by jboullion | Aug 13, 2013 | Uncategorized
Wisconsin Residents Urge PSC to Reconsider Funding Suspension
Immediate Release –
Between August 2nd
and yesterday, more than 630 individuals, businesses and organizations
submitted comments urging the Public Service Commission (PSC) not to
suspend Focus on Energy incentives for solar and small wind energy
systems. The comments were posted following a preliminary PSC decision
to suspend solar and small wind incentives for the duration of 2013.
“The
overwhelming majority of Wisconsin residents favor clean energy
development, and thousands of Wisconsin citizens and companies have
built renewable energy systems with assistance from Focus on Energy,”
said Tyler Huebner, Executive Director of RENEW Wisconsin. “Judging by
the extraordinary outpouring of support for continuing incentives to
solar and small wind, it’s clear that the PSC’s move to suspend
incentives struck a nerve with the public.”
At
issue is the PSC’s decision in late July to base the level of funds
available for solar and small wind on actual expenditures instead of
obligations, which had been the standard practice with Focus on Energy’s
renewable energy program since its inception in 2002.
“There
is no need to let administrative formulas create an uncertain,
unpredictable business environment for Wisconsin’s solar and small wind
markets. There are simpler and less disruptive ways of balancing
allocations among different renewable technologies, which would allow
customers to continue accessing these incentives and our small renewable
energy installation businesses to keep their doors open.“
“Though
Focus on Energy is authorized to spend up to $10 million per year to
help customers use more renewable energy, a suspension would ensure that
funding in 2013 will fall well short of the target. We urge the PSC to
take note of this show of support for clean energy and allow funding for
solar and small wind to continue.” Huebner said.
Update: RENEW Wisconsin was contacted by the Focus on Energy Rewards Program to notify RENEW that as of Wednesday, August 14, 2013, the PSC has not issued
the final order. The Residential Rewards Program will continue to
process new reservation applications for Solar Thermal and Solar
Photovoltaic until the order has been issued OR funds have been exhausted.
-END-
RENEW
Wisconsin is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that
leads and represents businesses, organizations, and individuals who seek
more clean renewable energy in Wisconsin. More information on RENEW’s
Web site at www.renewwisconsin.org.
by jboullion | Aug 6, 2013 | Uncategorized
Cathy Stepp, Secretary, Department of Natural Resources, headed a ceremony to enroll Red Eye Brewing Co. brew pub and restaurant in the Wisconsin Green Tier program at the Tier 1 level last week Wednesday at Red Eye, Washington Street, Wausau. Red Eye has the distinction of becoming the first brew pub and restaurant in Wisconsin to achieve this status and the only Green Tier 1 business in Marathon County. Read last week’s press below and Cassandra Vinch’s article for WAOW to learn more.
To achieve enrollment, Red Eye had to demonstrate a satisfactory environmental record, commit to superior environmental performance and implement an Environmental Management System. Tier 1 is designed to encourage innovation, collaboration and new environmental goal setting.
According to Brett Danke, an owner, Red Eye has since it opened in May 2008 implemented an environmental policy and practiced sustainability efforts throughout its business operation. The company’s environmental record was documented in its Green Tier application. (Red Eye Environmental Policy follows).
According to the DNR, Green Tier Program legislation provides incentives such as regulatory flexibility and permit streamlining to environmentally responsible businesses. The law creates a program in which qualified businesses make legal commitments to superior environmental performance through contracts negotiated with the Department of Natural Resources. The businesses in exchange are allowed flexibility in how their environmental goals are achieved.
Ceremony in Shadow of Solar Panels
Sec. Stepp will present the Green Tier 1 enrollment certificate to Danke during ceremonies to be held in the shadow of the solar voltaic panels car port in the Red Eye parking lot. Alderperson Romey Wagner will speak on behalf of the City of Wausau. A reception and tour of Red Eye’s environmental business practices will follow.
Applications of its environmental policy most obvious to Red Eye visitors are the solar voltaic panels car port installed in June, solar water heating panels on the roof and waterless toilets in rest rooms. A conversion to all LED lighting was recently completed.
To reduce its carbon footprint, Red Eye purchases food ingredients locally and regionally, sends its spent brewing grains to local farmers for feed, uses recyclable containers for takeout foods, and serves beer only in glass mugs and glasses or refillable take away growlers. Excess baked goods are donated to a local food pantry.
Red Eye is located on a Metro Ride bus route. It promotes bicycle transportation by its guests. And it sponsors an adopt-a-highway cleanup effort.
by jboullion | Jul 24, 2013 | Uncategorized
–Immediate Release
In what will become the largest solar electric project serving a Wisconsin municipality, the City of Monona approved a contract this week that will result in the construction of rooftop arrays supplying renewable energy directly to four city-owned buildings. All four solar systems, totaling 156 kilowatts, should be online by year’s end.
