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Wisconsin buys coal mined by blasting the tops off of Appalachian mountains & dumping the debris in the valleys!
Coal Country
November 11, 2009
Noon
Room 328 NW, State Capitol
Coal Country
November 12, 2009
7:00 p.m.
Goodman Community Center
149 Waubesa, Madison
The State of Wisconsin buys coal to be burned in state facilities from Massey Coal and Alpha Coal, two companies using the latest form of strip mining called mountaintop removal, or MTR. Coal companies blast the tops off mountains, and run the debris into valleys and streams. Then they mine the exposed seams of coal and transport it to processing plants. Coal is mined more cheaply than ever, and America needs coal. But the air and water are filled with chemicals, and an ancient mountain range is disappearing forever.
COAL COUNTRY is a dramatic look at modern coal mining. We get to know working miners along with activists who are battling coal companies in Appalachia. We hear from miners and coal company officials, who are concerned about jobs and the economy and believe they are acting responsibly in bringing power to the American people. Both sides in this conflict claim that history is on their side. Families have lived in the region for generations, and most have ancestors who worked in the mines. Everyone shares a deep love for the land, but MTR (Mountain Top Removal mining which has leveled over 500 Appalachian mountains) is tearing them apart.
More information -- Ed Blume, 608.819.0748, eblume@renewwisconsin.org
Sponsored by Sierra Club; RENEW Wisconsin; Madison Peak Oil Group; Wisconsin Network for Peace & Justice's "carbon free, nuclear free" campaign.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Integrys Energy Group plans cuts despite profit
From an article by Richard Ryman in the Green Bay Press Gazette:
Integrys Energy Group reported a $51.1 million profit in the third quarter, but warned Thursday that challenging times are ahead.
Company leaders said they will furlough all nonunion employees for one week in 2010 and also are planning job cuts, some at least related to the downsizing of the Integrys Energy Services subsidiary.
"The continued impact of the economy is really causing us to take even more aggressive actions to maintain our costs and make sure we take some of those costs permanently out of the system," Charles Schrock, president and CEO, said Thursday during a conference call with analysts.
The Chicago-based utility holding company is continuing a general hiring freeze in place for more than a year, is restricting travel, reducing the use of outside contractors and changing a retirement benefit plan for most new employees.
Integrys Energy Group reported a $51.1 million profit in the third quarter, but warned Thursday that challenging times are ahead.
Company leaders said they will furlough all nonunion employees for one week in 2010 and also are planning job cuts, some at least related to the downsizing of the Integrys Energy Services subsidiary.
"The continued impact of the economy is really causing us to take even more aggressive actions to maintain our costs and make sure we take some of those costs permanently out of the system," Charles Schrock, president and CEO, said Thursday during a conference call with analysts.
The Chicago-based utility holding company is continuing a general hiring freeze in place for more than a year, is restricting travel, reducing the use of outside contractors and changing a retirement benefit plan for most new employees.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Alliant begins test burns of biomass at Cassville plant
A news release from Alliant Energy:
MADISON, WI – November 5, 2009 – Wisconsin Power and Light Company (WPL), an Alliant Energy company, has begun testing the usage of biomass at its Nelson Dewey Generating Station. The move comes after the company received a Research and Testing Exemption from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) to test burn various biomass fuels at the site.
The WDNR approval allows for the co-firing to be done for a 12-month period within the facility’stwo cyclone coal boilers. Throughout the test burn process, WPL will examine a number of factors including environmental impacts, supply chain capabilities, material delivery and handling costs, and the blending and combustion of biomass based materials within the current plant configuration. No permanent structures or modifications will be made to the existing facility’s equipment to accommodate the test burns.
“We continually work to explore the technologies and costs associated with reducing our carbon footprint and this is another step in that process,” explains Barbara Swan, President – WPL.
“Conducting these test burns at Nelson Dewey will help us understand the capabilities we have within our current system.”
Biomass-based fuels approved for test burning within the current fuel blends include wood chips, agricultural based pellets, as well as native grasses. Other biofuel opportunities may present themselves during the testing, thus WPL would seek to update the test program, upon approval of the WDNR, to include any additions.
MADISON, WI – November 5, 2009 – Wisconsin Power and Light Company (WPL), an Alliant Energy company, has begun testing the usage of biomass at its Nelson Dewey Generating Station. The move comes after the company received a Research and Testing Exemption from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) to test burn various biomass fuels at the site.
The WDNR approval allows for the co-firing to be done for a 12-month period within the facility’stwo cyclone coal boilers. Throughout the test burn process, WPL will examine a number of factors including environmental impacts, supply chain capabilities, material delivery and handling costs, and the blending and combustion of biomass based materials within the current plant configuration. No permanent structures or modifications will be made to the existing facility’s equipment to accommodate the test burns.
“We continually work to explore the technologies and costs associated with reducing our carbon footprint and this is another step in that process,” explains Barbara Swan, President – WPL.
“Conducting these test burns at Nelson Dewey will help us understand the capabilities we have within our current system.”
