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From the direct testimony of Michael Vickerman on behalf of RENEW Wisconsin:
Q. What is the purpose of your testimony?
A. The purpose of my testimony is to communicate our organization’s support for the installation of a biomass gasification system that would produce biomass-derived synthetic gas (“syngas”) for serving Northern States Power’s Bay Front Unit #5.
Q. Why does RENEW support this particular application?
A. We note the following public policy objectives that would be advanced if the proposal submitted by Northern States Power Corporation (“NSPW”) were approved. These objectives include:
1) Meeting Wisconsin’s current Renewable Energy Standard;
2) Eliminating a source of coal-fired power from its system;
3) Using a locally available renewable energy resource;
4) Reducing carbon dioxide emissions and other gaseous pollutants;
5) Maintaining a strong generation source in northern Wisconsin; and
6) Investing Wisconsin capital in a renewable energy generating facility power plant within its borders.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
Integrys Energy Services to sell its energy consulting business to U.S. Energy Services, Inc.
From a news release issued by Integrys Energy:
Chicago, IL – Integrys Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE: TEG) today announced that its nonregulated energy subsidiary, Integrys Energy Services Inc., has signed an agreement to sell its energy consulting business to Minneapolis-based U.S. Energy Services, Inc. for an undisclosed sum. The transaction, which requires certain contractual consents, is expected to close in the third quarter of 2009.
Financial terms of the transaction are not being disclosed, but the value realized is in line with Integrys Energy Group’s recovered capital expectations associated with its nonregulated segment divestiture plans.
Through its energy consulting business, Integrys Energy Services provides energy advisory and information services for facility and corporate customers in the areas of risk management, strategic sourcing, utility data management, and demand-side energy management. This activity required negligible collateral support and generated sales of approximately $4 million in 2008.
Chicago, IL – Integrys Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE: TEG) today announced that its nonregulated energy subsidiary, Integrys Energy Services Inc., has signed an agreement to sell its energy consulting business to Minneapolis-based U.S. Energy Services, Inc. for an undisclosed sum. The transaction, which requires certain contractual consents, is expected to close in the third quarter of 2009.
Financial terms of the transaction are not being disclosed, but the value realized is in line with Integrys Energy Group’s recovered capital expectations associated with its nonregulated segment divestiture plans.
Through its energy consulting business, Integrys Energy Services provides energy advisory and information services for facility and corporate customers in the areas of risk management, strategic sourcing, utility data management, and demand-side energy management. This activity required negligible collateral support and generated sales of approximately $4 million in 2008.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Principles of Advanced Demand-Side Management, July 28-30, Milwaukee
From an announcement from the AESP:
We Energies is hosting AESP’s ADVANCED Principles of Demand-side Management, a new BETA training course targeting those professionals in DSM needing to significantly expand their DSM knowledge base, delve much deeper into DSM topics and thoroughly explore issues, trends, concepts and statistics in much greater detail. Practical exercises, case studies, lessons learned and best practices are also featured. This course is being beta tested at We Energies and we need your feedback! In return for your opinion and comments, the standard course fee is being reduced by 50% to $449.00for the 2.5 day course.
This course is an ideal adjunct to your existing DSM skill sets, expertise and understanding of the how DSM is reshaping energy efficiency. This dynamic, information-packed course is designed to be exceptionally interactive and is being delivered by two highly-acclaimed trainers well-versed in DSM.
We Energies is hosting AESP’s ADVANCED Principles of Demand-side Management, a new BETA training course targeting those professionals in DSM needing to significantly expand their DSM knowledge base, delve much deeper into DSM topics and thoroughly explore issues, trends, concepts and statistics in much greater detail. Practical exercises, case studies, lessons learned and best practices are also featured. This course is being beta tested at We Energies and we need your feedback! In return for your opinion and comments, the standard course fee is being reduced by 50% to $449.00for the 2.5 day course.
This course is an ideal adjunct to your existing DSM skill sets, expertise and understanding of the how DSM is reshaping energy efficiency. This dynamic, information-packed course is designed to be exceptionally interactive and is being delivered by two highly-acclaimed trainers well-versed in DSM.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Residential customer satisfaction with electric utilities increases - Yahoo! Finance
From an news release issued by J.D. Powers and posted on Yahoo! Finance:
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., July 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Residential customers of electric utility companies report lower bills and improved handling of power outages, resulting in an increase in overall satisfaction from 2008, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Electric Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study(SM) released today.
The study measures customer satisfaction with electric utility companies by examining six key factors: power quality and reliability; price; billing and payment; corporate citizenship; communications; and customer service.
The study finds that customer satisfaction with utility companies in 2009 averages 618 on a 1,000-point scale--up from 614 in 2008. Driving this improvement are customer reports of lower bill amounts ($130 in 2009 from $132 in 2008, on average) and fewer power outages (an average of 1.9 in 2009 vs. 2.1 in 2008)(1).
In addition, electric utility companies have improved notably from 2008 in three key aspects of power outage communications: availability of information; accuracy of outage restoration estimates; and follow-up contacts.
