Wrightstown company commits to wind and landfill gas electricity

From an article by Ed Byrne in the Appleton Post-Crescent:

WRIGHTSTOWN — Beginning Monday, Wrightstown-based Coating Excellence International will purchase electricity from Wisconsin Public Service Corp.'s NatureWise program.

The program sells power generated through wind generation and combustion of gas produced by local landfills and waste manure.

"We could have purchased renewable energy outside of Wisconsin, but we wanted to stay with a local provider," said George Fickau, CEI's manager of sustainable packaging.

"It is an option for customers who want to support more green energy," said Chip Bircher, WPS renewable energy product manager. "Our goal is to provide customers with a choice … and make it real simple and affordable."

The idea of NatureWise is to make maximum use of renewable and carbon-free energy.

When wood or coal is burned, carbon is consumed.

"That carbon now is floating up in the air somewhere, creating a warmer blanket which makes our Earth warmer," Fickau said. "Wind, hydro (and) solar really are not adding carbon to the air."

Under the NatureWise program, CEI and other participating WPS customers agree to pay a higher price to purchase power from a renewable source. WPS buys the power from producers or generates it by itself, then sells it to CEI and other NatureWise customers.

ECOS FV Sustainability Action Meeting

September 4, 6 pm - 8pm, Menasha Public Library

This meeting will feature the new open format where YOU the attendees will set the agenda for the evening and the available time will be allotted amongst those who wish to speak. Bring your community sustainability activities, your support needs and share them with the group. Catherine Neiswender of UW-Extension will facilitate this first session for us.

Neenah Paper to power largest mill with waste

An article in GreenBiz:

ALPHARETTA, Ga. -- Neenah Paper, a maker of premium and specialty paper, plans to power its largest mill with wood and fiber waste starting next year.

The company is contracting with Vision Power to build a biomass energy system at its Whiting Mill in Wisconsin. The biomass system is expected to be complete by late 2009, replacing the mill's gas-fired boilers.

The system will utilize waste from the mill, which accounts for more than half of Neenah's paper production, as well as other biomass to create steam energy.

Neenah utilizes biomass at another manufacturing site, and purchases local hydro, solar and wind power for other operations.

Aside from greening its energy, the company also provides a number of environmentally preferable products, with Forest Stewardship Council certified, Green-e certified, 100 percent recycled content and chlorine-free, Carbon Neutral through the Chicago Climate Exchange and Green Seal certified paper.

WPS estimates 25 percent increase in winter heating

From an editorial in the Green Bay Press-Gazette:

Climbing natural gas prices are expected to turn up the heat on winter heating bills this year, but residents can get to work now to start the savings.

Heating your home this winter could cost nearly 25 percent more than last year, according to Wisconsin Public Service Corp. estimates based on normal temperatures.

Last year's heating bill for an average user was about $750 for 900 therms of natural gas from Nov. 1 to March 31. This year, predictions put that price tag at $940 for 900 therms of natural gas — an average of $45 a month, said Kerry Spees, a spokesman for WPS.

It's a relief from predictions earlier this year of increases up to 50 percent, he said.

"The numbers are dropping," Spees said. "It's looking better. It's not looking good yet, but it's looking better."

A mild entry into winter will help keep those costs lower — as would a warm, but not hot, end to summer, he said.

Last year's winter was colder and longer than usual, Spees said, which required more natural gas, driving up the demand.

"The supply was the same, but the demand was up so the price is up," he said. "It's economics 101."

Keeping the thermostat down in the winter is a big energy saver; each degree could save about 3 percent on a heating bill, he said.

Maintenance such as replacing an old furnace or caulking and weather stripping cracks and windows help as well. And annual tune-ups may be easier to do now than later, said Randy Van Den Elzen, owner of Van's Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. in De Pere.

"Make sure your furnace works before it gets cold and then you can save money from the day you start using it," he said.

Air leaks in a home are the No. 1 reason customers lose energy and spend more on their heating bills, he said.

"If you caulk windows all the way around, it's almost as good as a new window," Van Den Elzen said.

Customers who aren't sure what would be the most efficient use of their time and money can set up home performance testing, he said.

