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From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Power companies in eastern Wisconsin are seeking up to $63.5 million through the federal stimulus package for "smart grid" projects that would add charging stations for plug-in hybrid vehicles and finance development of high-tech gadgets that would let consumers track their home energy use in real time.
Utilities including We Energies of Milwaukee are also looking to tap funding from the Department of Energy for projects like "self-healing" power grid technologies that would allow electric service to be restored more quickly after power outages.
Madison-based Wisconsin Power & Light Co., which seeks $10 million in smart grid grants, is rolling out a pilot program to study how customers will adjust their energy-consuming behavior if they have more detailed information in real time about how much energy their homes are consuming.
WP&L is considering setting up programmable thermostats that could be adjusted automatically up or down by the utility in certain cases, as well as Internet portals that let customers track their energy use, said company spokesman Steve Schultz.
"We believe this pilot program is going to really provide insight to the customer and let them really see what their real-time energy usage is and raise their awareness in terms of how their energy consumption behavior impacts their energy costs," he said.
Utilities are seeking taxpayer funding for up to 50% of the cost of projects to investigate emerging "smart-grid" technologies. Nationwide, more than $4 billion in funding has been made available for so-called "smart grid" projects. The Department of Energy is expected to announce which projects get funded by the end of the year. . . .
"Smart grid" grants that utilities are seeking from the Department of Energy:
$21.75 million for American Transmission Co., Pewaukee
$18 million for Wisconsin Public Service Corp., Green Bay
$10 million for Wisconsin Power & Light Co., Madison
$5.5 million for Madison Gas & Electric Co., Madison
$4.5 million for WPPI Energy, Sun Prairie
$3.5 million for We Energies, Milwaukee
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Tripling funds for energy efficiency programs urged
From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Wisconsin should explore tripling its funding for energy efficiency programs because the payoff would be nearly $1 billion a year in annual energy cost savings for consumers, a new study says.
Several of the state's largest business groups have raised questions about the study's findings, however. They are concerned about the higher utility rates business customers would have to pay to fund energy efficiency programs, many of which are targeted at homeowners and renters instead of businesses.
The study by the Energy Center of Wisconsin echoes recommendations made last year by a state global warming task force appointed by Gov. Jim Doyle.
That study suggested that tripling or quadrupling funding for energy efficiency would help the state reduce energy use and emissions linked to global warming, and help mitigate the higher costs consumers would have to bear for electricity produced by burning coal and other fossil fuels.
The new study finds the state could spend $350 million a year on energy efficiency programs - compared with $124 million today - but the payoff would be much bigger for electric ratepayers, said Susan Stratton, executive director of the Energy Center, a nonprofit energy research think tank in Madison.
"The comparison shouldn't be to what we're spending today but with what we would have to build if we didn't do efficiency," she said. "This will help avoid or delay building new power plants, which have high price tags."
But the higher funding levels for Focus on Energy and other programs could prove too tempting to the Legislature every two years when seeking to balance the state's budget, said Todd Stuart, executive director of the Wisconsin Industrial Energy Group, a group representing large energy-intensive manufacturers.
"Large energy consumers are concerned that this could not only add a couple percentage points to their bills in a time of recession, but also because it would be too big of a target for balancing the state budget," Stuart said. He noted that $100 million in ratepayer funds were diverted from energy efficiency programs earlier in this decade.
Wisconsin should explore tripling its funding for energy efficiency programs because the payoff would be nearly $1 billion a year in annual energy cost savings for consumers, a new study says.
Several of the state's largest business groups have raised questions about the study's findings, however. They are concerned about the higher utility rates business customers would have to pay to fund energy efficiency programs, many of which are targeted at homeowners and renters instead of businesses.
The study by the Energy Center of Wisconsin echoes recommendations made last year by a state global warming task force appointed by Gov. Jim Doyle.
That study suggested that tripling or quadrupling funding for energy efficiency would help the state reduce energy use and emissions linked to global warming, and help mitigate the higher costs consumers would have to bear for electricity produced by burning coal and other fossil fuels.
The new study finds the state could spend $350 million a year on energy efficiency programs - compared with $124 million today - but the payoff would be much bigger for electric ratepayers, said Susan Stratton, executive director of the Energy Center, a nonprofit energy research think tank in Madison.
