by jboullion | Jul 6, 2012 | Uncategorized
Immediate release
July 5, 2012
More information
Don Wichert
Interim Executive Director
608.2554044
dwichert@renewwisconsin.org
Focus on Energy Resumes Offer of Renewable Energy Incentives
Financial incentives to support customer-sited renewable energy systems are once again available from Focus on Energy, the ratepayer-funded energy efficiency and renewable energy program in Wisconsin. About $2 million will be available for solar, wind, biomass, and biogas energy systems between now and December 31, 2012.
The resumption of renewable energy incentives marks the end of a suspension on applications for funding support that lasted six months for residential customers and an entire year for business customers.
“We are pleased that the funding uncertainties with Focus on Energy are behind us and that the renewable energy program is back up and running,” said Don Wichert,
Interim Executive Director of RENEW Wisconsin (RENEW), a nonprofit renewable energy advocacy organization.
“With the resumption of incentives, there is no need for customers to ‘wait and see’ what the future holds.”
In January, RENEW Wisconsin delivered a letter, signed by over 150 businesses, schools, and local officials, to the Public Service Commission asking the agency “to exercise its oversight authority over Focus on Energy and restore funding, without delay, for renewables at a level consistent with previous years’ allocations.” In early March, RENEW organized a similar write-in campaign to the PSC with over 200 comments submitted.
“I am hopeful that the reinstatement of incentives signals a closer working relationship between renewable energy businesses and Focus on Energy administrators,” Wichert said.
-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 Ed Blume | Jul 5, 2012 | Uncategorized
Highlights of an ad hoc update and planning Webinar by Don Wichert, RENEW Wisconsin – May 30, 2012. Click HERE to see the full PowerPoint presentation. (Listen to the presentation here. Requires registration.)
Webinar Topics
RENEW’s 2012 Action items
Focus on Energy Funding
Third Party Ownership
Net Metering
Interconnection
2013 Policy
RENEW’s 2012 Action Plan
- Organize WI renewable energy stakeholders
- Grow business opportunities for renewables
- Promote fair value pricing for renewable energy
- Encourage state government support
- Revive utility support
- Guide reasoned permitting
- Maintain & increase renewable energy standards
Meeting with Shaw
Asked a number of questions
- Actual 2011 expenditures in Focus and renewables
- List of commitments by tech and $ in 2012
- Copy of the Total Resource Cost (TRC) calculator
- Shaw said they are flexible in considering options for Focus renewable funds
- Need to roll out program by July 2, 2012
- RENEW to prepare options by June 1
2012 Focus Funding: Options
- $10 million is available to SPEND in 2012
- $2.1 million is available for new projects to SPEND
- Energy efficiency qualified only?
Three program options:
- Reverse auctions for res and non-res @$700,000 each, leverages ~$6 million @~$0.8 per kWh per year
- Loan program @$700,000, leverages $10,000,000 in loans and $200,000 for PR and administration
- First come-first serve residential, RFP non-residential
Questions [During the presentation, participants answered a several questions on presentation topics, including the following ones.]
Q. Should Focus spend vs. obligate the $10 million in incentives this year?
A. Spend: 43% Obligate: 39% Don’t know: 18%
Q. Do you think Focus should limit applications to only those who meet efficiency guidelines?
A. Yes: 37% No: 63%
Q. Should there be carve outs or a minimum level of funding for all technologies?
A. Yes: 61% No: 39%
Q. What percent of the funds should be allocated to residential and non-residential sectors?
A. Res: 46.5% Non-res: 53.5%
by Ed Blume | Jun 20, 2012 | Uncategorized
From a commentary by Donald J. Wuebbles and Jack Williamson published in The Capital Times:
It’s been a hot start to 2012. Over Memorial Day weekend, new high-temperature records were set in 16 states and across Wisconsin. High temperatures from Kenosha to Reedsburg surpassed 90 degrees — the hottest May 28 temperature in more than 100 years of record-keeping.
Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, South Bend, Ind. and Pittsburgh all hit record highs as well.
In March, more than 15,000 warm weather records across our country were broken. Wisconsin had its warmest March in recorded history as locals swapped winter coats for shorts and enjoyed 80-degree afternoons. Meanwhile, other areas of the state endured tornadoes tossing multi-ton trailers around like children’s toys. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration received 223 reports of tornadoes when 80 tornadoes is the March norm. . . .
