From a news release issued by WPPI Energy (formerly Wisconsin Public Power, Inc.):
WPPI Energy has established a $10 million revolving loan fund to make zero-interest loans to help its members lead by example in the areas of energy efficiency, conservation and the use of renewable energy.
“Saving energy and increasing our local use of renewable resources is one of the most important investments we can make for the future,” said WPPI Energy President and CEO Roy Thilly. “Increased efficiency will help lower the energy costs for member communities, defer the need for expensive new power plants, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and keep customer bills down in a rising rate environment.”
WPPI Energy’s members include 49 municipalities in Wisconsin, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and Iowa, and one Upper Michigan cooperative electric association. The WPPI Energy Member Loan Program is designed to help members implement energy efficiency and renewable energy projects on utility and other municipally owned property, thereby lowering operating costs and meeting members' local energy needs with local renewable resources.
Typical projects will include:
+ Building or equipment efficiency upgrades
+ Meeting U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards for building projects
+ LED street lights and traffic signals
+ Efficient fleet vehicles
+ Photovoltaic solar panel systems
WPPI's member utilities are in the following communities:
Alger Delta, MI
Algoma
Baraga, MI
Black River Falls
Boscobel
Brodhead
Cedarburg
Columbus
Cuba City
Eagle River
Evansville
Florence
Gladstone, MI
Hartford
Hustisford
Independence, IA
Jefferson
Juneau
Kaukauna
L'Anse, MI
Lake Mills
Lodi
Maquoketa, IA
Menasha
Mount Horeb
Muscoda
Negaunee, MI
New Glarus
New Holstein
New London
New Richmond
Norway, MI
Oconomowoc
Oconto Falls
Plymouth
Prairie du Sac
Reedsburg
Richland Center
River Falls
Slinger
Stoughton
Sturgeon Bay
Sun Prairie
Two Rivers
Waterloo
Waunakee
Waupun
Westby
Whitehall
Energy grant boosts Wausau company's solar-powered air conditioner
Labels:
`Central Wisconsin,
Solar
From a story on Channel3000.com:
WAUSAU, Wis. -- A northern Wisconsin company is one example of how President Barack Obama hopes his stimulus plan will help the economy.
PDM Solar in Wausau received a $200,000 grant from Wisconsin's Energy Independence Fund, which gives money to companies working on renewable energy projects.
PDM said it hopes to hire hundreds of Wisconsin workers over the next five years to mass-produce its solar-powered air conditioner.
"We're taking a technology that was, you know, 100 years, 120 years old, and packaging it differently and using it in an application that has never been used before," said David Baker with PDM Solar.
In order to mass-produce the product, the company will need assembly-line workers, engineers and workspace.
The company will build its first solar air conditioner in Phoenix.
WAUSAU, Wis. -- A northern Wisconsin company is one example of how President Barack Obama hopes his stimulus plan will help the economy.
PDM Solar in Wausau received a $200,000 grant from Wisconsin's Energy Independence Fund, which gives money to companies working on renewable energy projects.
PDM said it hopes to hire hundreds of Wisconsin workers over the next five years to mass-produce its solar-powered air conditioner.
"We're taking a technology that was, you know, 100 years, 120 years old, and packaging it differently and using it in an application that has never been used before," said David Baker with PDM Solar.
In order to mass-produce the product, the company will need assembly-line workers, engineers and workspace.
The company will build its first solar air conditioner in Phoenix.
Video takes you to top of wind turbine
Labels:
`Central Wisconsin,
Wind
Go inside the core and climb to the very top of a Vestas V82 wind turbine in the Top of Iowa 3 Wind Farm.
From Madison Gas and Electric' renewable energy channel Green View.
From Madison Gas and Electric' renewable energy channel Green View.
Small Wind Conference, June 16-17, 2009
Labels:
`Central Wisconsin,
Wind
From the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA:
The 5th annual Small Wind Conference is scheduled for June 16-17, 2009 at the Holiday Inn and Convention Center in Stevens Point, WI.
This is the only Small Wind Power Conference of its kind in the Nation. The Conference welcomes small wind installers, manufacturers, site assessors, dealers, distributors, state representatives and zoning officials and policy makers. Interested parties should contact Kirsten at 715-592-6595 or register online.
The 5th annual Small Wind Conference is scheduled for June 16-17, 2009 at the Holiday Inn and Convention Center in Stevens Point, WI.
