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From a commentary by Mark Z. Jacobson in the New York Daily News:
The powerful earthquake and tsunami that caused reactors at Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant to shut down - releasing radiation and endangering workers and evacuees - have many Americans asking whether nuclear energy is worth the investment and risk.
I say not. In fact, it should not have taken a disaster of this kind to move us decisively away from nuclear and toward safe, clean, renewable energy. . . .
If the world's energy needs were converted to electricity for all purposes - and nuclear supplied such energy - 15,800 large nuclear reactors, one installed every day for the next 43 years, would be needed. The installation of even 5% of these would nearly double the current number of reactors, giving many more countries the potential to develop weapons. If only one weapon were used in a city, it could kill 1 to 16 million people.
***
Why do we need nuclear energy when we have safer, cleaner options that can provide greater power for a much longer period and at lower cost to society? These better options are called WWS, for "wind, water and sunlight." The chance of catastrophe caused by nature or terrorists acting on wind or solar, in particular, is zero.
During their lifetimes, WWS technologies emit no pollution - whereas nuclear does, since continuous energy is needed to mine, transport and refine uranium and reactors require much longer to permit and install than do WWS technologies. Overall, nuclear emits 9 to 25 times more air pollution and carbon dioxide than does wind per unit energy generated.
***
Some argue that nuclear is more reliable than WWS systems. This is not true. A nuclear reactor affects a larger fraction of the grid when it fails than does a wind turbine. The average maintenance downtime of modern wind turbines on land is 2%. That of France's 59 reactors is 21.5%, with about half due to scheduled maintenance.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Friday, April 8, 2011
Smart Power, May 25
Smart Power: Climate Change, the Smart Grid, and the Future of Electric Utilities
Time: Wednesday, May 25
5:30 – 7:00
Place: Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corp.
431 Charmany Drive
Madison, WI 53719
Event kicks-off with social from 5:30 - 6:00. Good food and drinks!
RSVP to Kristopher Steege-Reimann at reimannk@gmail.com
Cost:
15$ AESP / IES members
25$ Non-members
5$ Students
Check or cash payment paid at the event
Event summary
Dr. Peter Fox-Penner is principal and chairman emeritus for The Brattle Group, a Washington D.C. consulting firm and a Ph.D. Economist from the University of Chicago who specializes in economic and regulatory consulting to electrical utilities. His most recent book, Smart Power: Climate Change, the Smart Grid, and the Future of Electric Utilities (Island Press: April, 2010), examines the impacts increased energy efficiency, the “Smart Grid,” and carbon constraints will have on the utility industry. He will also discuss the electric power grid, including how it’s current structure and regulation evolved, recent challenges, and an outlook for power generation and grid design. Dr. Fox-Penner is a frequent speaker on these topics and has delivered Smart Power presentations for the Institute for Electric Efficiency, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the U.S. Green Building Council (USGC), the Gridwise Alliance, and more than ten universities. Smart Power is also widely used as a resource for utilities during strategic and regulatory planning.
Sponsors:
Illuminating Engineering Society, Madison Section
Association of Energy Services Professionals
Time: Wednesday, May 25
5:30 – 7:00
Place: Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corp.
431 Charmany Drive
Madison, WI 53719
Event kicks-off with social from 5:30 - 6:00. Good food and drinks!
RSVP to Kristopher Steege-Reimann at reimannk@gmail.com
Cost:
15$ AESP / IES members
25$ Non-members
5$ Students
Check or cash payment paid at the event
Event summary
Dr. Peter Fox-Penner is principal and chairman emeritus for The Brattle Group, a Washington D.C. consulting firm and a Ph.D. Economist from the University of Chicago who specializes in economic and regulatory consulting to electrical utilities. His most recent book, Smart Power: Climate Change, the Smart Grid, and the Future of Electric Utilities (Island Press: April, 2010), examines the impacts increased energy efficiency, the “Smart Grid,” and carbon constraints will have on the utility industry. He will also discuss the electric power grid, including how it’s current structure and regulation evolved, recent challenges, and an outlook for power generation and grid design. Dr. Fox-Penner is a frequent speaker on these topics and has delivered Smart Power presentations for the Institute for Electric Efficiency, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the U.S. Green Building Council (USGC), the Gridwise Alliance, and more than ten universities. Smart Power is also widely used as a resource for utilities during strategic and regulatory planning.
Sponsors:
Illuminating Engineering Society, Madison Section
Association of Energy Services Professionals
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Open letter from former supporter rips anti-wind group
A Fox Valley person provided a copy of the following letter to RENEW Wisconsin:
Two months ago, I was a supporter of the BCCRWE [Brown County Citizens for Responsible Wind Energy]. I was actively opposing the wind turbines coming into any of the townships in our area, including Glenmore.
But then something happened.
