by jboullion | Jan 23, 2013 | Uncategorized
It’s only an ambiguity in the law that stands between Wisconsin and a solar boom.
Herman K. Trabish: January 22, 2013
Wisconsin has better sunlight than installed solar capacity world leader
Germany — but a political fight now brewing in the state could determine
whether Wisconsin will use its solar potential.
“What we are trying to do with Clean Energy Choice is clarify an ambiguity
in state law,” explained RENEW Wisconsin Program and Policy Director
Michael Vickerman. “If we don’t clear it up, anybody who puts a system
on somebody else’s house and sells the energy to the occupant is in
by jboullion | Jan 23, 2013 | Uncategorized
After much travail,a formal application has been submitted to build a wind farm in the Town of Sherman. This article comes from The Sheboygan Press:
A Hubertus developer has submitted a formal application to build a wind farm in the Town of Sherman, nearly six months after the project was first unveiled to the public.
The application was filed with town leaders last month and made available to the public within the past week, according to town officials.
The developer, EEW Services LLC, hopes to begin construction this year on the Windy Acres Wind Farm on 400 acres east of state Highway 57, west of county Highway CC and north of county Highway A. The turbines would also connect to a substation in the Town of Holland.
EEW spokesman Jay Mundinger couldn’t immediately be reached for comment Wednesday.
The state’s rules place wind farm siting decisions almost entirely in the hands of the state Public Service Commission, as state wind siting rules supersede local ordinances. However, the project still requires approval by the Sherman and Holland town boards.
Sherman Town Chairman William Goehring said that the two towns are in the process of drafting a joint local wind ordinance, though it cannot be more restrictive than the state’s rules.
Following the receipt of EEW’s formal application, the two towns now have until April 1 to pass the joint measure, Goehring said.
After the local wind ordinance is passed, town leaders from Sherman and Holland will have 45 days to conduct a joint review of the developer’s application to ensure that it is complete.
Once the application is deemed complete, they’ll have another 90 days to hold a public hearing and then vote to approve or reject it.
“Our hands are still very much tied,” said Goehring, referring to the project’s approval ultimately resting with state regulators.
Town officials plan to hold public hearings each step of the way, Goehring said, though nothing has been scheduled yet.
Read more here.
by jboullion | Jan 16, 2013 | Uncategorized
RENEW Wisconsin received a lot of positive press feedback after the 2013 renewable energy policy summit, “Powering Positive Action”. Here is a great press release from SC Johnson, reflecting on their award – find the original here.
Company Presented with “Renewable Energy Customer-Generator of the Year” Award for Advanced Wind Turbine Technology and Other Environmental Efforts
RACINE, Wis., Jan. 11, 2013 – Reflecting SC Johnson’s dedication to the environment, RENEW Wisconsin today awarded it the “Renewable Energy Customer-Generator of the Year” honor, specifically citing the company’s achievements in using renewable energy in its global manufacturing operations. The independent nonprofit organization leads and represents businesses, organizations and individuals seeking cleaner, renewable energy in Wisconsin.
“To be recognized with other Wisconsin companies that also champion clean energy is truly an honor and speaks to the priorities of the business community in our state,” said Kelly M. Semrau, Senior Vice President of Global Corporate Affairs, Communication and Sustainability at SC Johnson. “We are grateful for the support of RENEW Wisconsin and their dedicated efforts to advance clean energy policies that put Wisconsin at the forefront of environmental leadership.”
SC Johnson’s commitment to clean energy was recently reaffirmed in December 2012 with the installation of two 415-foot wind turbines at Waxdale, the company’s largest global manufacturing facility in Mt. Pleasant, Wis. These turbines – the first of their kind in the state – will produce about eight million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity annually – enough to power 700 homes in a year. Combined with two cogeneration turbines that have been in place since the mid-2000s, the facility is now able to produce an average of 100 percent of its electrical energy onsite.
“SC Johnson is doing outstanding work as a renewable self-generator to make wind energy a smart and viable alternative to power their operations,” said Michael Vickerman, Program and Policy Director at RENEW Wisconsin. “We were thrilled to recognize the company for powering positive action in Wisconsin using wind energy, and we are proud that the policies RENEW has advanced have helped SC Johnson achieve this success.”
SC Johnson is emerging as a regional and national leader for its clean-energy initiatives, particularly those related to wind energy. With the commissioning of the wind project at Waxdale, the company is now the only manufacturer in the country that has installed Vensys turbines – the latest in wind turbine technology, meaning less maintenance and higher energy yields than traditional systems.
SC Johnson’s Worldwide Leadership in Renewables
In addition to the wind turbine project at Waxdale, SC Johnson added three SWIFT mini wind turbines to the roof of its Lowell, Ark., sales office, capable of generating as much as 3,600 kilowatt hours of electricity annually. These reduce carbon dioxide emissions equal to about 280 gallons of gasoline. In the Netherlands, a 262-foot-tall wind turbine helps power the SC Johnson European manufacturing facility.
