Energy Composites (Wisconsin Rapids) joins American Wind Energy Association

From a news release posted on Yahoo! Finance:

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Energy Composites Corporation (OTCBB:ENCC - News) announced today that it has become a member of the American Wind Energy Association, the trade association that promotes wind power growth through advocacy, communication and education. In addition to the company’s membership, Sam Fairchild, ECC’s Chief Executive Officer, will take an active role in helping AWEA push its renewable energy agenda forward.

Fairchild praised AWEA’s tenacity and strength as an advocate of renewable energy solutions, noting that “AWEA is the national voice for the U.S. wind industry, with a strong record of success and an excellent portfolio of information and analytic resources available to its members. Membership in AWEA strengthens our launch platform for the Company’s wind energy strategy, including blade manufacturing and MRO services. Over the next several weeks we will share with investors each of the concrete steps we are taking to make that strategy a reality.”

Fairchild added that “ECC’s commitment to the wind market is very strong -- we see composites playing a larger and larger role in the successful transformation of wind power as the nation’s alternative energy solution. ECC’s advancements in design, materials, production techniques and product technologies will provide us with a significant competitive edge as we roll out our wind market penetration strategy. We are also focused on expanding our field services capability to become a major player in composites maintenance, repair and overhaul for the wind sector.”

Jamie Mancl, ECC’s founder and President, noted, “I am confident that we can bring as much value to AWEA as we expect membership in the organization will bring to us. We believe that greater use of advanced composites in the wind energy supply chain will drive substantially higher financial returns to wind farm developers and greater value to the nation as a whole.”

Wausau to receive federal money for 'green' initiatives

From an article by Larry Bivins in the Wausau Daily Herald:

WASHINGTON -- Wausau will receive nearly $200,000 for energy efficiency and conservation projects, President Barack Obama's administration announced Thursday.

The money is part of more than $37 million the Department of Energy has allocated for Wisconsin under Obama's economic recovery package. In addition to the $183,900 for Wausau, the department has designated $374,000 for Marathon County. . . .

Activities the money can support include energy audits and making residential and commercial buildings more energy efficient, improving building codes and inspections, and creating financial incentive programs for energy efficiency improvements. It also can go toward transportation programs that conserve energy, projects that reduce or capture greenhouse gas emissions from landfills, and making traffic signals and street lights more energy efficient.

Three presentations: Solar hot water, renewable economic impacts, and wind outlook

From two presentations by Michael Vickerman at the 2009 Wisconsin Renewable Energy Summit:

Getting Serious About Solar Hot Water
Value Proposition to System Owner
+ Less expensive (on a life-cycle basis)
+ Predictable return
+ Negligible risk

Value Proposition to Society
+ Emission-free
+ Non-depleting
+ Indigenous
+ Highly secure

SHW Potential in Wisconsin
+ Can offset between 2.6% to 4.1% of NG use
+ Avoiding 150 million therms/year
+ Saving $150 million annually (2006 prices)
+ Offsetting 820,000 metric ton of CO2

Economic Development Impacts of Renewable Energy
Economies of scale are achieved by shrinking the labor contribution relative to output, which explains why utility-scale energy is less expensive than do-it-yourself energy.

Distributing renewable energy through customer-sited systems increases job-hours per energy unit produced as well as promoting entrepreneurship and small business development. . . .

From Small Systems – Big Results in Germany:
+ Utilities are required to accept power from customer-sited RE systems through fixed, long-term buyback rates
+ 15% of Germany’s electricity now generated from renewables
+ In 2007 $14 billion invested in RE
+ Germany has half the world’s PV capacity
+ Payoff: 300,000 people employed in the RE sector.

And in Wisconsin:
+ 338 Focus on Energy-funded RE systems installed
+ 40% increase over 2007
+ $3.5MM incentives obligated
+ Full-service installers -- 35 PV; 24 biogas; 64 SHW; 21 wind; 15 biomass.

From another presentation at the Wisconsin Wind Energy Supply Chain Workshop:

Windpower in Wisconsin: Outlook for 2009 and Beyond

Why Promote Windpower?
Clean = Environmental
Non-depleting = Energy Security
Fixed Price = Risk Management
Creates Wealth = Economic Development
Scalable to Utilities = Practicality

The current Renewable Energy Standard (RES) will yield an additional ~4.2 billion kWh/yr of qualifying renewable electricity by 2015, assuming no load growth.

