by jboullion | Sep 16, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a news release posted on Yahoo!Finance:
MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Kohl’s Department Stores (NYSE: KSS – News) will be named Green Power Partner of the Year during the annual Green Power Leadership Awards held Monday, Sept. 14 in Atlanta, Ga. Co-sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Center for Resource Solutions (CRS), the Green Power Leadership Awards recognize the actions of organizations, programs and individuals that significantly advance the development of green power resources in three categories: on-site generation, green power purchase and Partner of the Year.
“To receive the Green Power Partner of the Year Award is a tremendous honor,” said Ken Bonning, Kohl’s executive vice president of store planning and logistics. “Since joining the Green Power Partnership in 2006, Kohl’s has continually demonstrated our support of green power through increasing our purchase of renewable energy credits, expanding our solar initiative and implementing strategies to manage our energy usage in an environmentally responsible way. We strive to set an example of how a business can consistently implement and explore sustainable solutions that make sense for the bottom line, the environment and the communities we serve.”
This is the third consecutive year Kohl’s will receive a Green Power Leadership Award, earning recognition for green power purchase in 2007 and on-site generation in 2008. This is Kohl’s first time receiving the Green Power Partner of the Year Award, which recognizes four EPA Green Power Partners annually who distinguish themselves through their green power purchases, leadership, overall strategy and impact on the green power market. . . .
Kohl’s currently ranks second in retail, fourth overall and fourth among Fortune 500 companies on EPA’s list of top Green Power Purchasers with a 2009 green power purchase of 600,990,000 kWh – more than double Kohl’s previous green power commitment and enough to meet 50 percent of the company’s purchased electricity use. According to U.S. EPA, Kohl’s green power purchase of 601 million kWh is equivalent to avoiding carbon dioxide emissions of more than 79,000 passenger vehicles per year, or is the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power nearly 60,000 average American homes annually.
by jboullion | Sep 15, 2009 | Uncategorized
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 15, 2009
MORE INFORMATION
Michael Vickerman
RENEW Wisconsin
608.255.4044
mvickerman@renewwisconsin.org
In a show of bipartisan support, the State Senate approved legislation that will open the door to new wind energy projects in Wisconsin.
Under the Wind for Wisconsin umbrella, more than 60 organizations as diverse as unions, trade associations, environmental advocates, health groups, and renewable energy manufacturers sought uniform permitting standards for future wind developments.
Six Republicans joined 17 Democrats to pass Senate Bill 185. The legislation directs the Public Service Commission to begin a rulemaking process that will lead to greater certainty and predictability in siting wind generation facilities.
“The Senate’s vote is critical to reviving the development of a high priority renewable energy resource in accordance with Wisconsin energy policy,” said Michael Vickerman, executive director of RENEW Wisconsin, a nonprofit sustainable energy advocacy organization.
“We believe that the wind energy suppliers will see the action as an invitation to locate and do business in Wisconsin. Our economy will benefit from the investment and jobs in a sustainable energy future,” Vickerman said.
“RENEW Wisconsin and its members thank the bill’s primary authors, Senator Jeff Plale (D-South Milwaukee) and Senator Randy Hopper (R-Fond du Lac), the leadership of both parties, and all of the state senators who recognized the need for a statewide approach to permitting windpower installations,” Vickerman added .
The Assembly will vote on the companion bill later this week. Then it will go to the governor.
by jboullion | Sep 15, 2009 | Uncategorized
Senate Bill 185 comes to the full Senate for a vote today. Two organizations issues news releases to express support for the bill:
CREWE Urges Bi-Partisan Support for Wind Siting Bill
(MADISON, Wis.)—Clean, Responsible Energy for Wisconsin’s Economy (CREWE) today urged state lawmakers to support the proposed uniform wind siting legislation as it heads to the Senate floor on Tuesday. Senate Bill 185/Assembly Bill 256 would create jobs and help Wisconsin meet its renewable energy requirements by having the Public Service Commission (PSC) set standards for large and small wind energy systems across the state.
“We can establish a green economy and add needed jobs to the state with the passing of SB 185/ AB 256, in which CREWE has taken an active role this year,” Thad Nation, executive director of CREWE, said. “I’m sure both Democrats and Republicans can agree that this bill will benefit Wisconsin’s ratepayers, taxpayers and environment.”
Currently, more than 600 megawatts of planned wind developments are stalled across Wisconsin due to midstream changes in regulations and procedures. A consistent and uniform siting policy will allow Wisconsin to take advantage of wind development and growth, Nation added.
From the news release issued by Clean Wisconsin:
MADISON — The Senate will vote on a piece of legislation Tuesday that will create new jobs, generate new investments in our state’s economy and encourage new renewable energy businesses to locate in Wisconsin.
Senate Bill 185, or wind siting legislation, will bring family-supporting jobs to the state while replacing the patchwork of local regulations with sensible statewide standards for permitting wind farms.
