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From a news release issued by WPS:
Green Bay, WI – In July, Wisconsin Public Service Corporation (WPS), along with all other utilities that operate in Michigan, will begin collecting funds from its Michigan customers for energy efficiency programs as indicated by Michigan Act 295 voted into law in 2008. In the program, utilities are required to collect money to fund their own energy efficiency projects or to forward the money to a third party, selected by the state, who will administer energy efficiency programs.
WPS will forward the money it collects to the third party administrator, as yet unnamed by the State of Michigan.
"I know it seems like just another charge for customers to pay," said Jenny Short, WPS spokesperson. "But there can be benefits in the long run."
Short explained that while WPS-Michigan residential customers would see average additional charges of about $1.05/month, the increases in energy efficiency attained by people who take advantage of the new programs should allow utilities to avoid building costly new facilities in the future.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
A Short Guide to Setting Up a City-Scale Retrofit Program
From an introduction to a guide just released by the Center on Wisconsin Strategy (COWS) and Green for All:
Green For All and COWS have just released A Short Guide to Setting Up a City-Scale Retrofit Program. This guide provides a model for designing and implementing energy efficiency retrofitting programs on a citywide scale, with a goal of making these retrofits available to more households and providing good, entry-level jobs with career pathways that are accessible to low-income communities and communities of color.
Energy efficiency retrofits of our homes, schools, and workplaces are the first steps to building an inclusive clean energy economy by addressing climate change, putting people in careers, and reducing working families' energy bills. Despite their overwhelming economic and environmental benefits, current retrofitting programs have limited capacity and limited scope. Many are available only to income-eligible individuals, or to those with the money up-front to do the work. Furthermore, many current retrofitting programs only create low-wage, short-term jobs, rather than providing pathways into sustainable careers in construction and green building.
Clearly, a new model is needed. This guide is a tool for local organizations, business leaders, entrepreneurs, elected officials, and others in cities across the country to use to promote energy efficiency in their communities. It outlines all of the important aspects of such a program, including policies, labor standards, community coalitions, and long-term funding options.
Green For All and COWS have just released A Short Guide to Setting Up a City-Scale Retrofit Program. This guide provides a model for designing and implementing energy efficiency retrofitting programs on a citywide scale, with a goal of making these retrofits available to more households and providing good, entry-level jobs with career pathways that are accessible to low-income communities and communities of color.
Energy efficiency retrofits of our homes, schools, and workplaces are the first steps to building an inclusive clean energy economy by addressing climate change, putting people in careers, and reducing working families' energy bills. Despite their overwhelming economic and environmental benefits, current retrofitting programs have limited capacity and limited scope. Many are available only to income-eligible individuals, or to those with the money up-front to do the work. Furthermore, many current retrofitting programs only create low-wage, short-term jobs, rather than providing pathways into sustainable careers in construction and green building.
Clearly, a new model is needed. This guide is a tool for local organizations, business leaders, entrepreneurs, elected officials, and others in cities across the country to use to promote energy efficiency in their communities. It outlines all of the important aspects of such a program, including policies, labor standards, community coalitions, and long-term funding options.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Revitalizing Ourselves Through Renewable Energy
From a presentation by RENEW's Michael Vickerman (above) at the Energy Fair of the Midwest Renewable Energy Association:
Energy Policy Must Recognize Energy Realities
+ Supplies of liquid fuels peaked in 2008
+ Capital is disappearing before our very eyes
+ Energy and food are the original currencies
+ The shift from stores to flows is inevitable
+ Current economy is highly energy-intensive
+ Energy return on energy invested (EROEI) must inform decision-making
+ We can’t afford to prop up existing energy sinks or engage in wealth-draining military adventures
Three paths to choose
+ Business as usual
+ Clean green technology
+ Curtailment and community
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Getting a (plug-in) charge in Madison
From a story by Bob Hague on the Wisconsin Radio Network:
Drivers of plug in electric vehicles will soon be able to charge up on the streets of Wisconsin's capital city. Madison Gas and Electric is the first utility in the nation to make electric vehicle charging stations publicly available, with the purchase of six such stations to be installed around the city, according to MG&E's Steve Krause.
"One of the disadvantages (to electric vehicles) now is when you don't have a public charging station, is you have to either charge the car at your home, or you have to charge it a prearranged location," said Krause. "People that want to use electric cars all day long, either in town or even town to town, need a place to refuel that vehicle, and these charging stations will do that. We also have an additional bonus. All of the power that will be used to power these cars will come from renewable sources, and it will be primarily wind energy."