Assuming that windpower generates 90% of that quantity, about 1,600 MW of wind capacity must come on line between 2004 and 2015 to satisfy the RES.

Fact sheet addresses turbines and health

From Turbines and Health published by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA):

The American Lung Association’s agenda for the new administration, Protect the Air We Breathe: An Agenda for Clean Air, states: “Climate, energy and clean air are inexorably linked. Solutions that lead to cleaner air must be included in any approach to cleaner, more efficient energy use and reductions in global warming.”

Wind energy is one such solution - a clean energy source that can provide
communities with decreased greenhouse gas emissions, along with air quality improvements and corresponding human health benefits. . . .

+ The wind industry takes health concerns seriously . . .
+ Wind energy can help improve air quality . . .
+ Wind energy can help reduce global warming pollutants . . .
+ Wind plants are very quiet compared to other types of industrial facilities, such as manufacturing plants. But wind plants typically are located in rural or low-density residential areas, where turbine noise may be more obvious because background noise is lower than in urban areas. On the other hand, the turbine noise may often be masked by the noise of the wind itself - especially since turbines are located where the wind speed is higher than average and because they operate only when the wind is blowing.
+ The sounds emitted from wind turbines can be mechanical, from internal equipment such as the gearbox or yaw drive, or aerodynamic, from air moving past the rotor blades. Current turbine designs effectively reduce mechanical sound through sound proofing; therefore, the aerodynamic sound, often described as a “whooshing” sound, is what can normally be heard.
+ There is no reliable evidence that low-frequency sound from wind turbines is a problem . . .
+ Shadow flicker occurrence is easily calculated . . .
+ Shadow flicker is not harmful to persons with epilepsy. The allegation is sometimes made that shadow flicker from wind turbines can cause epileptic seizures. This is not true—shadow flicker from wind turbines occurs much more slowly than the light “strobing” associated with seizures. The strobe rates necessary to cause seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy are 3 to 5 flashes per second and large wind turbine blades cannot rotate this quickly.

Grants available to fund staff positions on energy savings

From a news release issued by Focus on Energy:

MADISON, Wis. (March 17, 2009) - Focus on Energy, Wisconsin's energy efficiency and renewable energy initiative, announced new staffing grants today to help businesses, manufacturers, farms, schools and government facilities throughout the state complete energy efficiency projects.

"Businesses don't need to let staffing issues become a barrier to energy savings," said Ken Williams, Focus on Energy's Business Programs director. "Focus on Energy is committed to helping companies overcome barriers that prevent them from completing energy efficiency projects."

The grants will fund up to $80,000 for a full- or part-time employee or consultant to work on-site and manage energy efficiency projects that otherwise would not be completed due to a lack of human resources. Grant funding will go toward the salary and benefits of a project manager who will oversee and engineer energy savings projects.

The grant is designed to help businesses hire new staff or retain existing employees who might otherwise be at risk of lay-off. Partnering or neighboring companies are encouraged to submit a joint application and share an employee or consultant between businesses.

"Focus offered a similar program last year that was very popular and produced even more energy savings projects than expected," Williams explained. "We are pleased to offer an expanded version of the program for 2009."

Interested businesses should visit focusonenergy.com/competitive_incentives for more information. Applications must include a list of potential projects, as funding is based on the energy savings from those projects and is paid when projects are completed. Applications must be received by April 30, 2009. In addition, completed energy efficiency projects are also eligible for Focus on Energy financial incentives that can be found at focusonenergy.com/incentives/business.

Focus on Energy offers new grants for large renewable energy projects

From a news release issued by Focus on Energy:

(March 18, 2009) - In 2008 Focus on Energy, Wisconsin's energy efficiency and renewable energy initiative, awarded financial incentives totaling more than $2.5 million to help businesses statewide finance the installation of renewable energy systems. And in 2009, even more businesses will have the opportunity to become energy independent as Focus on Energy is offering special opportunity grants for up to $500,000 to support large renewable energy systems.

These grants, combined with the tax credits and other funding opportunities in the new American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which was signed into law Feb. 17, 2009, should help to make significant renewable energy projects a reality for hundreds of Wisconsin businesses.

"We believe there is an emerging demand for renewable energy systems at a larger level," said Don Wichert, renewable energy program director. "As concerns over the effects of fossil fuel based energy use, pollution and America's dependence on energy from overseas increase, it is our hope Wisconsin businesses will take advantage of these grants - and the new federal incentives - to take control over their energy use."

