by jboullion | Oct 12, 2011 | Uncategorized
From an article by Chris Hubbuch in the La Crosse Tribune:
The White House announced plans Wednesday to speed up federal approval of a controversial high voltage power line planned for the area.
The CapX2020 line, which will connect power stations in Hampton, Minn., Rochester and La Crosse, was one of seven projects tagged by the Obama administration as key for creating jobs while modernizing the nation’s electric system.
“To compete in the global economy, we need a modern electricity grid,” Energy Secretary Steven Chu said in a statement. “An upgraded electricity grid will give consumers choices while promoting energy savings, increasing energy efficiency and fostering the growth of renewable energy resources.”
The accelerated process will not affect state approval processes already under way, said Sahar Wali, spokeswoman for the Council on Environmental Quality. It will instead speed up federal processing by encouraging cooperation between agencies.
Tim Carlsgaard, spokesman for the consortium of utility companies including Xcel Energy and Dairyland Power Cooperative, said he hopes that means the federal process will be done by the time Minnesota and Wisconsin complete their reviews, likely in mid 2012.
CapX will need federal approval from as many as four federal agencies, including the Rural Utility Service. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Army Corps of Engineers will also have a say in how and where the line crosses the Mississippi River near Alma, Wis.
Joe Morse is a spokesman for the Citizens Energy Task Force, which opposes the project. He thinks the federal government is overstepping its bounds and pressuring states to hasten approval despite local opposition. Several towns have passed resolutions opposing the line, and a La Crosse County committee this week asked for more study.
by jboullion | Oct 3, 2011 | Uncategorized
The City of Eau Claire and Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce are pleased to present a series on sustainable energy and development. See attachment for more details. Please consider attending one or all of the remaining sessions.
Bright Future: Solar Electric, October 13th
Event link: http://eauclairewicoc.weblinkconnect.com/CWT/External/WCPages/WCEvents/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=7053
Building Green: A LEED Primer from the Field, November 3rd
Event link: http://eauclairewicoc.weblinkconnect.com/CWT/External/WCPages/WCEvents/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=7055
GeoExchange: From Concept to Completion, December 7th
Event Link: http://eauclairewicoc.weblinkconnect.com/CWT/External/WCPages/WCEvents/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=7054
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The Energy Center University, powered by the Energy Center of Wisconsin
High performance windows and wall assemblies
Oct 25, 2011 • Eau Claire, WI
There are dozens of ways to design and spec both new and retrofit high performance wall assemblies. There are an equal number of ways to integrate high performance windows into those same assemblies. Which ones work the best; which are the most cost-effective or easily detailed? Which material selections fit together for optimal moisture management?
Come learn the building science principles that drive high performance wall design and specification. Bring your own plans, details, photos, and drawings to work on all the nitty-gritty details with your peers and your instructor. There is always more than one way to do high performance walls and windows; the principles remain the same while the details can vary quite a bit. There is no one right way and we will explore best practices in contexts that you and the instructor provide, using 2-D drawings and 3-D mock-ups.
Link to more: http://www.ecw.org/university/ecuevent.php?ecuid=430
HVAC retrofits for energy conservation
Nov 9, 2011 • Eau Claire, WI
Reduce energy use and save money using variable frequency drives, direct digital controls and CO2-based demand controlled ventilation systems. Ryan Hoger will present the most current information regarding each of these technologies plus case studies showing dollar savings from HVAC retrofits at this full-day workshop. He’ll review sales tools that can help you predict energy savings for your clients, present a summary of applicable codes and standards, and discuss future code changes.
Link: http://www.ecw.org/university/ecuevent.php?ecuid=420
Advanced lighting retrofits
Dec 8, 2011 • Eau Claire, WI
Learn how to cost-effectively retrofit commercial lighting to efficiency levels that qualify for EPACT tax deductions. We’ll address lighting retrofits for a variety of commercial applications, including offices and high bay settings.
You don’t need complicated, costly dimming systems to effectively reduce lighting energy use in office environments. Find out how high-Kelvin and high-performance T8s, extra-efficient fixed-output ballasts, one- and two-lamp 2×4 kits and fixtures, one lamp per cross section suspended indirect/direct fixtures and LED task lights can cost-effectively provide very low power densities as well as very high lighting quality.
There are a multitude of technologies that can replace energy-wasting standard metal halide, high pressure sodium and mercury vapor lighting in high bay settings. We’ll discuss the best applications for improved T8 and T5HO lamps and ballasts, induction, electronically ballasted pulse-start metal halide, T8VHO, solid state metal halide and LEDs.