Biomass-based fuels approved for test burning within the current fuel blends include wood chips, agricultural based pellets, as well as native grasses. Other biofuel opportunities may present themselves during the testing, thus WPL would seek to update the test program, upon approval of the WDNR, to include any additions.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Solar Powering Your Community: A Guide for Local Governments
From Solar American Cities in the U.S. Department of Energy:
The U.S. Department of Energy developed this comprehensive resource to assist local governments and stakeholders in building sustainable local solar markets. The guide introduces a range of policy and program options that have been successfully field tested in cities around the country. The guide describes each policy or program, followed by more information on:
•Benefits: Identifies benefits from implementing the policy or program.
•Implementation Tips and Options: Outlines various tips and options for designing and implementing the policy or program.
•Examples: Highlights experiences from communities that have successfully implemented the policy or program.
•Additional References and Resources: Lists additional reports, references, and tools that offer more information on the topic, where applicable.
The U.S. Department of Energy developed this comprehensive resource to assist local governments and stakeholders in building sustainable local solar markets. The guide introduces a range of policy and program options that have been successfully field tested in cities around the country. The guide describes each policy or program, followed by more information on:
•Benefits: Identifies benefits from implementing the policy or program.
•Implementation Tips and Options: Outlines various tips and options for designing and implementing the policy or program.
•Examples: Highlights experiences from communities that have successfully implemented the policy or program.
•Additional References and Resources: Lists additional reports, references, and tools that offer more information on the topic, where applicable.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Summit Blue Launches New Website Highlighting Energy Consulting Services
From a news release issued by Summit Blue Consulting, LLC:
BOULDER, Colo., Nov. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Summit Blue Consulting, LLC recently launched a newly redesigned website at www.summitblue.com. Summit Blue collaborated with Vermillion, a design firm to develop a new website that features expanded content and better represents the firm's technical capabilities and growing energy consulting services. The redesign incorporates a new look, new navigational tools, and additional information about Summit Blue's staff qualifications and energy industry contributions.
"Our online visitors can now easily search our site for information on each of our practice areas," says Kevin Cooney, CEO of Summit Blue. "The new design was created to allow clients and others interested in clean energy research and analysis to locate refereed papers, reports and presentations and more easily contact Summit Blue staff who conducted specific research."
The website now offers case studies to reflect the firm's expertise and project experience in the key practice areas of demand-side management (DSM) program evaluation; DSM program design and implementation; DSM resource potential assessment; Smart Grid, demand response, and pricing; renewables; and integrated resource planning and analysis.
The site provides the technical background and expertise of staff in areas including economics, engineering, energy policy, market research, and complex systems modeling. It also provides contact information for staff at all locations, including the recently expanded offices in Walnut Creek, California, Madison, Wisconsin, and Vancouver, Washington. The redesign includes an expanded news and events section and access to hundreds of industry relevant publications authored by Summit Blue staff.
Summit Blue was founded in 2000 and is a leading provider of utility and energy consulting services drawing on a broad and diverse range of skills from its offices in Colorado, California, Wisconsin, Washington, Illinois and Vermont. With extensive experience in energy efficiency, demand response and renewable energy systems, our core mission remains the same: to provide best-in-class consulting services to the utility and energy industry while engaging our staff in challenging and interesting work.
BOULDER, Colo., Nov. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Summit Blue Consulting, LLC recently launched a newly redesigned website at www.summitblue.com. Summit Blue collaborated with Vermillion, a design firm to develop a new website that features expanded content and better represents the firm's technical capabilities and growing energy consulting services. The redesign incorporates a new look, new navigational tools, and additional information about Summit Blue's staff qualifications and energy industry contributions.
"Our online visitors can now easily search our site for information on each of our practice areas," says Kevin Cooney, CEO of Summit Blue. "The new design was created to allow clients and others interested in clean energy research and analysis to locate refereed papers, reports and presentations and more easily contact Summit Blue staff who conducted specific research."
The website now offers case studies to reflect the firm's expertise and project experience in the key practice areas of demand-side management (DSM) program evaluation; DSM program design and implementation; DSM resource potential assessment; Smart Grid, demand response, and pricing; renewables; and integrated resource planning and analysis.
The site provides the technical background and expertise of staff in areas including economics, engineering, energy policy, market research, and complex systems modeling. It also provides contact information for staff at all locations, including the recently expanded offices in Walnut Creek, California, Madison, Wisconsin, and Vancouver, Washington. The redesign includes an expanded news and events section and access to hundreds of industry relevant publications authored by Summit Blue staff.
Summit Blue was founded in 2000 and is a leading provider of utility and energy consulting services drawing on a broad and diverse range of skills from its offices in Colorado, California, Wisconsin, Washington, Illinois and Vermont. With extensive experience in energy efficiency, demand response and renewable energy systems, our core mission remains the same: to provide best-in-class consulting services to the utility and energy industry while engaging our staff in challenging and interesting work.
Monday, November 2, 2009
3 state utilities win $21.5 million in smart grid grants
From a blog post by Tom Content on JSOnline:
The Obama administration's high-profile $3.4 billion funding rollout for the "smart grid" includes $21.5 million for Wisconsin, the administration said Tuesday.