Eligible businesses must submit grant proposals to Focus on Energy by May 27, 2009. Funds will be awarded for the following technologies:

Solar Electric
Solar energy can be converted directly to electricity with photovoltaic (PV) cells. As light strikes the PV cell, it creates an electrical potential that generates a current of electricity. To implement solar electricity, businesses can use this grant for the installation of solar electric systems larger than 50 kilowatts (kW). The grant will award a maximum of $250,000.

Solar Water Heating
The sun's energy can be used to heat water for commercial and industrial applications. Businesses interested in implementing solar water heating can use this grant for the installation of solar water heating systems that offset more than 15,000 therms per year. The grant will award a maximum of $250,000.

Wind Energy
The energy present in wind can be converted into electricity with a wind turbine. Wind passing over the turbine creates a rotary motion that turns an electric generator and creates electricity. This grant will provide financial support for the installation of commercially available wind energy systems larger than 100 kW. This grant will award a maximum of $250,000.

Biogas/Landfill Gas/Biomass/Hydro
This grant will provide financial support for the installation of industrial/municipal and farm anaerobic digestion, landfill gas, biomass combustion and hydroelectric projects that generally cost $2 million to $5 million. These systems can help supply space heating, process heating, cooling and electricity. The grant will award a maximum of $500,000.

Mid-state tech gets funds for renewable energy programs

From an article by Adam Wise in the Stevens Point Journal:

Mid-State Technical College this year will receive $428,000 in federal funding for its five renewable energy programs.

College officials recently received word of the money, which is part of President Barack Obama's $410 billion spending bill.

"The funding will support instruction, program development, equipment purchase and coordination of the programs," MSTC President John Clark said. "We're trying to be the remedy for the (local) job loss, particularly in the paper industry."

The school offers associate degree programs in biorefinery technology, renewable electricity and renewable thermal energy. It plans to expand its programs to include energy efficiency technician and renewable energy specialist degrees this fall.

As of September, MSTC will provide five of the six renewable energy associate degree programs in the state.

Although Clark doesn't expect the school to receive the money for a few months, the administration is identifying specific needs now so it will be ready to put the money to use, he said.

The three current programs have successfully recruited many displaced paper industry workers from the area to train them for the 21st-century careers, said Sue Budjac, vice president of academic affairs.

"Because we are out in front, the grant really allows us to provide one-of-a-kind, state-of-the-art training opportunities, which will certainly attract enrollment," Budjac said.

March 16-20: Fix a Leak Week

From a news release issued by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin:

MADISON - How long will you ignore that drip in the shower? How about the leaky spigot outside the house, or that running toilet? Household leaks waste both valuable water resources and money. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the average household can leak up to 11,000 gallons of water per year—enough to fill a backyard swimming pool!

That's why the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) is promoting “Fix a Leak Week” during March 16 to 20 to remind homeowners to check their plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems for leaks. Common types of leaks found in the home include leaking toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves. Fixing easily corrected household water leaks can save homeowners more than 10 percent on their water bills.

PSC Chairperson Eric Callisto noted, “Leaky faucets and toilets waste our precious water resources, and fixing leaks is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to conserve water and save energy.”

To check for leaks in your home, first determine whether you’re wasting water, then identify the source of the leak. Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter changes at all, you probably have a leak.

In addition, leaks waste the electricity used to pump the water.

For more information on conserving water, visit the PSC web site or the Fix a Leak Week site.

NewPage to finish biorefinery study by year's end

From an article by Nathaniel Shuda in the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune:

More than a year after garnering $30 million in federal grant money to build an ethanol plant in Wisconsin Rapids, NewPage officials continue to consider the project's viability, a company spokeswoman said.

Although the Miamisburg, Ohio-based papermaker has completed a preliminary phase of the study into the project's viability, spokeswoman Shannon Semmerling expects the study to last until the end of 2009.

"The (Department of Energy) and NewPage will (then) review the findings and determine how to proceed," Semmerling said. "I would expect that we will learn more about Project Independence as 2009 comes to a close."

In January 2008, the Energy Department selected NewPage as one of four companies nationwide to receive a total of $114 million that will be made available to build small-scale biorefineries.

The refinery will produce about 370 barrels of biofuel a day -- or about 5.5 million gallons a year -- out of wood chips and mill residue, according to the Energy Department. The resulting fuel will replace natural gas at the mill and can be converted into renewable diesel fuel.