Link: http://www.ecw.org/university/ecuevent.php?ecuid=419
More information:
Ned Noel / Associate Planner / City of Eau Claire / 203 S. Farwell St., Eau Claire, WI 54701
tel: 715.839.8488 / fax: 715.839.4939 / e-mail: Ned.Noel@eauclaire.wi.gov
by jboullion | Sep 28, 2011 | Uncategorized
News release
Renew Wisconsin
September 27,2011
More information:
Michael Vickerman
Executive Director
608.255.4044
mvickerman@renewwisconsin.org
The Montfort Wind Energy Center, a popular attraction in western Iowa County along U.S. Highway 18, turned 10 years old this summer. The 30-megawatt (MW) project, which for many years was Wisconsin’s largest commercial wind energy installation, began generating electricity in 2001, and thus far has produced over 500,000 megawatt-hours of electricity. In a typical year, Montfort’s output serves more than 5,000 households.
The project’s 20 turbines are divided into two arrays. The main array, consisting of 17 turbines, runs along the southern side of U.S. 18 between Cobb and Montfort. The output from those 17 turbines is sold to Milwaukee-based We Energies. The other three turbines, located to the south of the main array, produce electricity under contract to Alliant Energy’s Wisconsin Power & Light subsidiary, whose service territory covers Iowa County.
Originally developed by Enron Wind, the Montfort project was purchased in 2001 by NextEra Energy Resources, a Juno Beach, Florida-based company. Residents of Cobb and Montfort have been strongly supportive of this project. “Montfort has a gas station called Windmill Mobil,” said Carol Anderson, a project landowner. “Most commonly, I hear people ask ‘When we’re going to get more’?” Just east of the Windmill Mobil, an informational kiosk on the project stands prominently in front of the Tower Junction restaurant, located directly across the highway from Montfort’s westernmost turbines.
by jboullion | Sep 22, 2011 | Uncategorized
From a news release by Dairyland Power:
Methane digester located in Eau Claire Energy Cooperative’s service territory
LA CROSSE, WI— Dairyland Power Cooperative has signed an agreement with Bush Brothers & Co. to purchase the renewable energy and capacity from a new anaerobic wastewater system located in Augusta, Wis. The system will be served by Eau Claire Energy Cooperative, a Dairyland member.
Construction on the renewable energy facility is nearing completion, and commercial operation is expected in early 2012.
“It is a significant milestone when three entities work together to create yet another renewable energy facility for the benefit of the communities we all serve. Renewable energy facilities, including the new one at the Bush Brothers facility at Augusta, have added a positive element to the way we provide electricity for our co-op members,” said Eau Claire Energy Cooperative CEO and President Lynn Thompson.
The digester plant at the industrial wastewater facility is designed to process biogas produced in a covered lagoon to power a 635 kW generator. This is projected to produce enough renewable energy to power nearly 500 homes in the Dairyland system.
“The anaerobic digester represents a responsible method for handling plant waste and we are glad to have it as a part of our manufacturing process,” said Joe Breid, Director of Operations for the Bush Brothers plant in Augusta.
Once operational, the Bush Brothers facility will represent the seventh methane digester within the Dairyland system, and the first industrial use. The first six digester f if acilities are “cow power” plants, utilizing dairy cow manure as the source from which methane gas is derived to fuel the generators and create renewable energy. . . .
About Bush Brothers
Founded in 1908, Bush Brothers & Company is a privately owned food processor headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn. Best known for their baked beans, Bush’s also offers more than 30 varieties of canned beans including kidney, pinto and black. Bush Brothers & Company is still family owned and operated, working for the same ideals that were set forth by A.J. Bush more than 100 years ago – ensuring the highest quality and best taste can be found in all their products. Bush’s sells one-third of all canned beans in the U.S., making it the top bean brand in the country. Its signature commercials of Jay Bush and his Golden Retriever, Duke, have made Bush’s Beans a familiar household name. For more information, visit www.bushbeans.com.
by jboullion | Aug 26, 2011 | Uncategorized
From an article by Claudia Broman in the Ashland Current:
A commitment by the state to support a clean economy could result in Wisconsin residents having lower utility bills, more jobs and cleaner air, according to two separate studies released earlier this summer.
“Unfortunately, Wisconsin’s clean economy is in danger of losing a good deal of its steam as a result of policy rollbacks and funding cutbacks in the renewable energy arena,” said Michael Vickerman, executive director of RENEW Wisconsin, a statewide organization advocating for public policies and private initiatives that advance renewable energy. “The short-sighted attacks we’ve seen in 2011 could throw the state’s clean economy into reverse next year.”
So far this year, RENEW says the state’s Legislature has reduced funding for Focus on Energy, suspended the statewide rule regulating the permitting of wind turbines, and weakened the state’s renewable energy standard by allowing utilities to count Canadian hydropower toward their requirements.
