Renewable Energy Installations in WI

Monday, June 30, 2008

$500 incentive for convenience store refrigeration maintenance

From Focus on Energy:

Now through July 15, eligible grocery and convenience stores that tune their refrigeration equipment to peak performance can receive up to $500!

Convenience stores and grocers use more electricity per square foot than any other commercial building. In summer, a convenience store refrigeration system accounts for around 60 percent of its total electrical use. Proper preventive maintenance can reduce refrigeration energy costs by 5 percent to 10 percent on average, which will generally increase store profits by the same amount. Preventive maintenance also extends refrigeration equipment life, prevents expensive repairs and reduces downtime.

Program Overview
Focus on Energy is offering a Preventive Maintenance Pilot Program to eligible convenience stores. For a limited time, eligible convenience stores that set refrigeration equipment at peak performance can receive up to $500.
Learn more.

Friday, June 27, 2008

Learn about LEDs for commercial lighting


From Barbara Smith at the Wisconsin Department of Administration:

A local manufacturers’ rep for LED lighting will be giving a presentation on LED products, especially those with applications to commercial buildings. They will also talk about their experience so far with these new products in local businesses, as well as the buzz about LEDs at the most recent LightFair. Please join us if you are interested.

Wednesday, July 2nd
11:30am
DOA, Conference Room 6B
101 E. Wilson Street, 6th Floor

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Solar hot water holds business benefits


From a new fact sheet published by Focus on Energy:

More and more, Wisconsin businesses that use large volumes of hot water are discovering that solar hot water systems can save money in a variety of commercial applications— and benefit the environment as well. A proven technology that’s been in use for decades, solar hot water systems are well suited for use in Wisconsin all
year round.

Solar hot water systems can be a smart investment for business owners because the energy cost savings pay for the up-front and operational costs of the system.
Depending on the application, the internal rate of return (IRR) for solar hot water systems can be as high as 20 percent. Another attractive financial benefit of
solar hot water systems is that costs do not fluctuate like those of other fuels—making today’s robust, reliable systems a viable shield against ever-rising
energy costs.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Alliant needs more compelling case for new coal plant


From an editorial in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Wisconsin Power & Light Co. took a significant step recently when it promised to offset the greenhouse gas emissions from a new coal plant it is proposing to build in southwestern Wisconsin. Company officials understand the importance of balancing energy sources to provide customers with reliable and affordable energy while reducing emissions that contribute to climate change.

The problem is that while Wisconsin needs power, it also needs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, not just offset increases in emissions. So while WP&L officials deserve credit for proposing their mitigation plan, they still need to make a more compelling case than they have so far for building a coal plant in Cassville.

State regulators need to carefully examine that case before they make their decision by the end of the year. And unless WP&L officials make a convincing case for the kind of coal plant they have proposed, the state shouldn't give its OK.

In a recent meeting with the Journal Sentinel Editorial Board, company officials said demand was growing at a rate of 2% to 3% per year. To meet that demand, the utility says it needs to build a 300-megawatt $1.1 billion base load plant that would generate enough power to supply 150,000 homes.

Based on those numbers, WP&L, a subsidiary of Alliant Energy Corp., makes a reasonable case. Neither conservation nor renewable sources now available are likely to fill that demand.

But an analysis by state environmental and energy regulators predicts demand to grow by 1.65%. That analysis also concluded that although Alliant "needs to procure more energy resources to keep rates affordable," this particular coal plant proposal was "not the least-cost option." The environmental group Clean Wisconsin and the ratepayer group Citizens' Utility Board oppose the plant and have urged the utility to spend more on energy efficiency and renewables. . . .

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Alliant to retire aging coal plant, build more wind, double biomass commitment, and increase energy efficiency, to reduce carbon 'footprint'


From a media release issued by Wisconsin Power and Light, a subsidiary of Alliant:

MADISON, Wis., June 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Wisconsin Power and Light Company (WPL), a subsidiary of Alliant Energy Corporation (NYSE: LNT - News), proposed today to reduce its generation fleet's greenhouse gas emissions by retiring a coal-fired generating unit, dramatically increasing its wind power portfolio, doubling its commitment to utilizing biomass, and aggressively building upon its energy efficiency measures, when its proposed expansion at the Nelson Dewey Generating Station becomes operable in 2013. . . .

As part of its greenhouse gas emissions reduction proposal, WPL would retire Edgewater Generating Station's coal-fired unit 3. The facility is the oldest coal plant in WPL's generation fleet. The company would also increase its commitment to develop new wind power resources. Previously the company had announced plans for approximately 300 megawatts of new wind by the end of 2010. Upon approval of the Nelson Dewey expansion, the company would add 200 megawatts to that total by the time the new facility begins commercial operation. While the sites for the future wind farms have not yet been determined, it is possible that one of the sites could be located in southwestern Wisconsin.

