by jboullion | Jun 16, 2009 | Uncategorized
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by jboullion | Jun 15, 2009 | Uncategorized
From the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune:
The world’s largest and longest-running energy fair is being held in central Wisconsin.
Midwest Renewable Energy Association is holding its 20th annual Energy Fair next Friday through Sunday at the ReNew the Earth Institute in Custer.
It feature hundreds of workshops and exhibits emphasizing clean energy and sustainable living.
General admission for the fair is $15 each day or $35 for all three days.
A major sponsor is Madison-based Focus on Energy. It works with eligible Wisconsin residents and businesses to install cost-effective energy efficiency projects.
by jboullion | Jun 12, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article on Farm Energy:
Today, June 11, USDA issued a Notice of Funds for Availability (NOFA) for the Collection, Harvest, Storage and Transportation (CHST) portion of the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP). You can read the official notice here. Funding for the remaining components of BCAP (annual and establishment payments) will be announced in the final rule at a later date. . . .
Collection, Harvest Storage and Transportation Assistance
The CHST payments under BCAP provide biomass producers or owners with a $1 for $1 matching payment when they deliver biomass to a biomass conversion facility. For each dollar a biomass producer receives from the facility, the USDA will pay an additional dollar, up to $45 per dry ton, for up to 2 years. This payment is intended to help biomass producers with the costs of biomass collection, harvest, storage and transportation.
A biomass producer or owner can be the owner of the land where the biomass is produced or a person with the right to collect or harvest biomass off of the land, such as a renter or contractor.
A biomass conversion facility is any facility using biomass to produce heat, power, biobased products or next-generation biofuels like cellulosic ethanol or biomass pellets.
There is broad eligibility for the types of biomass eligible for payments. The only specific exclusions are biomass from state and federal lands, commodity grains and fibers, animal wastes and by-products, food and yard waste and algae. However, only 20% of funding made available for CHST payments (estimated to be $25 million for 2009 but may increase) can go to residues from Title I commodity crops.
by jboullion | Jun 11, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by Focus on Energy:
MADISON, Wis. (June 1, 2009) – Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s energy efficiency and renewable energy initiative, recognizes that most of the more than 78,000 farms in Wisconsin are being hit hard by the current economic downturn. Focus has resources and incentives in place to help farmers and rural businesses meet these challenges.
“We know farms and rural businesses can use large amounts of energy in their daily practices. Focus on Energy can help reduce their energy consumption,” said Rich Hackner, sector manager for the Agriculture and Rural Business Program. “Focus recognizes the importance that energy savings can have on the overall bottom line and sustainability of many rural businesses.”
Focus is no stranger to assisting Wisconsin’s farmers and rural businesses. In 2008 alone, Focus on Energy helped implement 806 energy-saving projects at 687 farms and rural businesses statewide.
Focus will continue to help Wisconsin farms and rural businesses reduce operating costs by providing grants and incentives for the installation of energy efficient equipment. Changes large and small – from updating barn lighting and fans to milking and pasteurizing equipment with energy efficient alternatives – can have a significant financial impact.
How Focus on Energy Can Help
Focus on Energy can help by assisting farms and agribusinesses to look at how they use energy. By installing energy efficient equipment and changing processes agribusinesses can see results in increased profits and improved productivity. By providing expert advice, technical training and financial incentives, Focus helps farmers and rural businesses take the steps necessary to achieve these results.
Focus offers no-cost energy assessments with trained energy advisors to provide information on potential energy savings and incentives at farms that will help offset the costs. By assessing each farm, energy advisors can identify areas where the implementation of energy efficient systems and equipment will have the greatest impact on the efficiency of the overall operation.
Incentives Large and Small Available
Incentives and grants are available to help farmers and rural businesses implement many energy efficient technologies.
by jboullion | Jun 10, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Dorothy Jasperson in the Westby Times:
The Westby Wind Energy project, which has been in the works for over three years suffered a set back recently as Eco-Energy and WPPI try to solicit new backing for the project after a number of the major players were forced to scale back their investments due to the nationwide economic crisis.
According to Westby Public Works Director Gregg Hanson, Westby Utilities and it’s power supplier, WPPI Energy, have a vested interest in continuing to pursue and construct the proposed wind turbine project in the city of Westby, but stressful economic times have temporarily stalled the local project.
“Wind energy is one of the cleanest forms of electric power generation and it has the potential to generate a significant amount of energy for WPPI Energy member communities. Planning and rezoning conditional use permits have been secured for the project and even though project discussions are continuing, current economic conditions will play a large role in determining the projects next step,” Hanson said.
The initial Westby wind project involved the construction of three, 400 foot tall, wind generated turbines at a cost of $3-4 million dollars per unit, with construction of the wind turbines to begin in 2009-10. The 4.5 megawatt wind turbines would have been constructed on the west edge of the city, near the high school track field and the Westby Cooperative Creamery lagoons, on city property and land owned by Glen and Madeline Stalsberg, whose farm was earlier annexed into the city from the town of Christiana.
It was anticipated that the Westby wind turbine project would have generated wind energy equal to 50-percent of the cities annual energy consumption. Energy produced at the Westby site would have interconnected with grid through the substation on Black River Avenue. The wind energy produced would have been sold to the grid and helped to offset the growing cost of utilities for all WPPI costumers, including city of Westby residents.