This is the only Small Wind Power Conference of its kind in the Nation. The Conference welcomes small wind installers, manufacturers, site assessors, dealers, distributors, state representatives and zoning officials and policy makers. Interested parties should contact Kirsten at 715-592-6595 or register online.
Pitch in at the ReNew the Earth Institute, Custer
Labels:
`Central Wisconsin,
General
From the Web site of the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA):
The ReNew the Earth Institute is a place where people of all ages can learn about renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable living, and other environmental issues. The Institute has working renewable energy systems, hands-on educational displays, demonstration gardens, a resource library, and a workshop/conference room. . . .
Located at 7558 Deer Road in Custer, WI., we've got many projects on the way for this spring, and we can always use an extra pair of hands. Call Mike at 715-592-6595 ext.105 if you are interested in helping for a couple hours or even for a couple of days
The ReNew the Earth Institute is a place where people of all ages can learn about renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable living, and other environmental issues. The Institute has working renewable energy systems, hands-on educational displays, demonstration gardens, a resource library, and a workshop/conference room. . . .
Located at 7558 Deer Road in Custer, WI., we've got many projects on the way for this spring, and we can always use an extra pair of hands. Call Mike at 715-592-6595 ext.105 if you are interested in helping for a couple hours or even for a couple of days
Zero Energy Building: The convergence of solar power and energy efficiency, Milwaukee, March 13
Labels:
`Central Wisconsin,
Energy efficiency,
Solar
From WE Energies and the Wisconsin Green Building Alliance:
Coming to Milwaukee!
Friday, March 13, 2009, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
ZERO ENERGY BUILDING - THE CONVERGENCE OF SOLAR POWER AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Lessons For Architects, Builders, Designers, Engineers, Developers, and Owners
Presenters:
Steven J. Strong, President, Solar Design Associates
Lew W. Pratsch, U.S. Department of Energy
LOCATION:
We Energies
Public Service Building - Auditorium
231 W. Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI 53203
Sponsored by We Energies and the Wisconsin Green Building Alliance
TO REGISTER AND FOR MORE INFO, GO TO: http://www.wgba.org/zeb.html
AGENDA:
Friday, March 13, 2009
8:00am - 8:30am Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30am - 8:45am Welcome and Introductions
8:45am - 9:15am PV Cell and Module Technology
9:15am - 10:15am Overview of PV Systems Options & Applications: Intro to basic systems and components with application examples
10:15am - 10:30am Morning Break
10:45am - 12:00pm Moving Toward Zero Energy Homes
12:00pm - 1:00pm Lunch Break
1:00pm - 2:00pm BIPV: Options, Materials and Methods
2:00pm - 2:45pm BIPV: A World View
2:45pm - 3:00pm Afternoon Break
3:00pm - 4:00pm BIPV - Detailed Case Studies
4:00pm - 4:30pm Codes, Economics and Incentives
4:30pm - 5:00pm Wrap Up with Questions and Discussion
Coming to Milwaukee!
Friday, March 13, 2009, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
ZERO ENERGY BUILDING - THE CONVERGENCE OF SOLAR POWER AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Lessons For Architects, Builders, Designers, Engineers, Developers, and Owners
Presenters:
Steven J. Strong, President, Solar Design Associates
Lew W. Pratsch, U.S. Department of Energy
LOCATION:
We Energies
Public Service Building - Auditorium
231 W. Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI 53203
Sponsored by We Energies and the Wisconsin Green Building Alliance
TO REGISTER AND FOR MORE INFO, GO TO: http://www.wgba.org/zeb.html
AGENDA:
Friday, March 13, 2009
8:00am - 8:30am Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30am - 8:45am Welcome and Introductions
8:45am - 9:15am PV Cell and Module Technology
9:15am - 10:15am Overview of PV Systems Options & Applications: Intro to basic systems and components with application examples
10:15am - 10:30am Morning Break
10:45am - 12:00pm Moving Toward Zero Energy Homes
12:00pm - 1:00pm Lunch Break
1:00pm - 2:00pm BIPV: Options, Materials and Methods
2:00pm - 2:45pm BIPV: A World View
2:45pm - 3:00pm Afternoon Break
3:00pm - 4:00pm BIPV - Detailed Case Studies
4:00pm - 4:30pm Codes, Economics and Incentives
4:30pm - 5:00pm Wrap Up with Questions and Discussion
Shawano County farmer installs wind turbine
Labels:
`Central Wisconsin,
Wind
Rick Adamski (left) began researching wind turbine options at the Midwest Renewable Energy Fair in 2005, where he talked with turbine installer Dave Blecker of Seventh Generation, the company that installed Adamski's turbine.From a story by Monica Landeros on WLUK-TV:
There is a farmer in Northeast Wisconsin who soon won't have electricity bills, in fact the electric company may eventually be paying him. That's because the Maple Grove farmer near Seymour in Shawano County has installed one of the first wind turbines in his area on his own property, with the help of federal and state grants.