WPL would also double the amount of renewable resource fuels to be used at the new third unit of Nelson Dewey, to twenty percent. As a result of utilizing fuels such as switch grass, waste wood, or corn stalks, not only are CO2 emissions reduced by offsetting the use of coal at the facility, but Wisconsin farmers and foresters will have access to new economic markets, an ecologically friendly crop and better land and forest management practices. Analysis by researchers from the University of Wisconsin has shown that the 20 percent biomass at Nelson Dewey unit 3 could create economic development revenues for the State of Wisconsin to exceed an estimated $50 million annually.

This proposal, along with a fifty percent increase in WPL energy efficiency savings, is projected to more than offset the carbon emissions from the new Nelson Dewey unit. The potential increased capital costs associated with these changes in WPL's generation fleet are expected to be $500-$550 million, and are contingent upon the company receiving all applicable regulatory approvals related to the expansion of the Nelson Dewey Generating Station.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Colby schools consider $2.5 million vote on energy efficient buildings

From a story by Adam Rodewall in the Marshfield News Herald:

COLBY -- Voters may see a $2.5 million facilities referendum in September that would make Colby school buildings more energy efficient. . . .

Out-of-date heating systems in the Colby elementary, middle and high schools made up most of the district's 10-year facility needs outlined during a special board meeting Monday.

The district wants to install condensed boilers that are 95 percent efficient and heat using water.

The current 50-year-old system operates around 50 percent efficiency, according to Rick Anderson of Eau Claire-based APEX Engineering, which conducted the district's facilities study.

A district-wide upgrade of heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems would cost about $841,000, but it would pay for itself in a little more than nine years and save the district over $92,000 annually, according to the study.

The district is also considering a wood pellet heater for the middle and high school, said board president Dennis Engel. The board would then look into grants and stipends for organizations making the switch to renewable fuels.

Wood pellet heaters are only half as efficient as the other boilers that run on natural gas, but the pellets cost significantly less, said Anderson.

Monday, June 9, 2008

RENEW Battles Local Opposition to Wind

Articles in the Renewable Energy Quarterly, Spring 2008, include:

RENEW Battles Local Opposition to Wind
Starting a Renewable Energy Business
Renewable Profiles: Wes Slaymaker
Solar Hot Water from the Garden
Reviving a Classic Wind Machine
Calendar

Friday, June 6, 2008

Workshop: Principles of Demand-Side Management, Milwaukee, July 14-16

The Association of Energy Service Professionals (AESP) announced a demand-side management workshop in Milwaukee:

Against the backdrop of rising energy costs, environmental hot buttons, less reliable energy supplies, and the need to meet increasing demand for energy, Demand-Side Management has re-emerged as a key strategy in utilities’ long-range planning processes.

AESP’s Principles of Demand-Side Management Workshops provide the education your team needs to implement DSM programs. Our workshops teach DSM fundamentals to newcomers to the field while providing updates for your staff who lived through the first phase of large-scale DSM/energy efficiency programs in the ‘90s.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

ECOpreneuring: Launch your own dream (green) business, June 21, Custer, WI

From the Energy Fair workshop schedule of the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA):

Authors of ECOpreneuring, Lisa Kivirist and John Ivanko share how powerful social trends towards green living, re-localization and self-sufficiency are driving a shift towards prioritizing purpose over profits, and building community over building market share. Jumpstart your green dreams and increase its likelihood of success. Instructors: John Ivanko and Lisa Kivirist, Inn Serendipity. Course Cost: $30.00 Course Prerequisite: ECOpreneuring, by John Ivanko and Lisa Kivirist. Can be purchased at the Energy Fair.

Monday, June 2, 2008

WPPI to expand, remodel HQ with efficiency focus

From an article by Jeff Richgels in The Capital Times:

Wisconsin Public Power Inc. announced that it will spend $6.9 million to expand and remodel its Sun Prairie headquarters in a project that will achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) New Construction (NC) "Gold" standards for energy efficiency and sustainability.

WPPI's board of directors unanimously approved the WPPI operations and office facility building plan at its May meeting, with groundbreaking for the project set for September and completion in September 2009.

"WPPI has experienced significant growth in the past several years, and our current facility is not meeting our demand for additional space," Tom Paque, WPPI vice president of customer services and administration, said in a statement.

WPPI's existing headquarters was built in 1990, when the nonprofit power supplier had 17 employees and served 30 member municipal utilities. It now has 83 employees and serves 49 community-owned utilities. Space requirements for the expansion are based on a 20-year projection, the company said in a news release.

"As part of WPPI's efforts to lead by example in the areas of energy conservation, efficiency and the use of renewables, our new office and operations facility will meet high standards for energy efficiency and sustainability," WPPI President and CEO Roy Thilly said in a statement. "Through the use of sustainable design, we will create an environmentally friendly facility and an excellent work environment for our employees."