Focus on Energy seeks large renewable projects to fund

From a media release issued by Focus on Energy:

Focus on Energy, Wisconsin's energy efficiency and renewable energy initiative, is helping businesses statewide become more energy independent by offering large, one time only grants to help finance the installation of innovative renewable energy systems. Eligible businesses must submit grant proposals to Focus on Energy by Oct. 29, 2008. Funds will be awarded on a competitive basis and are meant to support one project in each of the following technologies:

Industrial or Municipal Anaerobic Digesters
Many industries and wastewater treatment facilities are looking for a solution to both organic waste management and a source of on-site energy production. Anaerobic treatment of industrial or municipal wastewater can offset waste treatment costs by collecting and using biogas for energy applications. This grant will fund the installation of a commercially available anaerobic digester system in the $2 to $4 million range. The grant will reward up to 25 percent of the installed project cost, or a maximum of $500,000.

Biomass Combustion
Biomass Combustion can serve as on-site energy production for many industries and commercial facilities. The technology offsets energy costs by burning biomass for energy applications. Biomass combustion systems can help supply space heating, process heating, cooling and electricity. This grant will fund the installation of a commercially available biomass combustion system in the $2 to $4 million range. The grant will reward up to 25 percent of the installed project cost, or a maximum of $500,000.

Solar Water Heating
The sun's energy can be used to heat water for commercial and industrial applications. Businesses interested in implementing solar water heating can use this grant for the installation of one large, commercially-available solar water heating system or a group of systems owned by the same entity and installed simultaneously. This grant will fund the installation of a solar hot water system that offsets more than 10,000 therms per year. The grant will reward up to 25 percent of the installed project cost for tax-paying entities and up to 35 percent for nonprofits, or a maximum of $100,000.

Solar Electric
Solar energy can be converted directly to electricity with photovoltaic (PV) cells. As light strikes the PV cell, it creates an electrical potential that generates a current of electricity. To implement solar electricity, businesses can use this grant for the installation of a large solar electric system or groups of systems that are innovative and very visible. This grant will fund the installation of a PV system that produces more than 50 kilowatts (kW) per year. The grant will reward up to 25 percent of the installed project cost for tax-paying entities and up to 35 percent for nonprofits, or a maximum of $100,000.

Wind Energy
The energy present in wind can be converted into electricity with a wind turbine. Wind passing over the turbine creates a rotary motion that turns an electric generator and creates electricity. This grant will provide financial support for the installation of one commercially available wind energy system that demonstrates a new type of turbine, has a special type of application and/or provides very high visibility and educational value. To be eligible the project must produce 20 kW to 100 kW per year. This grant will reward up to 35 percent of the installed project cost, or a maximum of $100,000.

"These grants offer a one time opportunity for businesses and non-profits to apply for projects that are twice as large as those normally accepted by Focus on Energy. We believe there is an emerging demand for renewable energy systems at this larger level, offering businesses a way to mitigate the effects of fossil-fuel-based energy use, reduce pollution and lessen America's dependence on energy from overseas," said Don Wichert, program director for Focus on Energy's Renewable Energy Program.

Take the Natural Step

Are you interested in helping to build community understanding and knowledge about sustainability?

Individuals and groups in communities all over Wisconsin are reading The Natural Step for Communities: How Cities and Towns can Change to Sustainable Practices. This book is commonly used for group study circles to deepen people's understanding about sustainable communities and the decision-making process that leads to them.

Torbjorn Lahti (co-author of the book and founder of the eco-municipality movement) has been quoted saying, "Perhaps the most important factor to why we were successful in becoming an eco-municipality were study circles…It's a question of people taking control over their own situation and their own future."

Many people who have participated in a study circle have felt more informed, empowered, and encouraged to create positive change in their own community.

If you are interested in being part of a study circle, please contact:
Leslie Taylor at ltaylor@sustainfv.org (920-739-7307), or Catherine Neiswender at catherine.neiswender@ces.uwex.edu (920-232-1972).

States, not Congress, are energy leaders

From an editorial in the Sheboygan Press:

Wisconsin has positioned itself well for the development of alternative fuels that someday will replace the fossil fuels we are now burning.


We are well ahead of the curve on the conversion of cellulose-based materials into fuel, whether it be corn, corn stover, wood waste or switch grass.