Look across the snow cover fields of Full Circle Farms in Maple Grove and you'll a 110-foot tall wind turbine with three massive blades.
"The wind turbine should last 20 to 30 years," said Full Circle Farmer Owner Rick Adamski.
It took hours to install in early February. Adamski watched every step of the process from a safe distance with some neighbors.
"We're trying to reduce our impact on the environment," said Adamski. . . .
Adamski's wind turbine still needs some finishing touches and is expected to be turned on the week of February 9th.
Soon after that, Adamski won't pay for electricity anymore. It will save him about $7,000 a year. In fact, the turbine will produce more energy than is needed. So, the extra energy will be sold back to WE Energies.
MREA's 2009 workshops now open!
Labels:
`Central Wisconsin,
Green building,
Renewable energy,
Solar,
Wind
The Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) offers workshops that cover a variety of topics in renewable energy (solar, wind, and more). See the course workshops page for a listing of all of the workshops and to register Click here.
New business group will back Global Warming Task Force proposals
Labels:
`Central Wisconsin,
Climate change
From a media release issued by CREWE:
(MADISON, Wis.) – Leading Wisconsin companies are joining forces to advocate for the meaningful global warming policy changes proposed by the Governor’s Global Warming Task Force (GWTF).
The business coalition named Clean, Responsible Energy for Wisconsin’s Economy (CREWE) looks forward to working with other members of the GWTF, the Doyle Administration and other companies and organizations to push for the adoption of policies that effectively and responsibly address global warming and capture the economic development and environmental opportunities in Wisconsin, said CREWE Board Chairman Dan Ebert.
“Wisconsin is poised for a transition to a sound economy powered by good, new, green jobs,” Ebert said. “CREWE was formed around the belief that a sustained and shared partnership of government, business and citizens is needed to build a clean energy and reliable future that will benefit all Wisconsin residents and businesses.”
Coalition members include Wisconsin Energy Corp., Madison Gas & Electric, Orion Energy Systems, American Transmission Co., Johnson Controls, MillerCoors, WPPI Energy, Potawatomi Tribe and C5-6 Technologies.
CREWE is dedicated to joining forces with other supporters to promote responsible policies that address climate change, create jobs, promote energy efficiency, reliability and independence, and mitigate the economic impacts of rising energy costs, Ebert added.
(MADISON, Wis.) – Leading Wisconsin companies are joining forces to advocate for the meaningful global warming policy changes proposed by the Governor’s Global Warming Task Force (GWTF).
The business coalition named Clean, Responsible Energy for Wisconsin’s Economy (CREWE) looks forward to working with other members of the GWTF, the Doyle Administration and other companies and organizations to push for the adoption of policies that effectively and responsibly address global warming and capture the economic development and environmental opportunities in Wisconsin, said CREWE Board Chairman Dan Ebert.
“Wisconsin is poised for a transition to a sound economy powered by good, new, green jobs,” Ebert said. “CREWE was formed around the belief that a sustained and shared partnership of government, business and citizens is needed to build a clean energy and reliable future that will benefit all Wisconsin residents and businesses.”
Coalition members include Wisconsin Energy Corp., Madison Gas & Electric, Orion Energy Systems, American Transmission Co., Johnson Controls, MillerCoors, WPPI Energy, Potawatomi Tribe and C5-6 Technologies.
CREWE is dedicated to joining forces with other supporters to promote responsible policies that address climate change, create jobs, promote energy efficiency, reliability and independence, and mitigate the economic impacts of rising energy costs, Ebert added.
Amherst renewable energy expert featured in RENEW newsletter
Labels:
`Central Wisconsin,
Solar
Bob Ramlow stands in front of the solar hot water panels at the Artha Sustainable Living Center near Amherst.