"The comparison shouldn't be to what we're spending today but with what we would have to build if we didn't do efficiency," she said. "This will help avoid or delay building new power plants, which have high price tags."
But the higher funding levels for Focus on Energy and other programs could prove too tempting to the Legislature every two years when seeking to balance the state's budget, said Todd Stuart, executive director of the Wisconsin Industrial Energy Group, a group representing large energy-intensive manufacturers.
"Large energy consumers are concerned that this could not only add a couple percentage points to their bills in a time of recession, but also because it would be too big of a target for balancing the state budget," Stuart said. He noted that $100 million in ratepayer funds were diverted from energy efficiency programs earlier in this decade.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Alliant Energy profits drop 52 percent
From an article in The Capital Times:
Alliant Energy Corp. reported second-quarter profits dropped 52 percent from the same period a year ago, prompting the Madison-based utility company to tone down its earnings forecast for the year.
The Madison-based utility holding company's earnings report was released Thursday morning.
Alliant had income of $29.1 million, or 26 cents a share, in the second quarter, compared to $60.8 million, or 55 cents a share, in the second quarter of 2008.
A down economy and cool July weather also is lowering the firm's expectations for 2009.
Alliant Energy Corp. reported second-quarter profits dropped 52 percent from the same period a year ago, prompting the Madison-based utility company to tone down its earnings forecast for the year.
The Madison-based utility holding company's earnings report was released Thursday morning.
Alliant had income of $29.1 million, or 26 cents a share, in the second quarter, compared to $60.8 million, or 55 cents a share, in the second quarter of 2008.
A down economy and cool July weather also is lowering the firm's expectations for 2009.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Milwaukee conference agenda now online
The preliminary agenda for the AESP's Fall Technology, Smart Grid, Demand Response and Energy Efficiency Conference and Expo is now available on line.
As a reminder the conference will be held October 5-7, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee.
As a reminder the conference will be held October 5-7, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Social marketing workshop, Sept. 18
A workshop from the Wisconsin Public Utility Institute:
Understanding, Using and Measuring Peoples’ Attitudes Towards…
Do you know (and can you reach) customers:
•Who will participate in a government program? It might surprise you.
•Who will (or won’t) use Eco-Driving to increase fuel economy? This might surprise you too.
•Who believe that global warming is real and are willing to make changes in their lives?
How willing are customers to conserve, and can you find them with accuracy or only with a shotgun? Are you interested in knowing the expected length of time you can count on change to be supported? This presentation will review the uses of segmentation and report on some recent evaluation work. This will be an interactive workshop and is open to anyone interested in how we can cost-effectively engage different attitudes regarding energy efficiency.
Understanding, Using and Measuring Peoples’ Attitudes Towards…
Do you know (and can you reach) customers:
•Who will participate in a government program? It might surprise you.
•Who will (or won’t) use Eco-Driving to increase fuel economy? This might surprise you too.
•Who believe that global warming is real and are willing to make changes in their lives?
How willing are customers to conserve, and can you find them with accuracy or only with a shotgun? Are you interested in knowing the expected length of time you can count on change to be supported? This presentation will review the uses of segmentation and report on some recent evaluation work. This will be an interactive workshop and is open to anyone interested in how we can cost-effectively engage different attitudes regarding energy efficiency.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Alliant Energy targets federal stimulus money to further Smart Grid efforts
From a news release issued by Alliant Energy:
MADISON, WI – August 5, 2009 – Alliant Energy Corporation’s (NYSE: LNT) Wisconsin Power and Light Company (Alliant Energy) subsidiary will file four American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant applications with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Smart Grid Investment Grant Program. The grants all involve projects connected to Alliant Energy’s implementation of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) technology.
If awarded, the four grants could cover up to half of the projects’ $20 million estimated costs. The grants focus on leveraging and expanding our AMI technology deployment, the foundation for Smart Grid, throughout our service territory. Alliant Energy’s grant applications are for the following projects:
+ Demand Response Pilot: 1,200 residential customers would participate in four different programs evaluating energy-saving Smart Grid technologies such as programmable communicating thermostats and online real-time energy usage tools for customers.
+ Distribution Automation: An investment to make our existing infrastructure more efficient and reduce the need for equipment upgrades.
+ Response Automation: Improve our efficiency in responding to and restoring electric outages.