For sure, the state is doing its part not only to research and develop the fuels of the future that will reduce the amount of oil needed to be imported — and boost the state's economy at the same time. Wisconsin is also blessed with one of the best research facilities in the world — the University of Wisconsin, which also puts us well ahead of other states.

Whether you agree with the conclusions of Gov. Jim Doyle's Global Warming Task Force or not, the fact remains that the world's supply of fossil fuels — oil and coal in particular — is not unlimited, and demand will not likely decrease.

Alternative sources of energy must be the focus now and in the future.

Proponents of drilling for oil in ocean waters off the U.S. shore and in the Alaskan wilderness make a strong argument — and these ideas deserve to be considered along with nuclear power as the nation looks for energy answers.

But we think the more immediate and longer-term solution to energy needs is development of renewable sources, which have the potential of reducing the cost of energy.

Once the oil and coal are gone, they are gone for good. Not so with many of the energy sources already in use or under study; they are renewable and can be further developed and made more efficient and less costly.

It would be great if Congress had the same focus on energy that Wisconsin and other states have. While individual states can play a role in finding the solutions to the energy future, the lack of a national energy policy and plan leaves the U.S. in a vulnerable position when dealing with supply and demand issues.

But there is nothing to indicate that Congress, which will come back into session following Labor Day, has any intention of tackling energy issues before the November election.

But when they do, perhaps our federal lawmakers can take a cue from states such as Wisconsin that have set realistic goals of using more renewable sources of energy and are encouraging the research into alternative fuel sources.

What the nation doesn't need are short-term, feel-good ideas being promoted by the presidential candidates, like John McCain's proposal for a gas tax holiday or Barack Obama's call for tapping into the nation's oil reserve.

A creative fix for our energy troubles

An editorial from the Green Bay Press-Gazette:

Brown County's proposal to convert landfill gas into usable energy is an example of what needs to be done to create a sustainable community.

"Sustainability" is a modern buzzword that essentially applies to habits and practices that can be maintained indefinitely, as opposed to activities that damage resources beyond repair. One way to do that is to find a use for materials that once were cast aside and forgotten.

We have been a throwaway society — content or even eager to use products that last a finite amount of time and then go to a landfill. Once in the landfill, garbage decomposes, much of it forming methane and other gases that are burned off to avoid a potentially explosive situation.

Now Brown County is working on a plan to convert that once-wasted gas into energy. The Ledgeview Town Board will be reviewing the proposal for possible approval this afternoon.

The $4 million project could generate as much as $7 million in revenue, and the $3 million profit can be used to maintain and protect county landfills for years to come, according to Chuck Larscheid, Brown County solid waste director.

The facility at the former east county landfill, 3750 Heritage Road, is expected to convert as much as 98 percent of the landfill gas into usable energy over about 11 years, Larscheid said.

Like the recent story of the Hickory Hills Golf Club lawn mowers that are fueled by used vegetable oil from a Culver's restaurant in Appleton, the Brown County proposal shows that even what we have generally considered waste can be recycled creatively and usefully.

West De Pere taps solar power to fuel green learning

From an article by Sarah Kloepping in the Green Bay Press-Gazette:

West De Pere High School recently joined 20 area high schools that use solar energy to power classrooms and teach kids about alternative energy.

Through the Wisconsin Public Service Corp. Foundation program SolarWise, West De Pere had solar panels installed on the roof and received a three-week curriculum package to teach students about renewable energy. The program is covered by donations from 3,800 WPS customers and grants from Focus on Energy.

West De Pere principal Russ Gerke said the school was on a waiting list to have the panels installed for about two years.

"It's just another piece of the puzzle," Gerke said. "We're also looking at the recycling in the school and we've had 'ride your bike to school' day. It's all part of going green."

The solar panels supply enough energy to power about three classrooms per year, which saves about $200 to $300. But saving money is not the most important part of the program, said Chip Bircher, renewable energy product manager at WPS.

"The main goal of the program really is to educate students, the school and the surrounding community about the potential for renewable energy," he said.

New farm bill increases funding for renewable energy

From the Web site of the AgStar Program:

In May 2008, Congress enacted the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (H.R. 2419), which builds upon the successful energy provisions found in the 2002 Farm Bill. Under the new "Farm Bill," the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program, also known as Section 9006, has been replaced with the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), Section 9007. Like its predecessor, REAP provides grants and loan guarantees to farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy. Many anaerobic digesters have been funded through this program in the past. This new version provides an opportunity for funding for more projects in the future. . . .