As the March 7th meeting drew closer, I heard disturbing things from members of the BCCRWE. Things that scared me. Even before the meeting took place, there were threats being made towards our town board members if the vote did not go in the favor of the BCCRWE. There were “agendas” being planned, and conspiracies being formed, not only against the project, but against individual people.
On March 7th, I sat quietly through the meeting listening to barbaric accusations, foul language, curses and threats hurled at our town board. Members of the BCCRWE shouted inappropriate and belittling comments and became unruly and disruptive to the point that law enforcement needed to be called. Later, I read accounts of that same meeting, written by the BCCRWE, that were horribly distorted and inaccurate. Actually, they were straight out lies!
On March 16th, I sat through another meeting and watched the same unruly group, once again, disrespect our town leaders. As the members of the BCCRWE were chanting “Shame on you” to the town board, I was the one that was ashamed to have ever been a part of that group.
On April 5th, you have an opportunity to elect new town board members. Many of the candidates are the same people who threatened and disrespected our current board members for following the law. One candidate admitted, her only goal was to terminate wind turbines in the town and then she wants out. Is that the chairperson you want running the entire township? Even for one term?
The recent events of oil spills in the gulf and nuclear plant failures in Japan should make all of us take a second look at wind energy. I realized after the two meetings in March, that the only reason I didn’t want turbines, was because I couldn’t have on of my own. So, I’m a NIMBY.
It’s important, that we have “responsible” leaders in our township. The mob I witnessed at the last two meetings, did not fit that definition. It would be a disaster to have those people who demonstrated irrational, biased and disorderly behavior, become our new leaders. I was embarrassed to have ever been a part of that group.
Since I have seen how threatening and dangerous this group can be, I prefer to sign only as,
A Concerned Townsperson
People of Glenmore Township:
PLEASE VOTE RESPONSIBLY!
Two months ago, I was a supporter of the BCCRWE [Brown County Citizens for Responsible Wind Energy]. I was actively opposing the wind turbines coming into any of the townships in our area, including Glenmore.
But then something happened.
As the March 7th meeting drew closer, I heard disturbing things from members of the BCCRWE. Things that scared me. Even before the meeting took place, there were threats being made towards our town board members if the vote did not go in the favor of the BCCRWE. There were “agendas” being planned, and conspiracies being formed, not only against the project, but against individual people.
On March 7th, I sat quietly through the meeting listening to barbaric accusations, foul language, curses and threats hurled at our town board. Members of the BCCRWE shouted inappropriate and belittling comments and became unruly and disruptive to the point that law enforcement needed to be called. Later, I read accounts of that same meeting, written by the BCCRWE, that were horribly distorted and inaccurate. Actually, they were straight out lies!
On March 16th, I sat through another meeting and watched the same unruly group, once again, disrespect our town leaders. As the members of the BCCRWE were chanting “Shame on you” to the town board, I was the one that was ashamed to have ever been a part of that group.
On April 5th, you have an opportunity to elect new town board members. Many of the candidates are the same people who threatened and disrespected our current board members for following the law. One candidate admitted, her only goal was to terminate wind turbines in the town and then she wants out. Is that the chairperson you want running the entire township? Even for one term?
The recent events of oil spills in the gulf and nuclear plant failures in Japan should make all of us take a second look at wind energy. I realized after the two meetings in March, that the only reason I didn’t want turbines, was because I couldn’t have on of my own. So, I’m a NIMBY.
It’s important, that we have “responsible” leaders in our township. The mob I witnessed at the last two meetings, did not fit that definition. It would be a disaster to have those people who demonstrated irrational, biased and disorderly behavior, become our new leaders. I was embarrassed to have ever been a part of that group.
Since I have seen how threatening and dangerous this group can be, I prefer to sign only as,
A Concerned Townsperson
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Agenda for AESP Spring Conference
The AESP has posted the Working Agenda for the AESP Spring Conference, May 16 – 19, 2011, Atlanta, GA.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Catching Wind, a newsletter for Wisconsin's wind industry
From the Spring issue of Catching Wind:
Siting Rule Suspension Rocks Wind Industry
In a move that sent shock waves through the wind industry in Wisconsin, a joint legislative panel voted on March 1 to suspend the wind siting rule promulgated by the Public Service Commission in December 2010. The action taken by the 10-member Joint Committee for the Review of Administrative Rules (JCRAR) suspended the wind siting rule, known as PSC 128, on the very day it took effect. By itself, a JCRAR vote to suspend a rule lasts 30 days. To continue the rule suspension beyond 30 days, JCRAR voted in late March to introduce a bill to repeal PSC 128 and direct the Public Service Commission (PSC) to promulgate a new rule regulating wind energy
systems no more than six months after the repeal date. The bill must clear one house of the Legislature in order to become effective.