Fortunately, there are steps we can take to adapt to and mitigate climate change.
We can grow America’s investments in renewable energy, powering more homes with wind and solar energy. We can use better appliances and equipment that avoid wasting energy and save us money on utility bills. We can manufacture and drive more fuel efficient cars that save us money at the gas pump, lessen America’s dependence on foreign oil, and reduce greenhouse gas pollution.
We can invest in building a Midwest high-speed passenger rail system that improves mobility, reduces pollution, creates jobs and pulls together the regional economy. We can improve infrastructure that makes trains and other public transit work better and bicycle riding a safer option for commuters. . . .
Donald J. Wuebbles is a professor of atmospheric sciences as well as electrical and computer engineering at the University of Illinois. Jack Williams is director of the Center for Climatic Research Geography at UW-Madison.
by jboullion | Jun 18, 2012 | Uncategorized
From a story by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
A report from the state Public Service Commission tallies the cost of complying with the state’s renewable power standard, concluding that it sent power rates up about 1% through 2010.
The report found that Wisconsin’s renewable projects accounted for more than 7% of sales in 2010, or nearly twice the level of 2006, when the state’s renewable standard was adopted by the state Legislature.
Since 2007, the commission has endorsed proposals to build $1.7 billion for utility-owned renewable projects, primarily wind farms built in Wisconsin and nearby states.
The report doesn’t account for about $500 million worth of projects, which were not completed as of 2010.
Large projects like new power plants are paid off over time, so the cost of adding those to the state’s fleet of generation was about $200 million, or an increase of 1% of utility sales, the report estimated. The estimate is based on a comparison of the cost of the projects with the average market price of power sold on the wholesale Midwest energy market during the period.
Wisconsin’s standard requires increases in the amount of renewable energy that utilities buy or build, so that 10% of utility sales in 2015 will come from renewables such as wind, solar and biomass projects.
The standard was enacted in 2006 with bipartisan and near-unanimous support. The state Assembly co-author of the bill, Republican Phil Montgomery, chairs the state Public Service Commission. . . .
Commissioner Eric Callisto, who was chair of the commission under Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle, said the PSC staff’s analysis “confirms that balancing the state’s generation portfolio with clean, renewable energy facilities comes at a reasonable cost to consumers.”
While providing balance for a fleet that relies on fossil fuels for a majority of Wisconsin’s power generation. Callisto said the renewable projects also “act as important risk mitigation tools in a future of increasing air regulation, and provide opportunities for economic development within the four corners of the state.”
by jboullion | Jun 18, 2012 | Uncategorized
From a story by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
A report from the state Public Service Commission tallies the cost of complying with the state’s renewable power standard, concluding that it sent power rates up about 1% through 2010.
The report found that Wisconsin’s renewable projects accounted for more than 7% of sales in 2010, or nearly twice the level of 2006, when the state’s renewable standard was adopted by the state Legislature.
Since 2007, the commission has endorsed proposals to build $1.7 billion for utility-owned renewable projects, primarily wind farms built in Wisconsin and nearby states.
The report doesn’t account for about $500 million worth of projects, which were not comnpleted as of 2010.
Large projects like new power plants are paid off over time, so the cost of adding those to the state’s fleet of generation was about $200 million, or an increase of 1% of utility sales, the report estimated. The estimate is based on a comparison of the cost of the projects with the average market price of power sold on the wholesale Midwest energy market during the period.
Wisconsin’s standard requires increases in the amount of renewable energy that utilities buy or build, so that 10% of utility sales in 2015 will come from renewables such as wind, solar and biomass projects.
The standard was enacted in 2006 with bipartisan and near-unanimous support. The state Assembly co-author of the bill, Republican Phil Montgomery, chairs the state Public Service Commission. . . .
Commissioner Eric Callisto, who was chair of the commission under Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle, said the PSC staff’s analysis “confirms that balancing the state’s generation portfolio with clean, renewable energy facilities comes at a reasonable cost to consumers.”
While providing balance for a fleet that relies on fossil fuels for a majority of Wisconsin’s power generation. Callisto said the renewable projects also “act as important risk mitigation tools in a future of increasing air regulation, and provide opportunities for economic development within the four corners of the state.”