"Even in a challenging economic climate, electric utility companies have improved power reliability and enhanced communications with their customers, especially when outages occur," said Alan Destribats, vice president of the energy and utility practice at J.D. Power and Associates. "This investment in communication technologies and processes is key to the industry's overall improvement."
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., July 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Residential customers of electric utility companies report lower bills and improved handling of power outages, resulting in an increase in overall satisfaction from 2008, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Electric Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study(SM) released today.
The study measures customer satisfaction with electric utility companies by examining six key factors: power quality and reliability; price; billing and payment; corporate citizenship; communications; and customer service.
The study finds that customer satisfaction with utility companies in 2009 averages 618 on a 1,000-point scale--up from 614 in 2008. Driving this improvement are customer reports of lower bill amounts ($130 in 2009 from $132 in 2008, on average) and fewer power outages (an average of 1.9 in 2009 vs. 2.1 in 2008)(1).
In addition, electric utility companies have improved notably from 2008 in three key aspects of power outage communications: availability of information; accuracy of outage restoration estimates; and follow-up contacts.
"Even in a challenging economic climate, electric utility companies have improved power reliability and enhanced communications with their customers, especially when outages occur," said Alan Destribats, vice president of the energy and utility practice at J.D. Power and Associates. "This investment in communication technologies and processes is key to the industry's overall improvement."
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Court rules against local wind restrictions
From the written decision of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District 2 in ruling against Calumet County's restrictive ordinances that blocked the Ecker Brothers from adding turbines to the one already on their farm:
To encourage the use of renewable sources of energy, the legislature resolved to remove legal impediments to such systems in four ways: (1) codifying the right of individuals to negotiate and establish renewable energy resource easements; (2) clarifying the authority of, and encouraging, political subdivisions to employ existing land use powers for protecting access rights to the wind and sun; (3) creating a procedure for issuing permits to owners and builders of active solar and wind energy systems; and (4) encouraging political subdivisions to grant special exceptions and variances for renewable energy resource systems. Numrich, 242 Wis. 2d 677, ¶18 (citing Laws of 1981, ch. 354, § 1(2)(b)). No. 2007AP210913
These strategies indicate that the legislature determined it appropriate to give political subdivisions the power to assist in the creation of renewable energy systems and thus become an integral and effective factor in the State’s renewable energy goal. But, this history does not indicate that the State intended to delegate the power of policymaking. Instead, the evidence is that the State delegated the authority to execute and administer its established policy of favoring wind energy systems, and the statutory scheme was intended to create avenues for political subdivisions to assist the State. If the County and other similarly situated localities believe that localities should be able to decide for themselves whether and to what extent wind systems are welcome in their geographical area, their argument is best made to the legislature.
Because the legislature did not delegate legislative powers to localities, the County cannot make findings of legislative fact. The County thus exceeded its authority under WIS. STAT. § 66.0401 when it created its wind energy ordinance. We therefore hold the ordinance to be [beyond the authority of the county].
We reverse and remand with directions that the circuit court reconsider the Ecker Brothers’ declaratory judgment action given that the ordinance is [beyond the authority of the county].
To encourage the use of renewable sources of energy, the legislature resolved to remove legal impediments to such systems in four ways: (1) codifying the right of individuals to negotiate and establish renewable energy resource easements; (2) clarifying the authority of, and encouraging, political subdivisions to employ existing land use powers for protecting access rights to the wind and sun; (3) creating a procedure for issuing permits to owners and builders of active solar and wind energy systems; and (4) encouraging political subdivisions to grant special exceptions and variances for renewable energy resource systems. Numrich, 242 Wis. 2d 677, ¶18 (citing Laws of 1981, ch. 354, § 1(2)(b)). No. 2007AP210913
These strategies indicate that the legislature determined it appropriate to give political subdivisions the power to assist in the creation of renewable energy systems and thus become an integral and effective factor in the State’s renewable energy goal. But, this history does not indicate that the State intended to delegate the power of policymaking. Instead, the evidence is that the State delegated the authority to execute and administer its established policy of favoring wind energy systems, and the statutory scheme was intended to create avenues for political subdivisions to assist the State. If the County and other similarly situated localities believe that localities should be able to decide for themselves whether and to what extent wind systems are welcome in their geographical area, their argument is best made to the legislature.
Because the legislature did not delegate legislative powers to localities, the County cannot make findings of legislative fact. The County thus exceeded its authority under WIS. STAT. § 66.0401 when it created its wind energy ordinance. We therefore hold the ordinance to be [beyond the authority of the county].
We reverse and remand with directions that the circuit court reconsider the Ecker Brothers’ declaratory judgment action given that the ordinance is [beyond the authority of the county].
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Wis. to get $5.4 million for Energy Star rebates
From a post on Tom Content's blog on JSOnline:
The state of Wisconsin is slated to receive $5.4 million from the federal stimulus package to fund rebates for consumers to buy energy-efficient home appliances, the U.S. Department of Energy said Tuesday.
DOE announced it will make $300 million available nationwide from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help boost sales of energy-efficient appliances and help homes become more energy-efficient.
