Dane County Energy Update

Biz Beat: Louisiana Firm In Line To Run State Energy Program – The Cap Times – The Public Service Commission has begun the process of selecting Shaw Environmental and Infrastructure to administer the Focus On Energy program. Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation (WECC) is the current administer of it and may continue to implement the homes program.

Green Energy Summit: Consortium To Launch Job Training Initiative – Journal Sentinel Online – A partnership was announced during last week’s Green Energy Summit in Milwaukee that will put $250,000 towards training people for jobs in manufacturing of products for energy, power and controls. The Wisconsin Energy Research Consortium will launch next month with a grant from the state Department of Workforce Development.

Energy Efficiency Program Could Be Cut – Milwaukee News Buzz – Focus On Energy (which may be changing administrators) is coming under the scrutiny of the new Republican legislature for planned increases in funding. The Doyle administration had approved increasing the funding from $100 million to $256 million in 2014.

WisBusiness: Some at Green Energy Summit Frustrated With Politics - WisBusiness.com – The state’s efficiency and renewable energy expert voiced frustration with the Walker administration for ceasing or cutting funding for multiple projects and generally slowing the state’s pursuit of alternative energy. Wisconsin had been progressing faster than our Midwest neighbors but unfortunately that momentum will be lost.

City, Focus, Summit Team Up on New Energy Efficiency Program – Journal Sentinel Online – Though this program is Milwaukee based, the City of Madison will be launching a similar program soon. The Green Madison program will offer low interest financing to homeowners participating in the Home Performance with ENERGYSTAR program.

Legislative Committee Clears Way For Stricter Wind Farm Regulations – Wisconsin State Journal - The Public Service Commission’s rules that were set last year were due to take effect last week but the standards were suspended by the Republican lawmakers that opposed it. They’d like the siting rules to much stricter and beneficial to landowners.

Biz Beat: Energy Programs Get Walker Ax – The Cap Times – Governor Walker’s proposed budget eliminates the Office Of Energy Independence, reduces the goal of gasoline reduction from 50% to only 20%, gets rid of guidelines requiring hybrid or alternative energy vehicles, and eliminates the Small Business Environmental Council, amongst other cuts. Along with the wind siting changes and the proposed reduction in the PSC’s energy efficiency programs, Wisconsin will be taking a dramatic step back in energy and will guarantee our continued dependence on fossil fuels.

Local Utility Helps School Save Money and Improve Its Lighting – The Columbus Journal – Columbus Water & Light, with grants from Focus On Energy and WPPI, will make lighting improvements to St. Jerome’s School that will save $1,500 annually.

MGE Energy Posts Drop in Fourth-Quarter Earnings But Higher Profits for 2010 – Wisconsin State Journal - Madison Gas & Electric’s parent company announced a profit of $57.7 million for 2010 up from $51 million the previous year. The warm summer was the primary reason for the added profit.

Grass Roots: Study Says Rooftop Garden at Central Library Too Expensive - The Cap Times – At $775,000 to build and over $150,000 in annual costs to maintain,  a stuff study by the City of Madison recommends that the rooftop garden not move ahead. A more standard “green roof” would be substantially less to install and maintain and could still be implemented.

PSC: Issues Strategic Energy Assessment - WisBusiness.com – The Public Service Commission prepares a report every two years to evaluate the state’s energy situation. It states in the report that rates in Wisconsin and throughout the Midwest will continue to rise but that we’re on our way to getting 10% of our electricity needs from renewable sources by 2015.

PSC Approves $627 Million Coal Plant Pollution Scrubbers – Journal Sentinel Online – WP&L, WPS and MG&E will foot the bill to control sulfur dioxide pollution at the Columbia Energy Center near Portage. Sulfur dioxide is a contributor to asthma and other respiratory problems.

Higher Rates, Warm Weather Boost Profit for Alliant and Heating Season Update: Colder Weather, Lower Prices – Journal Sentinel Online — Two different articles from Thomas Content, the Journal Sentinel’s prolific energy writer, regarding how the weather has affected local energy use and energy providers’ profits.

Central Waters Brewing Co. Recognized for Environmental Energy Efficiency – Stevens Point Journal – If you’ve never tasted Central Waters’ brews then you’re missing out. Visiting their brewery is another treat as they rely largely on the sun to heat the vast amounts of water needed to brew beer.

Legislature Again Considers Tighter Wind Farm Rules — Wisconsin State Journal – The legislature had previously failed to pass Governor Walker’s proposal to increase the distance between homes and wind turbines. However, they’re now considering re-opening the debate regarding what siting rules should be.

Budget Bill Would Allow Sale of State Power Plants — Journal Sentinel Online – Though the removal of state workers’ right to collective bargaining has gained all of the attention, the governor’s budget bill also includes provisions to sell the state’s power plants to private corporations.

Madison Surpasses Reduction Goal for Carbon Emissions – Wisconsin State Journal - The MPower coalition was brought together by MG&E, UW Madison, Sustain Dane and others. They’ve reduced carbon emissions by over 100,000 tons over four years through programs like Green Power Tomorrow, lighting upgrades, hybrid buses and solar hot water systems.

Renew: Bill Would Slam Door on Wind Development – Journal Sentinel Online – The recent regulatory bill introduced by Governor Walker severely restrict wind permitting rules and will likely stop over $500 million in wind projects in the state.

UW-Madison Conservation Goals Heeded and Exceeded – University of Wisconsin-Madison News – Unrelated to the first article, the UW pledged to reduce energy consumption by 20% from 2006-2010. The We Conserve program actually achieved a reduction of 25% and is saving the university $13 million per year.

Style & Substance – Madison Magazine – Interesting story about Kirsten Joiner, the new Executive Director of Sustain Dane, a local nonprofit that focuses on sustainability.

High School Earns Energy Star Rating - Sauk Prairie Eagle – The Sauk Prairie High School is fifty years old but is now in the top 25% of high schools in the country for energy efficiency.

State Cancels Plans for Biomass Plant at UW-Madison – Journal Sentinel Online – Governor Walker has cancelled plans to convert UW Madison power plant from coal to biomass. It will instead be converted to run on natural gas.