Business coalition lauds Doyle’s efforts to improve energy efficiency

From a news release issued by Clean, Responsible Energy for Wisconsin’s Economy (CREWE):

(MADISON, Wis.)—Gov. Jim Doyle’s awarding Wednesday of $1.7 million in competitive grants to improve energy efficiency shows his administration’s clear commitment to leading the state to a new, green economy, the coalition for Clean, Responsible Energy for Wisconsin’s Economy (CREWE) announced.

BPM Incorporated, Briggs & Stratton Corporation, Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products, Mercury Marine, Procter & Gamble and Thilmany Papers all received funding from the Focus on Energy industrial grant program, which also will reduce energy costs and create jobs.

“Providing the tools and funding that our manufacturers need to stay competitive and improve energy efficiency will positively affect Wisconsin’s economy,” Thad Nation, executive director of CREWE, said. “Legislators in Madison should work to find a consensus on the Clean Energy Jobs Act to ensure state businesses have the opportunity to take advantage of energy efficiency efforts.”

According to a release from the Governor’s office, the grant recipients will save an estimated 12.5 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and 1.1 million therms of natural gas annually, which is enough to eliminate more than 35 million pounds of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere.

CREWE is a coalition that formed to advocate meaningful change in energy policy consistent with the Governor’s Global Warming Task Force final report, which will have a positive impact on Wisconsin’s economic development and security while fostering job creation.

CREWE’s membership consists of CleanPower, Alliant Energy, EcoEnergy, Johnson Controls, Xcel Energy, C5•6 Technologies, Axley Brynelson, Madison Gas and Electric, Orion Energy Systems, Forest County Potawatomi Community, Wisconsin Energy Corp., Poblocki Sign Company, Emerging Energies of Wisconsin, MillerCoors, American Transmission Co., WPPI Energy, DTE Energy Services, Kranz, Inc. and Greenwood Fuels.