At the same time, Democratic representatives of the Assembly will hold a press conference Tuesday at 10:30 to share their job creation agenda for Wisconsin; wind siting plays a crucial role in their plan. The Assembly votes on the bill Wednesday.
In early August, the bill passed the Senate Committee on Commerce, Energy, Utilities and Rail 6-1. In June, it passed the Assembly Committee on Energy and Utilities 10-2.
“This legislation will create jobs, generate clean energy and put us on the path to energy independence,” says Ryan Schryver, clean energy advocate for Clean Wisconsin, the state’s largest environmental advocacy organization. “Wisconsin has lost a record number of jobs in recent months, and this legislation is a needed
mechanism to re-create some of the jobs the state has lost.”
by jboullion | Sep 14, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by Tim O’Brien Homes:
Tim O’Brien Homes teams up with We Energies to build twelve solar homes as part of regional study on energy conservation.
Waukesha, WI (September 11, 2009) – Tim O’Brien Homes, a certified Green Built™ and Wisconsin ENERGY STAR® home builder, announces a partnership with We Energies to build twelve solar electric homes across southeastern Wisconsin by spring 2010. This endeavor is part of a multi-year study that We Energies is conducting to evaluate homeowners’ lifestyle habits in response to utilizing solar energy.
Along with analyzing trends in energy usage and demonstrating the impact of using solar energy, the study will also provide insight on how solar may influence market value and overall electric demand. This is the first time that a solar electricity study of this magnitude has ever been done in the Midwest.
“Our relationship with We Energies provides us the opportunity to outfit more homes with solar electric power,” says Tim O’Brien, president of Tim O’Brien Homes. “We are thrilled to be part of this cutting-edge initiative that’s opening the door to solar electric energy as a practical and reliable power option to home builders and owners. Given our green building philosophy, it’s a natural progression for Tim O’Brien Homes to move toward solar installations. As we see more opportunities for renewable energy applications, we’re discovering they offer a significant long- term return on investment.”
The study is being conducted by the We Energies Renewable Energy Development (RED) Program and will examine the solar energy production of the twelve homes along with homeowners’ consumption. “We are pleased to partner with a home builder that has a solid understanding of solar energy, its applications and potential benefits,” says Jessica Thibodo-Johnson, renewable energy specialist for We Energies. “Our partnership focuses on demonstrating the practical and beneficial use of solar energy for Midwest homes. This unique project will also provide greater insight into possible effects solar installations have on housing market values,” adds Thibodo-Johnson.
Solar electric (photovoltaic or PV) power is a form of renewable energy that uses the sun’s energy to create electricity. These systems are made up of panels or modules containing PV cells that generate direct current (DC) electricity when exposed to sunlight. An inverter then converts the DC power to the alternating current (AC) electricity utilized to power the home.
The solar homes will be studied side by side with twelve equivalent size control homes. Having similar orientation to the sun, the control homes are located in the same neighborhoods as the solar homes. Four of the twelve solar homes are currently under construction or nearing completion, with solar panels being installed by Renewable Energy Solutions. The homes, ranging in size from 2,000 to 2,400 square feet, are being built in neighborhoods such as Jackson’s Sherman Parc, Milwaukee’s Oak Hill, Waukesha’s Rolling Ridge South, and Kenosha’s Leona’s Rolling Meadows. “Most of the solar homes will be for sale at a price point just under $300,000. This provides an opportunity to introduce solar energy to interested consumers that previously would not have been able to afford it,” adds O’Brien.
by jboullion | Sep 11, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Mike Moore in the Stevens Point Journal:
RAYMOND — Car executives looking for the next electric car might just want to slip out of the board room and stop by Tom Leitschuh’s garage.
This year, Leitschuh converted his 1981 Chevrolet El Camino to run completely on electric power. And because the juice is created by the windmill and solar panels at his home on Highway K, he’s not paying for it.
“I get to drive for free,” he said. “I have energy independence even on the road now.”
Compared to the El Camino, the Toyota Prius sitting in his driveway with the “renewable energy is sexy” bumper sticker is a gas hog. Where El Camino’s engine once sat, 26 batteries now fill the space. Twenty more sit by a rear axle.
It’s a load, but removing the radiator, gas tank, muffler and other unnecessary baggage helped offset the weight. Leitschuh also skipped the regular car batteries and splurged on lighter lithium ferrite batteries.
“They’re the safest batteries in the world, and they’ll work down to zero degrees,” he said.
A charge could take him 200 miles if he manages his driving carefully, Leitschuh said, but typically the car has a range of about half that.
The project took about six weeks. Including the car, which he bought used on eBay, the project cost him about $30,000. He could have done a scaled-back conversion for $10,000, which he said should be feasible for some car owners. Not to mention big car companies, which are still developing plug-in models they plan to introduce over the next few years.
“I’m wondering, ‘Why aren’t they doing this?'” Leitschuh said. “If a guy in a garage in Racine can do this with a little bit of help … .”
