Southwest Wisconsin firms receive renewable energy grants

by | Jul 8, 2009 | Uncategorized

From a news release issued by Focus on Energy:

MADISON, Wis. (July 8, 2009) – Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s energy efficiency and renewable energy initiative, has awarded grants totaling more than $2.6 million to help businesses statewide finance the installation of large renewable energy systems. Funds were awarded on a competitive basis to help eligible businesses become more energy independent.

“The grants awarded offer businesses financial assistance for projects that will make a significant impact on Wisconsin’s growing renewable energy market; in fact, these larger renewable energy systems offer businesses a way to lessen their dependence on fossil fuel based energy use, in turn reducing pollution” said Don Wichert, program director for Focus on Energy. “It is my hope more organizations will look to these businesses as shining examples of energy pioneers — and follow their example.”

Grant Recipients
Following are the grant recipients in their respective technologies:

Wind
Cashton Greens Wind Farm LLC of Cashton, Wis., was awarded $250,000 to install two wind turbines with a 5,000 kW capacity. The two-turbine wind farm is an innovative partnership between Cooperative Regions of Organic Producer Pools (CROPP), Western Technical College (WTC) and Gundersen Lutheran Health System Inc. It will be the first “community wind” project in the state and its two turbines will be the largest in the state.

Biomass heat
Gundersen Lutheran Envision LLC in La Crosse, Wis., was awarded $376,057 to install a biomass fired steam plant to produce renewable thermal energy for Gundersen Lutheran Hospital’s main campus. The system is estimated to provide approximately 95 percent of the campus’ thermal needs. The boiler system will be fired with both wood waste and agricultural waste.

Other grant recipients
Orion Electric Systems in Manitowoc, Wis., was awarded $250,000 to install a 273 kilowatt (kW) solar electric system. Orion Energy Systems labels itself as a technology center, designed with the express intention of reaching out to the community and developing an education program to introduce various energy technologies and devices to the public. To this end, its solar electric system will serve as a demonstration and educational tool. In addition, the project will be the largest solar electric system in the state and the first in the state to use an innovative cylindrical solar thin film technology.

PPC Partners Inc. in Plymouth, Wis., was awarded $500,000 to complete a 1,137 kW anaerobic digester energy system. PPC Partners will own the system; however, it will be located at Goeser Dairy LLC, a 1,000 head dairy operation. Goeser Dairy will provide the majority of waste stream to serve as the digester’s feedstock and other wastes will also be used. The dairy will benefit from the enhanced waste and odor management system as well as reduced bedding fees.

The City of Sheboygan Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) was awarded $205,920 to install a biogas maximization system. The Sheboygan WWTP has been successfully operating a number of 300 kW microturbine systems for nearly four years. The new biogas maximization system will increase the gas production of the existing anaerobic digester from 30 percent to 60 percent. To capture the energy from the increased amount of biogas, the city will install two additional 200 kW microturbines, bringing the total generation capacity of the WWTP up to 700 kW.

Dairy Dreams LLC of Casco, Wis., a 3,000 head dairy operation, was awarded $434,477 for the installation of an 800 kW anaerobic digester energy system. The system will produce energy, while helping to manage waste and control odor.

Industrial Towel & Uniform (ITU) Inc. of New Berlin, Wis., an industrial laundry service company, was awarded $170,000 to install a 10,000 square foot solar hot water system. This system will reduce ITU’s natural gas use by 28,388 therms a year, a significant decrease in its annual natural gas consumption. The system will be the largest solar water heating system in the state when completed.

Clear Horizons LLC in Sun Prairie, Wis., was awarded $500,000 to complete a 1,137 kW anaerobic digester energy system. Clear Horizons will own the system; however, it will be located at Maunesha River Dairy, a 1,000 head dairy operation. The dairy’s waste stream will serve as the digester’s feed stock and will use additional organic wastes from other sources. The system will produce energy, help manage waste and control odor.