+ Complex Commercial & Industrial Customer AMI Implementation: Implement AMI technology for a select group of C&I customers currently delayed or out of scope for the AMI 2009 and 2010 rollout.
MADISON, WI – August 5, 2009 – Alliant Energy Corporation’s (NYSE: LNT) Wisconsin Power and Light Company (Alliant Energy) subsidiary will file four American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant applications with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Smart Grid Investment Grant Program. The grants all involve projects connected to Alliant Energy’s implementation of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) technology.
If awarded, the four grants could cover up to half of the projects’ $20 million estimated costs. The grants focus on leveraging and expanding our AMI technology deployment, the foundation for Smart Grid, throughout our service territory. Alliant Energy’s grant applications are for the following projects:
+ Demand Response Pilot: 1,200 residential customers would participate in four different programs evaluating energy-saving Smart Grid technologies such as programmable communicating thermostats and online real-time energy usage tools for customers.
+ Distribution Automation: An investment to make our existing infrastructure more efficient and reduce the need for equipment upgrades.
+ Response Automation: Improve our efficiency in responding to and restoring electric outages.
+ Complex Commercial & Industrial Customer AMI Implementation: Implement AMI technology for a select group of C&I customers currently delayed or out of scope for the AMI 2009 and 2010 rollout.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Wind siting legislation expected to pass Senate committee
As predicted in the news release below, issued by Clean Wisconsin, the Senate committe voted 6 to 1 to recommend passage of the wind siting reform bill (Senate Bill 185):
MADISON — Wisconsin could soon see greater economic growth in the promising wind energy industry after the Senate Committee on Commerce, Energy, Utilities and Rail votes on Senate Bill 185 Tuesday. This bipartisan bill replaces the chaotic patchwork of local regulations with sensible statewide standards for permitting wind farms. The bill is scheduled for a committee vote at 2 p.m.
“Wind energy holds the potential to address many of the greatest problems facing our state — it can help our environment while reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and creating jobs for Wisconsinites,” says Ryan Schryver, clean energy advocate for Clean Wisconsin, the state’s largest environmental advocacy organization. “With so much to gain, we’re extremely encouraged that the legislature is poised to eliminate administrative barriers holding up the development of this industry.”
While wind developers stand ready to invest in Wisconsin’s economy and put Wisconsinites to work building wind farms, a complicated system of over-stringent local regulations currently puts our state at a disadvantage to neighboring states, stalling dozens of proposed wind farm developments in Wisconsin. As other industries have struggled in poor economic times and cut workers, the wind energy industry grew immensely in 2008, increasing its national workforce by 70 percent to over 85,000 workers.
Senate Bill 185, companion legislation to Assembly Bill 256 which passed the Assembly Committee on Energy and Utilities by a vote of 11-2 in early June, would charge the Wisconsin Public Service Commission with studying and determining permitting standards for wind farms to replace the current disorganized system that discourages the growth of the wind energy industry with sensible statewide standards.
MADISON — Wisconsin could soon see greater economic growth in the promising wind energy industry after the Senate Committee on Commerce, Energy, Utilities and Rail votes on Senate Bill 185 Tuesday. This bipartisan bill replaces the chaotic patchwork of local regulations with sensible statewide standards for permitting wind farms. The bill is scheduled for a committee vote at 2 p.m.
“Wind energy holds the potential to address many of the greatest problems facing our state — it can help our environment while reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and creating jobs for Wisconsinites,” says Ryan Schryver, clean energy advocate for Clean Wisconsin, the state’s largest environmental advocacy organization. “With so much to gain, we’re extremely encouraged that the legislature is poised to eliminate administrative barriers holding up the development of this industry.”
While wind developers stand ready to invest in Wisconsin’s economy and put Wisconsinites to work building wind farms, a complicated system of over-stringent local regulations currently puts our state at a disadvantage to neighboring states, stalling dozens of proposed wind farm developments in Wisconsin. As other industries have struggled in poor economic times and cut workers, the wind energy industry grew immensely in 2008, increasing its national workforce by 70 percent to over 85,000 workers.
Senate Bill 185, companion legislation to Assembly Bill 256 which passed the Assembly Committee on Energy and Utilities by a vote of 11-2 in early June, would charge the Wisconsin Public Service Commission with studying and determining permitting standards for wind farms to replace the current disorganized system that discourages the growth of the wind energy industry with sensible statewide standards.
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