JCRAR's bill does not attempt to influence the content of any successor rule to PSC 128, nor has the legislative leadership issued any statement regarding the timeline of the bill's passage. The Legislature could potentially wait until the last day of the biennial session before passing this bill. However, if the Legislature does not repeal PSC 128 by the end of the current session, PSC 128 will take effect as promulgated. . . .
Glenmore Wind Survives Raucous Opposition
In a dramatic about-face that elicited loud cries of disapproval from local wind opponents, a Brown County town board granted on March 16 building permits enabling CEnergy, a subsidiary of CG Power Solutions, to erect a seven-turbine wind project.
Two Glenmore board members voted in favor of allowing construction to begin, while the third voted against. . . .
Siting Rule Suspension Rocks Wind Industry
In a move that sent shock waves through the wind industry in Wisconsin, a joint legislative panel voted on March 1 to suspend the wind siting rule promulgated by the Public Service Commission in December 2010. The action taken by the 10-member Joint Committee for the Review of Administrative Rules (JCRAR) suspended the wind siting rule, known as PSC 128, on the very day it took effect. By itself, a JCRAR vote to suspend a rule lasts 30 days. To continue the rule suspension beyond 30 days, JCRAR voted in late March to introduce a bill to repeal PSC 128 and direct the Public Service Commission (PSC) to promulgate a new rule regulating wind energy
systems no more than six months after the repeal date. The bill must clear one house of the Legislature in order to become effective.
JCRAR's bill does not attempt to influence the content of any successor rule to PSC 128, nor has the legislative leadership issued any statement regarding the timeline of the bill's passage. The Legislature could potentially wait until the last day of the biennial session before passing this bill. However, if the Legislature does not repeal PSC 128 by the end of the current session, PSC 128 will take effect as promulgated. . . .
Glenmore Wind Survives Raucous Opposition
In a dramatic about-face that elicited loud cries of disapproval from local wind opponents, a Brown County town board granted on March 16 building permits enabling CEnergy, a subsidiary of CG Power Solutions, to erect a seven-turbine wind project.
Two Glenmore board members voted in favor of allowing construction to begin, while the third voted against. . . .
Friday, April 1, 2011
Former State Rep. Phil Montgomery ready to jump in as utiilty regulator
From a story by Matt Smith on WBAY, Green Bay:
Earlier this week, Governor Walker appointed Phil Montgomery to head the state's Public Service Commission, the agency responsible for regulating energy and power companies.
While the appointment still needs Senate confirmation, the former state representative from Ashwaubenon starts his new job Monday.
You don't have to look far to see why the Public Service Commission has been in the spotlight lately. In the past two weeks, two major Chicago-based wind energy firms have pulled projects in Brown and Calumet counties, blaming uncertainty with regulations from the PSC, saying the risk wasn't worth the investment.
Communities remain deeply divided over the wind energy projects.
"If there was a simple answer, they would have come to it before me," Montgomery said.
Montgomery wouldn't go into details days before his official first day, although he knows full well wind policy will be a major issue in the coming months.
"You start with articulating an energy policy and moving things forward, to bring back that certainty that companies go, 'OK, I know the rules,'" Montgomery said.
Critics, though, question Montgomery's perceived close ties to Governor Walker and energy companies.
He maintains his role as a legislator was much different than now, claiming the PSC acts independently.
Earlier this week, Governor Walker appointed Phil Montgomery to head the state's Public Service Commission, the agency responsible for regulating energy and power companies.
While the appointment still needs Senate confirmation, the former state representative from Ashwaubenon starts his new job Monday.
You don't have to look far to see why the Public Service Commission has been in the spotlight lately. In the past two weeks, two major Chicago-based wind energy firms have pulled projects in Brown and Calumet counties, blaming uncertainty with regulations from the PSC, saying the risk wasn't worth the investment.
Communities remain deeply divided over the wind energy projects.
"If there was a simple answer, they would have come to it before me," Montgomery said.
Montgomery wouldn't go into details days before his official first day, although he knows full well wind policy will be a major issue in the coming months.
"You start with articulating an energy policy and moving things forward, to bring back that certainty that companies go, 'OK, I know the rules,'" Montgomery said.
Critics, though, question Montgomery's perceived close ties to Governor Walker and energy companies.
He maintains his role as a legislator was much different than now, claiming the PSC acts independently.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Jobs and $1.2 million annually lost due to state's hostile regulatory climate sinks Brown County wind project
More information
Michael Vickerman
Executive Director
608.255.4044
mvickerman@renewwisconsin.org
Less than a month after a 10-member legislative committee prevented a statewide wind permitting rule from taking effect, Invenergy, LLC, a Chicago-based wind developer that owns and operates the 86-turbine Forward Energy Center installation south of Fond du Lac, has ended efforts to install 100 turbines in southern Brown County.