This is a demonstration project and for now, electric vehicle drivers won't be charged for the juice. MG&E's Don Peterson said the utility sees this as a business opportunity eventually, so they'll be collecting data. For example, how many electric vehicles are out there in the Madison area? "We really don't know how many electric vehicles are out there," said Peterson. "The estimates go to anywhere from 25 to 75 vehicles." That's a number that could be increasing fairly rapidly: Peterson noted that a Madison area car dealership is already doing a brisk trade, converting Toyota Prius hybrids into all electric plug ins.
"We see this is as a business opportunity, but right now each charging station, installed, is costing somewhere between $5,000 and $10,000," said Peterson. "We're exploring avenues for grants and additional research money, but right now this is an MG&E funded program."
Drivers of plug in electric vehicles will soon be able to charge up on the streets of Wisconsin's capital city. Madison Gas and Electric is the first utility in the nation to make electric vehicle charging stations publicly available, with the purchase of six such stations to be installed around the city, according to MG&E's Steve Krause.
"One of the disadvantages (to electric vehicles) now is when you don't have a public charging station, is you have to either charge the car at your home, or you have to charge it a prearranged location," said Krause. "People that want to use electric cars all day long, either in town or even town to town, need a place to refuel that vehicle, and these charging stations will do that. We also have an additional bonus. All of the power that will be used to power these cars will come from renewable sources, and it will be primarily wind energy."
This is a demonstration project and for now, electric vehicle drivers won't be charged for the juice. MG&E's Don Peterson said the utility sees this as a business opportunity eventually, so they'll be collecting data. For example, how many electric vehicles are out there in the Madison area? "We really don't know how many electric vehicles are out there," said Peterson. "The estimates go to anywhere from 25 to 75 vehicles." That's a number that could be increasing fairly rapidly: Peterson noted that a Madison area car dealership is already doing a brisk trade, converting Toyota Prius hybrids into all electric plug ins.
"We see this is as a business opportunity, but right now each charging station, installed, is costing somewhere between $5,000 and $10,000," said Peterson. "We're exploring avenues for grants and additional research money, but right now this is an MG&E funded program."
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Rooftops are ill-suited for wind turbines
From a fact sheet published by Focus on Energy:
Rooftop wind turbines are one of the most talked about trends in renewable energy. City dwellers and suburbanites, inspired by the spread of large turbines and intrigued by the idea of producing their own energy, are today inquiring about rooftop wind systems in record numbers.
But just how viable are these systems? Can small rooftop wind turbines ever produce enough electricity to make the investment worthwhile? Find out the answers to these and other commonly asked questions below. . . .
Will a small rooftop turbine power my whole house?
No. Small turbines can only produce small quantities of electricity due to their small rotors.
Rooftops are ill-suited to harness the wind regardless of their location due to the trees and buildings surrounding a home. Rooftops in the city are particularly difficult places to harness the breeze. Not only are cities less windy than the countryside, but the air is turbulent because of trees and the variation in heights of buildings. Turbulence can wear out a turbine and reduce its life expectancy.
One analysis showed that a common type of rooftop turbine (being tested by Madison Gas Electric) "had generated about 45 kWh in about eight months (in a year about 65 kWh). The average single family WI home uses 10,000 kWh/year. Are you ready to live on 65 kWh/year?"
Rooftop wind turbines are one of the most talked about trends in renewable energy. City dwellers and suburbanites, inspired by the spread of large turbines and intrigued by the idea of producing their own energy, are today inquiring about rooftop wind systems in record numbers.
But just how viable are these systems? Can small rooftop wind turbines ever produce enough electricity to make the investment worthwhile? Find out the answers to these and other commonly asked questions below. . . .
Will a small rooftop turbine power my whole house?
No. Small turbines can only produce small quantities of electricity due to their small rotors.
Rooftops are ill-suited to harness the wind regardless of their location due to the trees and buildings surrounding a home. Rooftops in the city are particularly difficult places to harness the breeze. Not only are cities less windy than the countryside, but the air is turbulent because of trees and the variation in heights of buildings. Turbulence can wear out a turbine and reduce its life expectancy.
One analysis showed that a common type of rooftop turbine (being tested by Madison Gas Electric) "had generated about 45 kWh in about eight months (in a year about 65 kWh). The average single family WI home uses 10,000 kWh/year. Are you ready to live on 65 kWh/year?"
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Outdated transmission system stalls progress on wind power
From a Gannett news article by Larry Bivins published in the Fond du Lac Reporter:
WASHINGTON — Wind has become the nation's most viable renewable energy option, and industry experts see plenty of potential in Wisconsin as policymakers demand that a larger percentage of energy come from wind, the sun and other clean-energy sources.
