned about climate change. A national Gallup Poll in March showed that the percentage of respondents who believe the seriousness of global warming is “generally exaggerated” has increased from 35% to 48% in two years.

“As introduced, the Clean Energy Jobs Act would reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create jobs, and help keep rising energy bills in check,” said Keith Reopelle, senior policy director at the environmental group Clean Wisconsin, said in a statement. “The substitute amendment represents a compromise that will still accomplish all of these goals, but to a lesser degree than the original bill.”

Clean Wisconsin is still reviewing the details of the changes.

“As we understand them, the changes in the substitute amendment will result in even more jobs and lower energy bills in the next few years by increasing short-term commitments to energy efficiency,” Reopelle said. “However, paring back the renewable energy standard will likely result in less rate relief in the long term, because renewable energy helps hedge against the rising cost of fossil fuels.”