Three Wisconsin utilities will share $21.5 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Pewaukee-based American Transmission Co. received the most funding, totaling more than $12.7 million, for two different projects. The company's projects consist of a fiber-optic communications network for high-speed communications across the ATC transmission system in Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
Madison Gas & Electric Co. won $5.5 million to install a network of 1,750 smart meters as well as a network of 12 public charging stations and 25 in-home vehicle charging management systems for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and electric vehicles.
Also in Madison, Wisconsin Power & Light Co. was awarded $3.2 million for a program that would expand on the automated meters that it is installing across Wisconsin. DOE said WP&L will implement a "power factor management system to minimize overload on distribution lines, transformers and feeder segments," in a project that would reduce wasted electricity on its distribution system, or local network of small power lines.
The Obama administration's high-profile $3.4 billion funding rollout for the "smart grid" includes $21.5 million for Wisconsin, the administration said Tuesday.
Three Wisconsin utilities will share $21.5 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Pewaukee-based American Transmission Co. received the most funding, totaling more than $12.7 million, for two different projects. The company's projects consist of a fiber-optic communications network for high-speed communications across the ATC transmission system in Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
Madison Gas & Electric Co. won $5.5 million to install a network of 1,750 smart meters as well as a network of 12 public charging stations and 25 in-home vehicle charging management systems for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and electric vehicles.
Also in Madison, Wisconsin Power & Light Co. was awarded $3.2 million for a program that would expand on the automated meters that it is installing across Wisconsin. DOE said WP&L will implement a "power factor management system to minimize overload on distribution lines, transformers and feeder segments," in a project that would reduce wasted electricity on its distribution system, or local network of small power lines.
Friday, October 30, 2009
PSC Approves Biomass Conversion at Bay Front Power Plant
From a news release issued by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin:
MADISON – In a unanimous decision today, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) approved Northern States Power Company-Wisconsin’s (NSPW) proposal to install the nation’s largest biomass gasifier, a system that will produce synthetic gas from biomass for the production of electricity at the company’s Bay Front Power Plan in Ashland, Wisconsin.
The PSC’s decision today will allow NSPW to convert one of the plant’s coal burning boilers to one that generates electricity from burning a variety of wood types found in Wisconsin. The new biomass gasifier will be able to produce 20 megawatts of electricity from biomass fuel sources, while producing an additional 8 megawatts through the use of natural gas.
“This project swaps out 20 megawatts of old, boutique coal for locally grown biomass, keeping ratepayers’ fuel dollars in Wisconsin,” said Chairperson Eric Callisto. “Our ratepayers send over a billion dollars out of state every year to buy coal for power generation. Today’s decision helps keep more of those dollars here in Wisconsin. . . .”
The technology approved at the plant has been developed over the past half century and is being used throughout the world because of growing interest in clean, renewable energy. Hundreds of biomass gasifiers are in operation globally, with most of them found in Asia and Europe at small-scale plants that provide comparatively small amounts of heat or electricity to farms and small industries. To date, the use of biomass gasifiers for the production of electricity in the U.S. has been predominantly small in scale, although some larger units have been installed in recent years.
Documents associated with NSPW’s application can be viewed on our Electronic Regulatory Filing System at http://psc.wi.gov. Enter case number 4220-CE-169 in the boxes provided on the PSC homepage, or click on the Electronic Regulatory Filing System button.
MADISON – In a unanimous decision today, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) approved Northern States Power Company-Wisconsin’s (NSPW) proposal to install the nation’s largest biomass gasifier, a system that will produce synthetic gas from biomass for the production of electricity at the company’s Bay Front Power Plan in Ashland, Wisconsin.
The PSC’s decision today will allow NSPW to convert one of the plant’s coal burning boilers to one that generates electricity from burning a variety of wood types found in Wisconsin. The new biomass gasifier will be able to produce 20 megawatts of electricity from biomass fuel sources, while producing an additional 8 megawatts through the use of natural gas.
“This project swaps out 20 megawatts of old, boutique coal for locally grown biomass, keeping ratepayers’ fuel dollars in Wisconsin,” said Chairperson Eric Callisto. “Our ratepayers send over a billion dollars out of state every year to buy coal for power generation. Today’s decision helps keep more of those dollars here in Wisconsin. . . .”
The technology approved at the plant has been developed over the past half century and is being used throughout the world because of growing interest in clean, renewable energy. Hundreds of biomass gasifiers are in operation globally, with most of them found in Asia and Europe at small-scale plants that provide comparatively small amounts of heat or electricity to farms and small industries. To date, the use of biomass gasifiers for the production of electricity in the U.S. has been predominantly small in scale, although some larger units have been installed in recent years.
Documents associated with NSPW’s application can be viewed on our Electronic Regulatory Filing System at http://psc.wi.gov. Enter case number 4220-CE-169 in the boxes provided on the PSC homepage, or click on the Electronic Regulatory Filing System button.
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