The company has also been making strides in Indonesia since SC Johnson launched a biofuel initiative that converts waste palm shells as a fuel source to heat water for mosquito coil production. This cuts greenhouse gas emissions at the factory by more than 15 percent and reduces local diesel fuel use by 80 percent. Each of these projects brings SC Johnson closer to the company’s goal of increasing worldwide renewable energy use to 44 percent of total electricity by 2016.
Find the original article here.
by jboullion | Jan 3, 2013 | Uncategorized
Clean Wisconsin
Your environmental voice since 1970.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 2, 2013
Contact: Tyson Cook, Staff Scientist, 608.251.7020 ext. 27
Study Finds No Link Between Wind Farm Sound and Health Impacts
Testing finds sound below threshold of hearing in homes near wind farm
Shirley, Wis. – A series of tests on homes near the Shirley Wind Farm in Brown County found no evidence linking low frequency sound from wind turbines to health impacts, according to a study released late last week.
“After testing three homes near the Shirley Wind Farm, scientists were unable to measure any low-frequency sound from wind turbines above the threshold of human hearing from within the homes,” explains Tyson Cook, staff scientist at Clean Wisconsin. “There are no peer-reviewed studies showing negative health impacts from wind turbine sounds below the threshold of hearing.”
The testing was conducted in early December 2012 by four independent firms at the request of the Public Service Commission (PSC). The PSC requested the testing as it decides whether to approve the Highland Wind Project, a proposal to construct a wind farm in St. Croix County that would bring clean, renewable energy to 29,000 homes and create up to 100 jobs.
“It’s important that we fully understand the impacts of our energy sources, which is why we wanted to see this study conducted,” said Cook. “Like others, this study finds no physical link between wind farm sound and negative health impacts.”
Wind farms offset the need to burn fossil fuels, which result in harmful pollution that threatens the health of our families. A poll conducted by a bipartisan research team in January of 2012 found that 85 percent of Wisconsin voters would like to increase the use of wind energy to meet the state’s future energy needs.
“While there is no evidence directly linking wind farms to negative health impacts, there are volumes of studies showing the disastrous impact of air and water pollution from burning fossil fuels,” said Cook. “By moving toward clean, safe energy choices like wind, we can help improve the health of families across Wisconsin.”
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Clean Wisconsin, an environmental advocacy organization, protects Wisconsin’s clean water and air and advocates for clean energy by being an effective voice in the state legislature and by holding elected officials and polluters accountable. Founded in 1970 as Wisconsin’s Environmental Decade, Clean Wisconsin exposes corporate polluters, makes sure existing environmental laws are enforced, and educates citizens and businesses. On behalf of its 10,000 members and its coalition partners, Clean Wisconsin protects the special places that make Wisconsin such a wonderful place to live, work and play. www.cleanwisconsin.org.
by jboullion | Dec 14, 2012 | Uncategorized
Neither encouraged nor discouraged by state legislative election results, RENEW Wisconsin will hold its second annual energy policy summit to shape policy initiatives that will increase customer-driven renewable installations in 2013 and beyond. Register now!
Set for Friday, January 11, 2013 in Madison, RENEW Wisconsin’s summit, called Powering Positive Action, will synthesize the ideas and aspirations of business leaders, elected officials, and clean energy advocates into an achievable policy agenda.
This year a bipartisan legislative panel will outline their energy policy goals and identify specific initiatives that can move forward in the upcoming session.
Senators Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center) and Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse), and Representatives Chris Taylor (D-Madison) and Gary Tauchen (R-Bonduel), and Chris Schoenherr, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Administration, have agreed to take part in the legislative panel.
Other plenary sessions will focus on policies and practices that advance jobs and economic development through in-state development of renewable energy. One promising initiative vigorously promoted by RENEW, called Clean Energy Choice, would allow businesses and residential households to directly access clean energy produced on their premises from third party-owned systems.
We would like policymakers to hear company representatives discuss the fit between on-site renewables and their ability to remain competitive in a period of great energy transition.
Over the lunch hour, RENEW will recognize a host of pioneering businesses that are advancing renewable energy use in Wisconsin. This year several businesses and nonprofits took the reins of the renewable energy marketplace, and we wish to honor their outstanding achievements.
Former Colorado governor Bill Ritter will deliver the keynote address. During his two terms, Ritter championed several innovative policies that are now fueling one of the healthiest energy economies in the nation.
Click to see registration details and other information about RENEW’s 2013 Energy Policy Summit.
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RENEW thanks our current Summit sponsors:
Breakout Sponsors
DVO | Anaerobic Digesters – Bioenergy Session
American Wind Energy Association – Wind Session
Champion Sponsors
Cullen Weston Pines and Bach
Organic Valley
W. W. Williams
Advocate Sponsors
Danfoss
Madison Solar
Michael Best and Friedrich, LLP
Prairie Solar Power & Light
Stantec
Western Technical College
Supporter Sponsors
Baker Tilly
Clean Wisconsin
C.R. Boardman
Michels Corporation
Midwest Renewable Energy Association
Sierra Club – John Muir Chapter
Werner Electric Supply