Last year, the state had the fourth highest rate of growth in wind capacity with the addition of three large wind projects, according to the American Wind Energy Association. The state now has 448 megawatts of wind power capacity.
Three major wind projects are in Fond du Lac County: Forward Wind Energy Center, Blue Skies Green Fields and Cedar Ridge Wind Farm.
But as support builds for wind and other renewable options, a major question remains: how to move electricity from the wind-swept prairies where it's generated to the big cities where it's needed.
Experts agree that the network of wires that move electricity from power plants to private homes and pubic buildings is old and unreliable. Adding renewable energy to the load would likely be too much for the system to handle.
Already, more than 70,000 megawatts of wind projects in the Upper Midwest are on hold because of insufficient transmission capacity, according to the AWEA. That could provide electricity for at least 14 million households.
"Transmission is really the glass ceiling for renewable energy development right now," said Beth Soholt, director of Wind on the Wires, a coalition of wind energy advocates based in St. Paul, Minn.
WASHINGTON — Wind has become the nation's most viable renewable energy option, and industry experts see plenty of potential in Wisconsin as policymakers demand that a larger percentage of energy come from wind, the sun and other clean-energy sources.
Last year, the state had the fourth highest rate of growth in wind capacity with the addition of three large wind projects, according to the American Wind Energy Association. The state now has 448 megawatts of wind power capacity.
Three major wind projects are in Fond du Lac County: Forward Wind Energy Center, Blue Skies Green Fields and Cedar Ridge Wind Farm.
But as support builds for wind and other renewable options, a major question remains: how to move electricity from the wind-swept prairies where it's generated to the big cities where it's needed.
Experts agree that the network of wires that move electricity from power plants to private homes and pubic buildings is old and unreliable. Adding renewable energy to the load would likely be too much for the system to handle.
Already, more than 70,000 megawatts of wind projects in the Upper Midwest are on hold because of insufficient transmission capacity, according to the AWEA. That could provide electricity for at least 14 million households.
"Transmission is really the glass ceiling for renewable energy development right now," said Beth Soholt, director of Wind on the Wires, a coalition of wind energy advocates based in St. Paul, Minn.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Wind siting bill passes major legislative hurdle with strong bipartisan support
From a news release issued by Clean Wisconsin:
Madison, Wis. – Wisconsin could soon see greater growth in the promising wind energy industry after the Assembly Committee on Energy and Utilities passed Assembly Bill 256 today, a bipartisan bill that would encourage growth in the clean energy industry by replacing a chaotic patchwork of local regulations with sensible statewide standards for permitting safe wind farms.
“Wind energy holds the potential to address many of the greatest problems facing our state –it can clean our environment and reduce global warming pollution while reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and creating jobs for hard working Wisconsinites,” said Amber Meyer Smith, program director at Clean Wisconsin the state’s largest environmental advocacy organization. “With so much to gain, we’re extremely encouraged that the legislature seems poised to eliminate administrative barriers holding up the development of this promising infant industry.”
As other industries 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. Unfortunately, while wind developers stand ready to invest in Wisconsin’s economy and put Wisconsinites to work building safe wind farms, a complicated system of over-stringent local regulations currently puts our state at a disadvantage to neighboring states, holding up more than an estimated 500 megawatts of wind farm development in the state.
Assembly bill 256 would charge the Wisconsin Public Service Commission with studying and determining safe permitting standards for wind farms, then replacing the current disorganized system that discourages the growth of the wind energy industry with sensible statewide standards.
Madison, Wis. – Wisconsin could soon see greater growth in the promising wind energy industry after the Assembly Committee on Energy and Utilities passed Assembly Bill 256 today, a bipartisan bill that would encourage growth in the clean energy industry by replacing a chaotic patchwork of local regulations with sensible statewide standards for permitting safe wind farms.
“Wind energy holds the potential to address many of the greatest problems facing our state –it can clean our environment and reduce global warming pollution while reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and creating jobs for hard working Wisconsinites,” said Amber Meyer Smith, program director at Clean Wisconsin the state’s largest environmental advocacy organization. “With so much to gain, we’re extremely encouraged that the legislature seems poised to eliminate administrative barriers holding up the development of this promising infant industry.”
As other industries 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. Unfortunately, while wind developers stand ready to invest in Wisconsin’s economy and put Wisconsinites to work building safe wind farms, a complicated system of over-stringent local regulations currently puts our state at a disadvantage to neighboring states, holding up more than an estimated 500 megawatts of wind farm development in the state.
Assembly bill 256 would charge the Wisconsin Public Service Commission with studying and determining safe permitting standards for wind farms, then replacing the current disorganized system that discourages the growth of the wind energy industry with sensible statewide standards.
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