Wind farm possible near Green Lake

From an article in the Beaver Dam Daily Citizen:

Wisconsin Power & Light is poised to boost its investment in wind power - if state regulators approve the Madison utility company's plan to develop the Bent Tree wind farm in southeastern Minnesota.

WPL has an agreement with NextEra Energy Resources, a Juno Beach, Fla., subsidiary of FPL Group, to buy power from NextEra's wind farm in Crystal Lake, Iowa. It calls for 100 megawatts a year for 25 years with an additional 100 megawatts from the same location for one year.

As part of the deal, WPL could obtain rights from NextEra to build a wind farm in Green Lake, about 70 miles northeast of Madison.

"We don't have any plans, at this point, when or if or how we would develop that site," said Rob Crain, spokesman for WPL parent, Alliant Energy. "But certainly, we view it as a quality site ... that provides us with flexibility down the line."

NextEra had objected to WPL's Bent Tree proposal, saying WPL should instead buy power from Crystal Lake. "As the case proceeded, we (decided) it didn't have to be an either/or scenario," Crain said.

He said the agreement with NextEra could be one piece of WPL's alternative to a proposed power plant at Cassville.

The state Public Service Commission rejected plans in late 2008 for the 300-megawatt, mostly coal-fired generator with up to 20 percent of its fuel from waste agricultural products, saying the proposal was too costly and would create too much pollution.

WPL also is considering small, biomass-only power plants, Crain said, as well as turning a natural gas-fired power plant used now just for peak times into a combined-cycle plant that uses waste heat to create additional energy.

Energy savings are no small potatoes at McCain Foods

From a news release issued by Focus on Energy:

With potato-processing plants around the world, McCain Foods has a total production capacity to make more than one million pounds of french fries an hour. In fact, the company makes one-third of all frozen french fries in the world. Despite the high performance required by its plants, saving energy is no small potatoes for McCain Foods.

With the help of Focus on Energy, Wisconsin's energy efficiency and renewable energy initiative, McCain Foods' plants in Appleton, Fort Atkinson, Plover and Rice Lake, Wis. have reduced energy consumption by 4 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and 647,688 therms of natural gas annually - enough energy to power 1,070 homes for a year. The company will also save $875,000 on its energy bills each year.

"Focus on Energy was an invaluable asset to help us find energy saving solutions," said Andrew Green, plant engineering manager at McCain Foods. "Their technical expertise and assistance have assured us that we'll see a strong return on investment for our projects."

Since 2008, McCain Foods has received $485,000 in cash incentives from Focus on Energy to boost its efforts toward becoming more energy efficient. Together, the company's four Wisconsin plants have completed many energy saving projects, including plant-wide lighting upgrades, heating and cooling system improvements, updates to compressed-air systems, the installation of a variable-speed drive on a wastewater-treatment system and more.

But the biggest energy saver is an innovative heat recovery system installed at the Plover plant last month. The system captures "waste" heat from the plant's three exhaust stacks and uses it to preheat water for the boiler system. Reusing this heat enables the plant to significantly reduce its natural gas use and saves $594,000 a year. Focus awarded a $300,000 incentive to help get the project off the ground.

Xcel asks for 'green pricing' option

From an article by Kevin Murphy in the La Crosse Tribune:

MADISON — Xcel Energy customers could choose to have more of the electricity they use come from renewable sources if the Wisconsin Public Service Commission approves a request Xcel submitted Friday.

The Voluntary Renewable Energy Source program would allow Xcel to charge $1.15 per 100 kilowatts for power produced by wind, solar or biomass sources but not from hydro, said David Donovan, Xcel’s manager of regulatory policy.
For typical residential customers using 750 kilowatts of power a month, the “green pricing” premium would add $8.62 to their existing $81.57 bill.

Xcel is the last utility in the state to offer an optional green energy plan for customers, Donovan said, but the company generates 14 percent of its power from renewable sources and has added 1,200 megawatts of wind power in recent years.

“Now there is a demand for it. Not just from residential customers, but commercial and industrial customers are interested in renewables beyond our base rate,” he said.

Electric-vehicle approval not yet put to the test in Wausau

From an article by D.J. Slater in the Wausau Daily Herald:

A new city ordinance has allowed people to drive electric vehicles in Wausau for nearly two months, but you'd be hard-pressed to find one on the streets.

Two city residents who jointly own one of the cars haven't taken it out since the ordinance took effect. And fewer than 100 of the vehicles are registered statewide.