“Appliances consume a huge amount of our electricity, so there’s enormous potential to both save energy and save families money every month,” said Energy Secretary Steven Chu in a statement. “These rebates will help families make the transition to more efficient appliances, making purchases that will directly stimulate the economy and create jobs.”
The state of Wisconsin is slated to receive $5.4 million from the federal stimulus package to fund rebates for consumers to buy energy-efficient home appliances, the U.S. Department of Energy said Tuesday.
DOE announced it will make $300 million available nationwide from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help boost sales of energy-efficient appliances and help homes become more energy-efficient.
“Appliances consume a huge amount of our electricity, so there’s enormous potential to both save energy and save families money every month,” said Energy Secretary Steven Chu in a statement. “These rebates will help families make the transition to more efficient appliances, making purchases that will directly stimulate the economy and create jobs.”
Monday, July 13, 2009
It’s Time to Bring Renewable Energy Home
From a commentary by Michael Vickerman, RENEW Wisconsin, July 12, 2009:
In a unanimous vote, the Public Service Commission (PSC) recently cleared the way for Alliant Energy’s Wisconsin utility to construct a 200 megawatt (MW) windpower plant project in southern Minnesota. Once operational, the Bent Tree project, costing upwards of $450 million, will be a productive source of renewable energy that will provide lasting benefits to Minnesota’s economy and environment. Since it will be Alliant’s Wisconsin customers who foot the bill, however, it is reasonable to inquire whether the current utility practice of outsourcing renewable energy production to other states is a good thing for Wisconsin’s economy.
Because we can’t see it, taste it, hear it or smell it, we tend to lose sight of the fact that electricity is a manufactured product. To make it, capital is amassed and expended on machinery that convert raw resources like coal, flowing water, and wind into this highly useful form of energy. The electricity is then transported via networks of wires to power factories, illuminate residences and streets, propel commuter trains, and energize the complex communications systems that allows to store vast quantities of instantly retrievable information. It is hard to name a manufactured product that adds more value to an industrialized society than electricity.
Yet electricity’s impact on the economy is not defined solely by the activities it supports. There is as well the intense amount of economic activity that goes into building the power plants themselves. In the case of Bent Tree, the capital used to manufacture, transport and erect 122 wind turbines will unleash a year-long burst of construction work in Freeborn County employing hundreds of skilled laborers and technicians. The work will also ripple through nearby component manufacturers involved with the project, as well as ports and other transfer points where components are unloaded and loaded onto special vehicles and hauled to the project zone. . . .
If Wisconsin truly desires to provide a home to a viable renewable energy economy, it will have to redefine the public interest standards that govern the expenditure of ratepayer dollars. This means giving such economic benefits as job creation, component manufacturing, workforce participation, increased tax receipts to local and state government, and reduced dependence on future transmission upgrades as much due consideration as cost per megawatt-hour. Granted, this is a form of industrial policy. However, if state policymakers don’t take steps to build a solid market structure for generating more renewable electricity here at home, Wisconsin’s ability to compete for good jobs and business opportunities could become hopelessly compromised.
In a unanimous vote, the Public Service Commission (PSC) recently cleared the way for Alliant Energy’s Wisconsin utility to construct a 200 megawatt (MW) windpower plant project in southern Minnesota. Once operational, the Bent Tree project, costing upwards of $450 million, will be a productive source of renewable energy that will provide lasting benefits to Minnesota’s economy and environment. Since it will be Alliant’s Wisconsin customers who foot the bill, however, it is reasonable to inquire whether the current utility practice of outsourcing renewable energy production to other states is a good thing for Wisconsin’s economy.
Because we can’t see it, taste it, hear it or smell it, we tend to lose sight of the fact that electricity is a manufactured product. To make it, capital is amassed and expended on machinery that convert raw resources like coal, flowing water, and wind into this highly useful form of energy. The electricity is then transported via networks of wires to power factories, illuminate residences and streets, propel commuter trains, and energize the complex communications systems that allows to store vast quantities of instantly retrievable information. It is hard to name a manufactured product that adds more value to an industrialized society than electricity.
Yet electricity’s impact on the economy is not defined solely by the activities it supports. There is as well the intense amount of economic activity that goes into building the power plants themselves. In the case of Bent Tree, the capital used to manufacture, transport and erect 122 wind turbines will unleash a year-long burst of construction work in Freeborn County employing hundreds of skilled laborers and technicians. The work will also ripple through nearby component manufacturers involved with the project, as well as ports and other transfer points where components are unloaded and loaded onto special vehicles and hauled to the project zone. . . .
If Wisconsin truly desires to provide a home to a viable renewable energy economy, it will have to redefine the public interest standards that govern the expenditure of ratepayer dollars. This means giving such economic benefits as job creation, component manufacturing, workforce participation, increased tax receipts to local and state government, and reduced dependence on future transmission upgrades as much due consideration as cost per megawatt-hour. Granted, this is a form of industrial policy. However, if state policymakers don’t take steps to build a solid market structure for generating more renewable electricity here at home, Wisconsin’s ability to compete for good jobs and business opportunities could become hopelessly compromised.
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