From the newsletter of RENEW Wisconsin:
With his graying hair in a pony tail and his hand-rolled cigarettes, Bob Ramlow projects the classic appearance of an aging hippie who parted company with the rat race decades ago. And not only does he look every inch the solar energy pioneer, he is one, mentoring installation contractors and counseling prospective system owners in his capacity as Focus on Energy’s solar water heating technical consultant. Indeed, a typical day presents Ramlow with many opportunities to apply his 30+ years of experience in this area, whether it involves reading over site assessments, reviewing drawings and equipment specifications, or advising contractors whenever an installation presents an unusual challenge. . . .
Do you mind being called an aging hippie?
Not at all. I was one of many who “tuned in, turned on, and dropped out.” I wanted a fixer-upper with good soil and woods, and I bought the farmland with a nearly ruined farm house built in 1911. We farmed it for 20 years. The old house became the bed and breakfast after we built our new house in 2006.
When did your solar addiction begin?
In 1971. Dr. George Becker, a fisheries professor, supervised my independent study in my senior year in Natural Resources at the UW-Stevens Point.
One day, he told me that “we’re going for a walk” to his house. In his backyard, he had something that looked like an A-frame outhouse. It had an air collector facing the sun, and it was full of rocks to store heat. An air pump blew into his house.
I saw that, and a light went on! You could get depressed fighting nukes and DDT, like we did then, but here was something positive!
Did the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) begin about this time?
The MREA came a lot later – 1990 – after I’d spent several years of selling high-quality wood stoves, working for a company selling wall mounted air collectors, then another company that sold windows and doors with home installation as a sideline, and I formed Artha Renewable Energy as a solar consulting business in 1976.
Mick Sagrillo, now the solar electric consultant for Focus on Energy, and a lot of us in the area were doing a lot of good things by the late 1980s, when George Perez, publisher of Home Power magazine, told us we should strut our stuff – hold fairs and festivals to show off renewable energy.
We liked the idea and founded the MREA in January or February of 1990. We held the first fair at the county fair grounds in Amherst in mid-August of the same year. The first day – Saturday — it rained hard. The four holy, moldy Korean-War-era tents, where we held workshops, let the rain pour in. People were squatting on chairs to stay out of the water while they listened to the presentations. Sunday was beautiful. We had 3,000 people and made enough money to hire a part-time director for the next year’s fair.
What exactly do you do for Focus on Energy?
I mentor solar hot water installers and dealers. Installers call me a lot. They run into a situation that’s unfamiliar, or maybe they aren’t sure exactly how to squeeze all of the equipment into a tiny space, for instance. I help with nuts and bolts issues. I review solar site assessments too – probably one a day on the average.
Focus on Energy’s call center also refers homeowners, business owners, and school district staff to me when I seem to be the most appropriate person, though most people call their utility or a dealer first.
Sometimes for Focus on Energy and sometimes for the MREA, I teach classes, often to employees of heating and plumbing contractors. We’re currently working out the details for me to train installers for one of the largest contractors in the state.
Labels:
`Central Wisconsin,
Renewable energy
The Renewable Energy Summit opened online registration for the event at the Midwest Airline Center, Milwaukee, March 25 - 28, 2009.Fifteen program themes highlight bio industry energy; business technologies and practices; curriculum programs and course design; energy efficiency, energy management and renewable, sustainable and green practices; energy policy, legal issues, drivers of the energy revolution, and opportunities for funding; green career pathways; green manufacturing; greening practices for colleges; green transportation; solar electric energy; solar thermal and geothermal energy; utility issues; water technologies; and wind energy.
March 25 and 26 focus on the renewable energy industry with presentations on all sectors of the industry. March 27 features Green Career Day with the focus on educational and job opportunities. March 28 offers workshops and short courses at the MATC Oak Creek Campus. For details see www.renewableenergysummit.org.
Not-in-my-backyard attitude a continuing problem
Labels:
`Central Wisconsin,
General
From an editorial in The Country Today:
We hear it all the time in rural Wisconsin communities: "We don't want that wind farm, large dairy operation or anaerobic digester in our neighborhood."
The not-in-my-backyard mentality hasn't gone away and it isn't likely to anytime soon.
The NIMBY attitude really isn't so hard to understand. If someone lived in a peaceful rural neighborhood and that person had a choice, he or she probably would opt not to have that tranquility disrupted by a large business being built next door, whether it be an ethanol plant, a hog confinement operation or a widget factory.
It would be quite unusual to hear, "Please don't build that in my backyard, build it in my front yard!"