Highlights of REAP include:

- REAP grants can provide up to 25 percent of a proposed project's cost, and can also provide a loan guarantee for the full project cost of up to $25 million. The combined amount of a grant and loan guarantee may not exceed 75 percent of the cost of the project.

- At least 20 percent of program funds are set aside to be used for grants of $20,000 or less.

- Feasibility studies are now eligible for grants that can cover up to 25 percent of the study's cost.

- The types of organizations eligible for grants are expanded to include state and local governments, universities, rural electricity cooperatives, and other organizations that help farmers become more energy efficient and effectively use renewable energy technologies.

Andy Olson, Sr. Policy Advocate-Environmental Law and Policy Center, will discuss the farm bill's provisions at the Renewable Wood Energy workshop, September 4, in Green Bay.

Wind program blows in at Lakeshore Tech

From an article by Helen Clarke in the Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter:

CLEVELAND — When Velvet Sommers took to the ladder of Lakeshore Technical College's newly erected wind turbine [pictured on the right] on Nov. 2, 2005, a Wind Energy Technology program was nowhere to be found in the college catalog.

In fact, the course that made her climb possible was created uniquely for her.

Less than three years since LTC saw its first "tower monkey" make the climb all students will have the opportunity to follow in the former student's footsteps beginning this fall.

The 2008-09 school year marks the start of the Manitowoc County college's Wind Energy Technology associate degree in applied science program. Students can enroll in the program — the only one in the state — to learn the essentials to become skilled technicians for operation and maintenance work on wind turbines.

And if the village of Cleveland approves the college's request to erect two additional turbines on its property, Doug Lindsey, dean of agriculture, apprenticeships, trade and industry, said LTC will be the only college in North America to host multiple small wind turbines.

When Wind Energy Technology instructor Jenny Heinzen was hired at LTC, she didn't have much of a background in renewable energy. But this summer, she was named the recipient of the first state Small Wind Educator Award. She is finishing up her master's degree at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and also is responsible for creating the independent study course that led Sommers on her first wind turbine climb.

Five energy proposals for Wisconsin

From a commentary by Don Wichert, director of renewable energy programs for Focus on Energy, in the Wisconsin State Journal:

High energy prices and potential supply disruptions can prompt creative thinking and new approaches in thousands of situations. Here are five energy proposals that could be started immediately.

The most imminent is to provide innovative and analytical support to rebuild flooded homes and communities with sustainable energy designs.

Wisconsin folks have done this before in Soldiers Grove in 1978. This community effort can be replicated and improved upon using 30 years of sustainable development practices.

The second proposal is to retool the General Motors plant in Janesville to make the new GM Plug-In Hybrid Electric "Volt" or some similar next generation vehicle.

The changing of the car guard from big to efficient is a perfect transitional energy fit and an entire trained workforce and significant manufacturing infrastructure awaits in Janesville.

The Volt is due to be produced in 2010 for the 2011 model year, about the same time Janesville's SUV line will close.

Proposal three is to get the Wisconsin printing industry, led by companies like Quad Graphics, Serigraph and others, to start printing solar electric "paint" on building materials, like roofing, siding and windows.

A company called NanoSolar in the Silicon Valley has shown that this process can be done at drastically reduced cost. And that's when the printing techniques were developed from scratch.

This is a fantastic opportunity for our mature printing industry to follow suit.

Petri helps launch "bike-partisan" event at political conventions

From a media release issued by Rep. Tom Petri:

WASHINGTON - At a blazingly hot press conference Wednesday in front of the U.S. Capitol, Representatives Tom Petri (R-WI) and Earl Blumenaur (D-OR), the co-chairs of the Congressional Bike Caucus, announced a bipartisan - or, as they put it, a "bike-partisan" challenge for the Democratic National Convention in Denver Aug. 25-28 and the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis - St. Paul Sept. 1-4.

In association with Bikes Belong and Humana Health Insurance Inc., the congressmen reported that 1,000 bicycles will be available at each convention for anybody who would like to try out bike sharing to get some exercise and tour the host cities between convention activities.