Gundersen Lutheran Envision LLC in La Crosse, Wis., was awarded $376,057 to install a biomass fired steam plant to produce renewable thermal energy for Gundersen Lutheran Hospital’s main campus. The system is estimated to provide approximately 95 percent of the campus’ thermal needs. The boiler system will be fired with both wood waste and agricultural waste.

Businesses Statewide Are Eligible
In addition to the grants awarded, Focus on Energy offers financial incentives for smaller renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements. To learn more about Focus on Energy, available financial incentives, or to get an application, call (800) 762-7077 or visit focusonenergy.com.

Deisgn buildings to be solar ready

by | Apr 28, 2009 | Uncategorized

A letter to the editor to the Dodgeville Chronicle by Joel H. Goodman, M. Architecture diploma, MIT; former assistant professor of architecture at the U. of Minnesota:

Solar electric rooftops, covered with PhotoVoltaic (photons-to-volts) solar panels called PV, is a main part of a low carbon electricity infrastructure plan. The aim is to reduce greenhouse gas pollution causing global warming, reduce stress on the grid, and create local jobs. Of course, no one wants a large added first cost for installing PV solar panels when paying for the construction of a new building.

Therefore, it would be sensible to design new buildings to be SOLAR PV READY. Design features of new buildings prepared for the future addition of large areas of solar electric PV panels include: roof shape, slope and structure; place for PV system inverters, and connecting electrical conduits. A large area Solar PV READY roof could be attractive for stimulus funds, and something positive for the children’s future.

Link to fact sheets on solar-ready residences and solar-ready commercial buildings.

Wisconsin's energy experts answer your questions on interactive Web site

by | Apr 27, 2009 | Uncategorized

From a news release issued by Focus on Energy:

(April 27, 2009) – What’s the best way to reduce my home’s cooling costs? Are there tax credits available for my renewable energy project? What’s the most energy efficient hot water heater? Could new lighting fixtures save my business money? These are among the thousands of questions Wisconsin residents are asking themselves every day. Thankfully, there’s an easy and accessible resource where they can get their energy questions answered, as Focus on Energy has launched a new interactive Web site titled ‘Ask Focus on Energy’ (askfocusonenergy.com).

“The purpose of the Web site is to fulfill the public’s growing desire for easily accessible information on the timely topic of energy,” said Kathy Kuntz, program director for Focus on Energy. “Given the economic and energy climate, consumers and businesses are now, more than ever, looking to learn how energy efficiency and renewable energy relates specifically to their needs.”

How the Web site Works
When you visit the ‘Ask Focus on Energy’ Web site you have the opportunity to submit a question, or search other questions that may relate to your area of interest. Once your question is submitted, if it is similar to a question already on the site, the answer will immediately appear. However, if your question is unique from any on the Web site, it will be sent to a panel of Focus on Energy experts for review. If your question is selected, it will be answered by one of our experts and posted on the Web site.

As so many people have similar questions and shared interests, you can also search a variety of energy-related topics to see what other people are asking. And to stay even more connected, you can now find Focus on Energy on Facebook and Twitter. These communities allow you to stay up-to-date on the questions and answers being added to the new Web site, as well as get regular energy saving tips.

Local hospital's energy conservation receiving attention

by | Apr 24, 2009 | Uncategorized

From a story on WXOW-TV (La Crosse):

LA CROSSE, Wisconsin (WXOW) -Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin is taking a tour of the Gundersen Lutheran hospital, a facility she says is a good example of a insitution striving for energy independence.

Baldwin says, “I had heard some time ago that this is one of the few hospitals and clinics that was really analyzing their energy usage.”

The tour featured the hospital’s efforts to leave a smaller carbon footprint.

Thompson says, “Some of them are really pretty simple. It’s exhaust fans that are running 24 hours a day that need to be on 6 to 12 hours a day, replacing old chillers with new ones that are twice efficient.”

Other examples… Gundersen Lutheran is also partnering with La Crosse City Brewery to turn its waste methane discharge into electricity for the hospital.

And has installed solar panels on Gundersen Lutheran’s new parking ramp to help power the structure.

Thompson says, “There is some cost to some of these, but we think of it as an investment.”