Within the past week, stories have crossed our desks about a large dairy project near Rosendale, a Manitowoc County wind farm and a community animal-manure digester project in Dane County.
We hear it all the time in rural Wisconsin communities: "We don't want that wind farm, large dairy operation or anaerobic digester in our neighborhood."
The not-in-my-backyard mentality hasn't gone away and it isn't likely to anytime soon.
The NIMBY attitude really isn't so hard to understand. If someone lived in a peaceful rural neighborhood and that person had a choice, he or she probably would opt not to have that tranquility disrupted by a large business being built next door, whether it be an ethanol plant, a hog confinement operation or a widget factory.
It would be quite unusual to hear, "Please don't build that in my backyard, build it in my front yard!"
Within the past week, stories have crossed our desks about a large dairy project near Rosendale, a Manitowoc County wind farm and a community animal-manure digester project in Dane County.
Utility seeks proposals to build net zero energy homes
From an announcement from Wisconsin Public Power Inc. (WPPI):
Grants are now available for both new construction and remodeling of existing homes that are targeting net zero energy use when completed.
Complete details can be found at www.GreenMaxHome.com. Click here to view the GreenMax Home RFP.
WPPI's Web site explains the concept of a net zero energy home:
A net zero energy home is connected to the energy grid that supplies your local utility with power, but it is designed and constructed to produce at least as much energy as it consumes. The house supplies energy back to the grid in — at a minimum —an amount equal to the amount of power the homeowner purchases from the grid, resulting in a “net zero” impact on the nation’s energy supply. Any excess energy generated by the house is fed back into the grid.
This new concept combines state-of-the-art, energy-efficient construction and appliances with commercially available renewable energy systems such as solar water heating and solar electricity. In many cases, the entire energy consumption — heating, cooling and appliances — of a net zero energy home can be provided by renewable energy sources.
Proposed homes must be built in a WPPI Energy member utility service area. WPPI's member utilities are:
Alger Delta, MI
Algoma
Baraga, MI
Black River Falls
Boscobel
Brodhead
Cedarburg
Columbus
Cuba City
Eagle River
Evansville
Florence
Gladstone, MI
Hartford
Hustisford
Independence, IA
Jefferson
Juneau
Kaukauna
L'Anse, MI
Lake Mills
Lodi
Maquoketa, IA
Menasha
Mount Horeb
Muscoda
Negaunee, MI
New Glarus
New Holstein
New London
New Richmond
Norway, MI
Oconomowoc
Oconto Falls
Plymouth
Prairie du Sac
Reedsburg
Richland Center
River Falls
Slinger
Stoughton
Sturgeon Bay
Sun Prairie
Two Rivers
Waterloo
Waunakee
Waupun
Westby
Whitehall
Grants are now available for both new construction and remodeling of existing homes that are targeting net zero energy use when completed.
Complete details can be found at www.GreenMaxHome.com. Click here to view the GreenMax Home RFP.
WPPI's Web site explains the concept of a net zero energy home:
A net zero energy home is connected to the energy grid that supplies your local utility with power, but it is designed and constructed to produce at least as much energy as it consumes. The house supplies energy back to the grid in — at a minimum —an amount equal to the amount of power the homeowner purchases from the grid, resulting in a “net zero” impact on the nation’s energy supply. Any excess energy generated by the house is fed back into the grid.
This new concept combines state-of-the-art, energy-efficient construction and appliances with commercially available renewable energy systems such as solar water heating and solar electricity. In many cases, the entire energy consumption — heating, cooling and appliances — of a net zero energy home can be provided by renewable energy sources.
Proposed homes must be built in a WPPI Energy member utility service area. WPPI's member utilities are:
Alger Delta, MI
Algoma
Baraga, MI
Black River Falls
Boscobel
Brodhead
Cedarburg
Columbus
Cuba City
Eagle River
Evansville
Florence
Gladstone, MI
Hartford
Hustisford
Independence, IA
Jefferson
Juneau
Kaukauna
L'Anse, MI
Lake Mills
Lodi
Maquoketa, IA
Menasha
Mount Horeb
Muscoda
Negaunee, MI
New Glarus
New Holstein
New London
New Richmond
Norway, MI
Oconomowoc
Oconto Falls
Plymouth
Prairie du Sac
Reedsburg
Richland Center
River Falls
Slinger
Stoughton
Sturgeon Bay
Sun Prairie
Two Rivers
Waterloo
Waunakee
Waupun
Westby
Whitehall
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