by jboullion | Feb 15, 2010 | Uncategorized
From an article by Matt Standal posted on the Northland Newscenter:
ASHLAND, WIS. – Wisconsin Politicians say new renewable energy Standards could be the key to creating more jobs.
It’s called the Clean Energy Jobs Act, and the final public hearing was today in Ashland.
Local folks and political figures gathered at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor’s Center to voice their opinions regarding its changes.
“We would be remiss to ignore the opportunities presented by this bill,” State Senator Bob Jauch said, speaking at the hearing. “These are the kinds of initiatives that could create jobs in Wisconsin and protect our environment.”
If adopted by Wisconsin’s state legislature in April, proponents say The Clean Energy Jobs Act would Create At Least 15,000 Green Jobs by 2025 in Wisconsin.
According to Senator Jauch, the bill’s major changes would include new statewide goals for greenhouse gas emissions, improved state funding for renewable energy resources, and strict new requirements for Wisconsin–based renewable energy to flow through the municipal grid.
Jauch and State Representative Gary Sherman say those new requirements should result in better funding for a larger renewable energy industry and more renewable energy jobs too.
Tourism and forestry are our two main industries in the area and they are linked together by this environment,” Sherman said. “If we can find a way to produce jobs, to produce industry, to produce economic development without destroying that resource, than we are looking at a bright future,” Sherman added.
Local residents largely agreed, speaking for or against various points on the proposed bill.
“I was happy to present to Senator Jauch today a petition in support of this bills signed by more than 150 area residents,” said community organizer Bill Busse from Bayfield. “So it has strong grassroots support in our area.”
However, several speakers vocally opposed the bill’s most controversial measure, a resolution reversing the moratorium on new nuclear energy development throughout Wisconsin.
by jboullion | Feb 12, 2010 | Uncategorized
From the home page of Governor Doyle:
by jboullion | Feb 11, 2010 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by the Wisconsin Farmers Union and posted on the Web site of WQOW-TV (Eau Claire):
Chippewa Falls, Wis. (Press Release) — The Wisconsin Farmers Union joined renewable energy producers at a senate hearing held in the Capitol today to ask elected leaders to support the Low Carbon Fuel Standard as a part of the Clean Energy Jobs Act.
“The Low Carbon Fuel Standard will support Wisconsin farmers by creating new markets to sell crops to power our homes, schools, and businesses,” said Mike Stranz, Government Relations Specialist at the Wisconsin Farmer’s Union.
Under the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), fuel providers in the state must gradually reduce the average carbon content of the mix of fuels sold in the state. An LCFS benefits the agricultural community by increasing demand for crops capable of producing low-carbon fuels such as switchgrass, woody biomass and crop residue.
“By growing our own low-carbon fuels, we can become more energy independent and put money into the pockets of hard-working Wisconsin farmers,” said Jamie Derr, Owner and Operator of Derr Solarmass LLC. “Why spend billions buying foreign fossil fuels when Wisconsin farmers can grow much of our fuel right here at home?”
by jboullion | Feb 10, 2010 | Uncategorized
From a news release posted on the Web site of WQOW-TV (Eau Claire):
Eau Claire – The Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce has selected 10 Chamber member businesses as the initial group of business to be identified by the Chamber as Green Sustainable businesses.
Those businesses selected include: Applied Data Consultants, Department of Interiors Ltd., Laser Product Technologies, Liberty Exteriors Inc., Luther Midelfort-Mayo Health System, PESI, LLC, Phillips Plastics Corporation, RealityWorks, Inc., Superior Auto Body, and Sacred Heart Hospital. These businesses range from five employees to 4,500 employees.
The areas of selection include: 1) Energy Conservation 2) Purchasing 3) Recycling 4) Transportation 5) Social Capital 6) Waste Prevention 7) Water Conservation. Businesses must earn at least 40 points in five categories, if they employee 50 or fewer employees and 60 points in all seven categories if they employee more than 50 employees. The selection is done by a panel of six Chamber member representatives based on an application submitted by the businesses. The committee will meet monthly to review future applications that are submitted to the Chamber.
by jboullion | Feb 9, 2010 | Uncategorized
From an announcement of community roundtables by the University of Wisconsin System:
Six regional Sustainable Communities Roundtables — in Central Wisconsin, De Pere, Waukesha, Chequamegon Bay, Rhinelander, and Chippewa Valley — begin in late February and lead up to the March 25-26 Sustainable Communities Public Policy Forum. The two- to three-hour sessions will open with an overview of sustainability efforts in the state and conclude with a facilitated process to identify sustainability policy issues, barriers, strengths, and possibilities.
Chippewa Valley Roundtable
Date: March 3, 9-11 a.m.
Location: Eau Claire County – UW-Extension, 227 1st Street West, Altoona
Contact: Andrew Dane, andrew.dane@ces.uwex.edu, 715-226-1347
Chequamegon Bay Roundtable
Date: March 3, 6-8 p.m.
Location: Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center, 29270 County Highway G, Ashland
Contacts: Timothy Kane, timothy.kane@ces.uwex.edu, 715-373-6104
Tom Wojciechowski, tom.wojciechowski@ces.uwex.edu, 715-682-7017
The Sustainable Communities Public Policy Forum is the third in a series of forums designed to focus University of Wisconsin System resources on Wisconsin’s most vexing social, environmental, and economic challenges. These forums inform the debate around selected current issues confronting Wisconsin residents by bringing objective, research-based information to the dialogue. Forums utilize experts to cover issues impacting the state of Wisconsin.
Sustainable Communities Policy Forum
March 25-26, 2010
University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley
Communication Arts Center
1478 Midway Road, Menasha