Jim Sweo and Tracy Riehle bought their neighborhood electric vehicle in the summer of 2007, when gasoline prices soared past $3 a gallon. Since then, gas has dropped to about $2 a gallon, and the two owners have been using their gasoline-powered cars.

Riehle said the weather, not the gas-price drop, has encouraged her to keep using her regular vehicle. The NEV can get through snow, but not as effectively as a regular car. After the snow melts, Riehle plans to start using the electric vehicle for in-town errands, such as dropping her children off at school and picking up groceries.

"With my business, I've been really busy," said Riehle, who owns Snow Services, a snow-removal company. "I really didn't get a chance to use it. Now, with it getting warmer out, I'll start using it again."

Riehle was driving the vehicle the past two summers until she found out it was illegal to do so on city streets. The City Council passed an ordinance Jan. 13 allowing electric vehicles on most city streets with speed limits 35 mph or lower.

Electric cars run on several 12-volt batteries that are recharged through a standard household 110-volt outlet. The cars take between six to eight hours to charge and can travel between 30 to 35 miles on a full charge.

In 2007, the electric vehicle saved Riehle about $1,500 in fuel costs, she said. While she uses electricity to charge the car, she said she hasn't noticed a significant increase in her monthly electric bill.

The NEV doesn't require the normal maintenance needed for other cars, such as oil changes. Riehle's car comfortably seats four people and has plastic windows wrapped around the vehicle, providing a 360-degree view of the street when driving.

FLOW, The World Water CrisisMarch 27, Amherst

"An astonishingly wide-ranging film. An informed and heartfelt examination of the tug of war between public health and private interests." - New York Times

"Lively and engaging...Smartly Done" - Los Angeles Times

The Tomorrow River Chautuaqua presents FLOW, the award-winning documentary that investigates one of the most important political and environmental issues of the 21st century - The World Water Crisis. The movie will be shown on Friday, March 27 at 7:00 in the Lettie W. Jensen Center theater in Amherst, WI. Cost is $5.00. Running time is 84 minutes.

Discussion following the movie will be led by Jo Ellen Seiser, who was Portage county's first ground water coordinator. Additional people, with expertise in issues relating to water, are being invited to take part in the discussion.

The producer of FLOW, Irena Salina, builds a case against the growing privatization of the world’s dwindling fresh water supply. Her interviews with scientists and activists intelligently reveal the rapidly building crisis, at both the global and human scale.

While the film introduces many of the world’s governmental and corporate culprits behind the “water grab,” FLOW also gives viewers a look at the people and institutions providing practical solutions to the water crisis and those developing new technologies, which are fast becoming blueprints for a successful global and economic turnaround.

Stimulus funds encourage homeowners to improve energy use

From an article by Liz Welter in the Marshfield News-Herald:

There's good news in the federal stimulus bill for homeowners -- about $42 billion in energy-related tax credits.

The bill upped the ante on tax credits, from a 10 percent return to 30 percent return, on energy-efficient home improvements. It includes everything from new windows to air conditioners to solar energy systems.

"This is good. I'm glad this has been signed and approved, because one of my goals is to make sure energy and water are being used efficiently and responsibly," said Jim Bensen, conservation specialist at Marshfield Utilities.

Bensen conducts free home energy audits for any customer of the utility.

"It's a good way to see where you could save some money," he said.

Audits usually take about one hour at the home and then several hours to enter the numbers into a computer, analyze the data and prepare a report.

"I'll go through the report with the person and explain where to start on savings. A lot of this is weatherizing your home. Just one leak, like around your chimney, or the pipe that goes outside to the faucet, can make a different. Add those all up, and it's a substantial savings," he said.

It's not just older homes that need weatherizing, he said.

"I did a home last week built in 2004, and there's a lot of weatherizing the owner can do to save a lot of money. And a lot of it, you don't need to hire someone to do," Bensen said.

Through the state's Focus on Energy program, Bensen said, there are resources available to residents to learn about the feasibility and possibility of using alternative energy sources. Bensen said he often refers residential, business and farming clients to Focus on Energy for assistance.

Wisconsinites are in a good position to take advantage of these energy-saving incentives, said Kathy Kuntz, director of energy programs at Focus on Energy.

"Our problem isn't going to be that (Wisconsinites) couldn't find the appliance or the installer, because we have the infrastructure," she said.

Not all states have agencies such as Focus on Energy to help guide consumers, she said, and added that the state also has a variety of companies selling and installing solar, wind and geothermal energy technologies.