Green Bay-area residents urge bill to support regional transit

From an article by Charles Davis in the Green Bay Press Gazette:

DE PERE — Green Bay area residents urged local legislators Tuesday night to draft a state bill in support of a regional transit authority.

"I truly believe we need access to buses, trains and everything we need to get around our communities," said state Rep. Penny Bernard Schaber, D-Appleton, during a forum at the Kress Family Branch of the Brown County Library.
State law does not permit the formation of such transit authorities, but legislation circulating around the Assembly would allow for such an authority in the Fox Cities area, Schaber said.

The Green Bay area population is expected to exceed 200,000 when the 2010 U.S. Census is tabulated. Starting in 2012, this "critical mass" will result in the loss of more than $550,000 in federal aid for the Green Bay Metro system that will force the local area to fill the gaps, Schaber said. Sending a possible sales tax increase to referendum could generate the money after the authority is established, she added.

About 100 people attended the forum and questioned rising gas prices and environmental benefits. Schaber urged those in favor of a transit authority to call and write letters to representatives of the state Senate.

Cathy Putman of Allouez worked on a recent transportation study and said it takes riders about an hour and a half to travel from only De Pere to Ashwaubenon.
"It's just really clear the current transit system in Green Bay is inadequate, and we know that because of funding. We have to move forward in some fashion," she said.

Hearing on Fox Valley transit authority, March 11, Madison

A public hearing regarding Assembly Bill 734, relating to the creation of a Fox Cities regional transit authority.

Assembly Committee on Transportation
March 11, 2010 at 10:00 AM.
Room 412 East

Fox Valley transit forum, tonight, March 9

From a news release issued by several organizations:

The Transit Forum in De Pere will attract businesses, individuals and agencies expressing a desire to increase mobility, access and transportation choices in their communities. In the Fox Cities area, over 15 letters of support for forming a Fox Valley Regional Transit Authority have been received from a variety of county, city, town and other local sources. In the Green Bay Metro service area, six resolutions supporting the formation of a Greater Green Bay Regional Transit Authority have been passed by City councils or Village boards.

“The future of transit in this region is in jeopardy,” stated Joyce McCollum, League of Women Voters of Greater Green Bay, the Forum moderator. “The 2010 federal census is expected to exceed 200,000 population for Appleton and Green Bay. Future federal transit funds will then only be available for capital purchases but not for transit operations.”

Federal funds available to cities over 200,000 in population can be used for capital purchases, like buses, but not for transit operations, like driver salaries and fuel. Paul Linzmeyer, NEW North Sustainability Chair and a Forum panelist, will explain the importance of Regional Transit Authorities in the Fox Cities and Green Bay Metro Areas in creating jobs, spurring development and economic growth, and attracting and retaining businesses and investors. This dynamic region has a bright future, but needs to continue to build and strengthen transportation connections with other economic centers. . . .

The Forum is a collaborative effort of NEW North Sustainability Committee, League of Women Voters, Sierra Club, WISPIRG, Valley Transit, Green Bay Metro and others.

WHAT:
Forum: Transportation Choices for the Fox Cities and Greater Green Bay Areas

WHEN:
Tuesday March 9th, 2010
5:45 pm. – 7:45 pm.

WHERE:
DePere Kress Family Branch library
333 N. Broadway
DePere, WI

SPEAKERS:
Panel of local leaders on public transit, transportation choices and the need for a Regional Transit Authority.
Paul Linzmeyer, NEW North Sustainability Chair
State Representative Penny Bernard Schaber, 57th District
Brown County Executive Tom Hintz

Food security discussion at United Way meeting

United Way Fox Cities
Basic Needs & Self-Sufficiency Impact Area

Wednesday, March 10, 2010
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
United Way Fox Cities
1455 Midway Road, Menasha

Meeting room: Conference room

AGENDA
I. Welcome and Overview of Agenda - 4:30pm

II. Education Panel: Food Security - 4:40 - 5:50pm

A. Guest Panelists Share Information
+ American Red Cross, Neenah-Menasha
+ Christ the Rock Community Church
+ St. Joseph Food Program
+ The Salvation Army Fox Cities
+ County Representatives: Calumet, Outagamie, Winnebago
+ Univ. of WI – Extension, Outagamie County

B. Defining key issues pertaining to Food Security
+ Trends and Issues.
+ Understanding and defining the needs and gaps in services.
+ Current services or systems in place for various population segments.
+ Established collaborations, networks, or coalitions addressing issues.
+ Possible solutions or action steps and barriers to success.

C. General Q & A Session

III. Next Steps / Other Business - 5:50 - 5:55pm

IV. Adjourn - 6:00pm

Discussion on Fox Valley transit options, March 9

Tuesday 9 March
5.45 pm to 7.45
De Pere Branch Library
333 N Broadway

The Sierra Club, WISPIRG, and Save Green Bay Transit are sponsoring a discussion of broader Transportation Options for the Fox Valley and Brown County including discussion of the Fox Valley Regional Transit Authority proposal currently in the Legislature.

Turbine rises in Door County

Seventh Generation Engery, Madison, installed a 25 kilowatt V-15 turbine at Feathered Star Bed & Breakfast just north of Carlsville.

PSC chair: No action on Clean Jobs = increase in electricity bills

Excerpts of a letter from PSC Chair Eric Callisto to the special legislative committees on clean energy jobs:

February 19, 2010

Assembly Special Committee on Clean Energy Jobs
Wisconsin State Assembly
Madison, WI 53702

Dear Committee Members:

I am writing in response to a letter dated February 9,2010 from Representatives Huebsch, Montgomery, and Gunderson requesting a Commission analysis of the expected costs to utilities and ratepayers of meeting a 25% by 2025 Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) as proposed in the Clean Energy Jobs Act. As I have testified to both the Assembly and Senate Select Committees, the electric utility sector policies in the proposed legislation - namely, the enhanced RPS and energy efficiency provisions - represent sound energy policy for Wisconsin. The Commission's analysis shows that if we continue with business as usual, if we decide to do nothing, we are taking on great financial risk in a changing world, and our ratepayers will be leaving substantial dollars on the table.

. . . [W]hat follows is a summary of preliminary PSC cost modeling of the RPS and energy efficiency components of the CEJA. PSC staff modeled the costs of the RPS and energy efficiency policies together, because the RPS requirements are expressed as a percentage of retail electricity sales. It would be unrealistic to estimate the costs of the RPS requirements in the proposed legislation while ignoring that the same legislation seeks to reduce the growth in demand for electricity. The two policies are inherently connected.

The modeling shows that in every case in which GHGs are monetized (i.e., there is a compliance cost associated with emitting GHGs), the cost of the CEJA is less than the cost of the status quo over the long run. That is, we will in all likelihood be spending more on electricity in the long run if we don't act now and enact enhanced renewable portfolio standards and take more aggressive action on energy efficiency. . . . (emphasis in original letter)