by jboullion | Mar 26, 2010 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by We Energies:
We Energies announced today that it has developed a Wisconsin-based alliance to design and build the Glacier Hills Wind Park, which will be located in the towns of Randolph and Scott in Columbia County. The project is expected to generate more than 400 million emission-free kilowatt hours annually — enough to power 45,000 homes.
The construction alliance will include The Boldt Company of Appleton, Michels Corporation of Brownsville and Edgerton Contractors, Inc. of Oak Creek.
“Developing the Glacier Hills Wind Park through this home-state construction alliance will benefit Wisconsin’s economy while achieving a low cost approach to generating more energy from renewable resources,” said Rick Kuester, executive vice president of Wisconsin Energy Corporation, the parent of We Energies. “The project will be built with the talents of these Wisconsin companies and local craft labor.”
From an article on Recharge News:
Vestas gets 145MW US turbine order from We Energies
Wind turbine manufacturer Vestas has received a 145 MW order from US utility We Energies. The order is for 81 V90 1.8 MW wind turbines for the Glacier Hills Wind Park in Wisconsin.
The turbines will delivered in early 2011, with comissioning of the wind farm expected by the end of 2011. The order also includes a two-year service and maintenance agreement. Vestas said that the announcement does not affect the company’s expectations for 2010, as announced on 10 February.
Vestas supplied We Energies’ first wind turbines in 1999, and in 2007 supplied 88 V.82 1.65 MW turbines for the Blue Sky Green Field project which was completed in 2008.
by jboullion | Mar 25, 2010 | Uncategorized
From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Johnson Controls Inc. is expanding its advanced battery research and testing space at its Glendale headquarters, one sign of the Milwaukee area’s efforts in the race for green economy jobs.
Mary Ann Wright, a key Johnson Controls advanced battery executive, said the Glendale-based firm is matching dollar-for-dollar a $299 million stimulus grant that is aimed at creating a domestic supply chain for advanced batteries, a sector dominated by firms in China and other Asian countries.
“We’re not in the game relative to supplying the materials and technology in this space right now,” she said Wednesday.
The stimulus funding will help not only to set up the company’s lithium battery factory in Holland, Mich., but also “to help stand up an industry,” she said.
“Our plan prior to this stimulus was to expand our manufacturing and technological base in Europe and China,” Wright said. “As a result of the investment the U.S. government taxpayers are making, this is where we’re going to build it – and then expand to our global footprint.”
Her comments came as the Green Energy Summit kicked off Wednesday at the Midwest Airlines Center. Speakers at the summit said Milwaukee is positioned for an economy that’s transitioning toward the clean-technology sector and greener energy choices. . . .
A new report to be released Thursday shows the challenge facing the clean-tech sector. Global clean-energy investments have risen by 300% since 2005, but for the first time last year, China took the lead in investment in clean-energy technologies, according to data released by The Pew Charitable Trusts.
“The facts speak for themselves,” said Bloomberg New Energy Finance Chief Executive Michael Liebreich in a statement. “2009 clean energy investment in China totaled $34.6 billion, while in the U.S. it totaled $18.6 billion. China is now clearly the world leader in attracting new capital and making new investments in this area.”
by jboullion | Mar 24, 2010 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by Johnson Controls:
MILWAUKEE – (March 24, 2010) – Johnson Controls (NYSE: JC), the global industrial leader in providing energy efficient and sustainable products, services and solutions, will showcase notable Wisconsin energy projects and best practices at the 2010 Green Energy Summit, March 24-26, at the Midwest Airlines Center in Milwaukee.
“Supporting the advancement of renewable and green energy technology is essential to the economic and environmental future of Wisconsin,” said Don Albinger, vice president of renewable energy solutions at Johnson Controls Building Efficiency. “The Green Energy Summit is a great way to bring Wisconsin business leaders together to share solutions and ideas that will create a more sustainable future. Johnson Controls is proud to be a founding partner of the summit.”
Johnson Controls executives will participate in key plenary sessions and workshops that demonstrate the future of green energy solutions in the state.
Featured Sessions
• Green Business Strategies for the Midwest – Mary Ann Wright, vice president and managing director of Johnson Controls’ Business Accelerator for Advanced Energy Storage Solutions, will address how hybrid and electric lithium-ion battery technologies are leading the charge to a sustainable energy future.
• Green Energy Initiatives and Development – Don Albinger, vice president of renewable energy solutions at Johnson Controls Building Efficiency, will discuss how the integration of energy efficiency and renewable solutions can help schools, businesses and government buildings reduce costs while making a positive impact on the environment.
• Job Opportunities in the New Green Economy – Jim Simpson, director of higher education solutions in the Americas for Johnson Controls Building Efficiency, will talk about the future of green jobs in Wisconsin as they relate to colleges and universities.
Other topical sessions that Johnson Controls representatives will speak at include The Role of Water in the New Green Economy, Energy Efficiency and Energy Management, and a Solar Thermal Symposium.
by jboullion | Mar 24, 2010 | Uncategorized
The 2010 Green Energy Summit will be held March 24-26 at the Midwest Airlines Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The theme of this seventh annual Summit is “The New Green Economy – Opportunities and Challenges.”
The 2010 Summit has three sub-themes – one for each of its three days. Wednesday, March 24, will be Green Business Day; Thursday,March 25, Green Energy Day; and Friday,March 26, Green Career Pathways/Sustainability Day.
This major conference will be of interest to representatives of businesses, government, and education (including faculty and students fromWisconsin colleges and universities and area high schools).
Keynote speakers include:
Will Steger
Founder of the Will Steger Foundation,
co-founder of the Center for Global Environmental Education,
and recipient of the National Geographic
Adventure Lifetime Achievement Award
Ed Begley, Jr.
Author of Living Like Ed: A Guide to the Eco-Friendly Life,
principal of television series, Living With Ed
Lonnie Thompson
Ohio State University
Charles A. Hall
Professor of Environmental Science
State University of New York, Syracuse
Complete program schedule.
by jboullion | Mar 23, 2010 | Uncategorized
From an article and video on BizTimes:
Every Monday morning, a crew of workers inside the Milwaukee Brewing Company brews up a special batch of product. Unlike the brewery’s beer, this product is usable right away, and becomes fuel for the brewing process.
For more than one year, the company has been making biodiesel at its brewery at 613 S. 2nd St., in Milwaukee’s Fifth Ward neighborhood. The brewery is owned by Jim McCabe, who also owns the Milwaukee Ale House, which has locations in Milwaukee’s Third Ward and Grafton. The cooking oil from both locations is transformed into burnable biodiesel inside the brewery.
The brewery produces about 110 gallons of biodiesel on most Monday mornings. During warm months, that is enough fuel to power a full day’s brewing each week.
“When we look at our energy bill today compared to one year ago, there’s a big difference,” McCabe said.