In a March 21 letter to the Public Service Commission (PSC), Invenergy singled out the recent suspension of the agency’s wind siting rule as a significant factor in its decision to cancel the Ledge Wind Energy Center. “The absence of regulatory stability has made it imprudent for Invenergy to proceed with investments in a project which unknown regulations might make infeasible to construct,” the letter states. Invenergy’s application to build the 150-megawatt Ledge Wind project was filed in October 2009.
“The regulatory environment for permitting wind energy systems in Wisconsin is deteriorating rapidly,” said Michael Vickerman, executive director of RENEW Wisconsin. “The rollback started with Governor Walker’s proposal to impose onerous and unworkable setback requirements on wind turbines, and continues with the Legislature’s assault on the PSC’s wind siting rule.”
“By all appearances, it seems that Governor Walker and the Legislature intend to close the door on wind development in Wisconsin once We Energies completes its Glacier Hills project later this year,” Vickerman said.
The PSC rule, which was scheduled to take effect March 1st, would have fulfilled the Legislature’s intent to create uniform siting regulations to replace what had become a restrictive and hodgepodge of local requirements. On that very day, the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules suspended the rule on a 5-2 vote that tracked along party line votes (Republicans in favor; Democrats against).
Had the 150 MW Ledge Wind Energy Center gone forward, it would have generated $600,000 annually in municipal revenues to Brown County and four host townships, and more than $600,000 annually to host landowners and their neighbors. On average, installing one turbine requires 1,325 hours of craft labor, and a 100-turbine wind project will support a payroll of over $10 million, according to figures provided by Boldt Construction.
“Invenergy’s cancellation of its Ledge Wind project should not come as a surprise,” Vickerman said. “It should be expected with a political leadership that treats windpower as a pariah energy source. Until the day the Governor and the Legislature put aside their ideological blinders and recognize the benefits that come with developing a clean, locally available and inexhaustible energy source, Wisconsin will remain a very unappetizing place to pursue utility- scale wind projects.”
“Wisconsin can ill-afford to export windpower-related jobs and local payments to other states,” Vickerman said.
Michael Vickerman
Executive Director
608.255.4044
mvickerman@renewwisconsin.org
Less than a month after a 10-member legislative committee prevented a statewide wind permitting rule from taking effect, Invenergy, LLC, a Chicago-based wind developer that owns and operates the 86-turbine Forward Energy Center installation south of Fond du Lac, has ended efforts to install 100 turbines in southern Brown County.
In a March 21 letter to the Public Service Commission (PSC), Invenergy singled out the recent suspension of the agency’s wind siting rule as a significant factor in its decision to cancel the Ledge Wind Energy Center. “The absence of regulatory stability has made it imprudent for Invenergy to proceed with investments in a project which unknown regulations might make infeasible to construct,” the letter states. Invenergy’s application to build the 150-megawatt Ledge Wind project was filed in October 2009.
“The regulatory environment for permitting wind energy systems in Wisconsin is deteriorating rapidly,” said Michael Vickerman, executive director of RENEW Wisconsin. “The rollback started with Governor Walker’s proposal to impose onerous and unworkable setback requirements on wind turbines, and continues with the Legislature’s assault on the PSC’s wind siting rule.”
“By all appearances, it seems that Governor Walker and the Legislature intend to close the door on wind development in Wisconsin once We Energies completes its Glacier Hills project later this year,” Vickerman said.
The PSC rule, which was scheduled to take effect March 1st, would have fulfilled the Legislature’s intent to create uniform siting regulations to replace what had become a restrictive and hodgepodge of local requirements. On that very day, the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules suspended the rule on a 5-2 vote that tracked along party line votes (Republicans in favor; Democrats against).
Had the 150 MW Ledge Wind Energy Center gone forward, it would have generated $600,000 annually in municipal revenues to Brown County and four host townships, and more than $600,000 annually to host landowners and their neighbors. On average, installing one turbine requires 1,325 hours of craft labor, and a 100-turbine wind project will support a payroll of over $10 million, according to figures provided by Boldt Construction.
“Invenergy’s cancellation of its Ledge Wind project should not come as a surprise,” Vickerman said. “It should be expected with a political leadership that treats windpower as a pariah energy source. Until the day the Governor and the Legislature put aside their ideological blinders and recognize the benefits that come with developing a clean, locally available and inexhaustible energy source, Wisconsin will remain a very unappetizing place to pursue utility- scale wind projects.”
“Wisconsin can ill-afford to export windpower-related jobs and local payments to other states,” Vickerman said.
-- END --
RENEW Wisconsin is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that acts as a catalyst to advance a sustainable energy future through public policy and private sector initiatives. More information on RENEW’s Web site at http://www.renewwisconsin.org.
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