The four Monona buildings selected to host the solar electric arrays are: City Hall, Public Library, Public Works Garage, and Public Works Dept. Well No. 3. All told, the solar arrays will produce more than 210,000 kilowatt-hours of clean energy per year, equating to 30% of the buildings’ combined electricity usage.
The City will receive a stream of renewable energy credits along with the electrical output under a solar service partnership agreement with Falcon Energy Systems, a Colorado based investment group. Bloomington, MN-based tenKsolar will manufacture the solar generating arrays, and Madison-based Full Spectrum Solar will install and service the equipment on the city-owned sites. Earlier this month, tenKsolar and Full Spectrum Solar teamed up to install a 48 kilowatt system on the Arbor Crossing apartments in Shorewood Hills.
The project team was assembled by Solar Connections, LLC, a Madison consulting group that has also developed residential solar installations that were financed primarily by friends and neighbors of the host customer.
Consultants Kurt Reinhold and James Yockey first introduced this municipal solar model to the Sustainability Committee of the City of Monona in September of 2012, and has since been joined by Janine Glaeser, City Project Manager, to shepherd this project through numerous committees and hearings before Monday’s unanimous vote to adopt the resolution to enter into this solar services contract.
“Five years ago, Monona passed a resolution committing itself to greatly expand its own use of renewable energy by 2025,” said Kurt Reinhold, a principal with Solar Connections. “Not only will this partnership help Monona achieve its sustainable energy goals, it will also help the City save on its energy bills.”
“With this action, Monona joins the growing circle of Wisconsin businesses, communities and individuals committed to serving themselves with renewable energy produced on-site,” said Michael Vickerman, program and policy director of RENEW Wisconsin, a statewide renewable energy advocacy organization.
“Through their actions, forward-thinking entities like Monona will reduce Wisconsin’s dependence on imported fossil fuels in a way that creates jobs and invigorates the local economy,” Vickerman said.
Read Gina Covelli’s article in the Herald Independent to learn more
by jboullion | May 2, 2013 | Uncategorized
RENEW Wisconsin’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Tyler Huebner has been chosen to be RENEW’s Executive Director, beginning June 1.
Tyler comes to RENEW with a rich background in clean energy, government, and nonprofit organizations. He worked for the State of Wisconsin (Division of Energy Services) and the U.S. Department of Energy (Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Division) managing initiatives within the Weatherization Assistance Program. Tyler was also a consultant for ICF International and a Facilities Management Engineer for the University of Iowa, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. He holds a Master’s degree from Stanford University in Civil and
Environmental Engineering.
“Tyler brings an enthusiastic attitude and a unique ability to work with other stakeholders. He clearly sees both the challenges and opportunities related to leading a renewable energy policy organization in Wisconsin today,” said Jenny Heinzen, RENEW’s Board President.
Aside from his busy working life, Tyler and his wife Heather are new parents with the birth of their first child, Emma born in April. They reside in Madison.
by jboullion | Nov 12, 2012 | Uncategorized
More information
Michael Vickerman
mvickerman@renewwisconsin.org
608.255.4044, ext. 2
State’s Renewable Standard Delivers Positive Results
Most utilities already meeting 2015 targets
Most Wisconsin electricity providers have already acquired all the renewable energy supplies they need to meet the state’s 10% target in 2015, according to the Public Service Commission (PSCW). The agency’s annual compliance review showed that nearly 9% of electricity sold by in-state electricity providers in 2011 originated from such renewable energy resources as sunlight, biogas, hydro, landfill gas and wind, compared with 3% in 2006.
“By any measure, the state’s Renewable Energy Standard (RES) has been an unqualified success,” said Michael Vickerman, program and policy director for RENEW Wisconsin. “From the standpoint of job creation, resource diversity, price stability, environmental protection and revenue generation, the RES has delivered exceptional value to a state that is very dependent on imported fossil fuels for electricity generation.”
Passed in 2006, the RES has been the most powerful policy for driving growth in renewable electricity sales. Yet with so many electricity providers already in compliance with their 2015 requirements, the prospects for new investments in home-grown energy sources are uncertain.
“Right now, we don’t have a policy in place for directing investments into clean energy after 2015,” Vickerman said. “If we want to reap the economic and environmental benefits that come with renewables, state lawmakers will have to extend the Renewable Energy Standard or adopt a successor policy.”
“Investments in renewable resources not only supply Wisconsin utility customers with clean energy, they also generate work opportunities for local manufacturers and businesses, additional revenue for local governments, and income for farmers,” said Vickerman.
“Renewable energy should be the cornerstone of an economic development strategy that aims to increase the state’s workforce and expand investment opportunities,” Vickerman said. “We look forward to working with the Governor and the next Legislature to put in place a realistic, low-cost policy framework that maintains the momentum building from the current RES.”
END
RENEW Wisconsin is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) that leads and represents businesses, and individuals who seek more clean, renewable energy in Wisconsin. More information on RENEW’s Web site at www.renewwisconsin.org.