As a part of the "Freewheelin" challenge, delegates and all convention-goers will be urged to get on bikes and, collectively, participate in 10,000 bicycle rides totaling 25,000 miles.

After the conventions, 30 bikes will be donated to each city to begin bike-sharing programs.

In Celebration of Nature, Aug. 22-24, 2008

From the Wild Ones:

IN CELEBRATION OF NATURE, Wild Ones annual meeting and conference, a weekend seminar on native landscaping, will be held for the first time in the Fox Valley Friday through Sunday, August 22-24, 2008. Open to the public, the conference is hosted by national Wild Ones and the Fox Valley Area Chapter of Wild Ones.

Sunday’s Keynote speaker, internationally known naturalist Neil Diboll, owner of Prairie Nursery in Westfield will speak about "What’s on the Horizon? The Future of natural landscaping." Banquet keynote is Dr Gregory Summers, author and professor of environmental history at UW-Stevens Point, will speak on "Environmentalism in the Fox River Valley and the rest of the USA."

Other speakers include Ann Rosenberg on "Raptors: Up Close & Personal," Anita Carpetner on "Birds, Bugs and Butterflies," Connie Ramthun on "Favorite Prairie Forbs and Grasses," and David Kopitzke on "Fun Facts about Woodland Plants."

A series of free leadership workshops will be held on Saturday afternoon. Activities will be held at the Wild Ones Ecology Center in Neenah and Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, Wisconsin.

For more information, call Donna at 920-730-3986 or register on-line.

Thank you.

Donna VanBuecken, Executive Director
Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes

Wild Ones promotes environmentally sound landscaping practices to preserve biodiversity through the preservation, restoration and establishment of native plant communities. Wild Ones is a not-for-profit environmental education and advocacy organization.

Kaukauna utility bets on solar

From a story by J.E. Espino in the Appleton Post-Crescent:

KAUKAUNA — As the 1000 Islands Environmental Center's naturalist, Debbie Nowak's job is to educate visitors about natural resources and how to conserve them.

With energy costs continuing to rise, Nowak is especially stoked about showing off the solar panel units recently attached to the center's roof. The panels will produce enough energy to save 1000 Islands 30 percent of its average energy costs, estimates Kaukauna Utilities.

"Above and beyond that, it helps to portray more of an environmental message," Nowak said. "People can see that you need electricity to power everything. You can get solar energy and use it to power your entire house or a fraction of your house for even something as simple as your water heater."

The center is one of four sites the utility selected to test solar panel systems. The company will pay for similar projects at Kaukauna High School, its own building and possibly the homes of two employees.

Jim Brown, an energy services representative for the utility, said the utility will activate meters today at the high school and nature center to measure how much energy each system produces. The panel installation is being handled by H&H Electric Co. of Madison.

Photo: A crew from H&H Electric installs a solar electric system on a house just north of Madison.

Focus on Wind Energy, ECOS-FV Meeting, Aug. 7

Wisconsin’s leaders have passed a Renewable Energy Standard goal calling for 10 percent of the state’s electricity to come from renewable sources by the year 2015.

Dave Muench, Community Outreach Specialist of EcoEnergy Wind, will speak at the Aug. 7 meeting of ECOS Fox Valley, 6:30 -7:30 pm at the Menasha Library, lower level meeting room.

Muench will speak about wind energy in general and also will highlight the WPPI-Kaukauna Utilities wind energy facility that EcoEnergy is developing. The Kaukauna project will have up to 5 turbines and will generate 7.5 megawatts of clean, green power, enough electricity to power more than 2,000 homes each year. The ECOS meeting begins at 6:00 pm with Muench speaking at 6:30 pm.

The meetings are always open to the public at no cost.

“EcoEnergy is currently developing wind projects totaling more than 2800 megawatts (MW),” said EcoEnergy President Shawn Gaffney. “We are in this business because we believe that wind energy is an environmentally sound and good economic answer to meet our country’s growing energy needs, now and in the future.” EcoEnergy has wind energy projects in Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan and Arizona.

Call 722-6438 for questions about the August 7 meeting. ECOS-Fox Valley is a coalition of non-profit organizations, businesses, governments and citizens that plans with and advocates for the Fox Valley region, for a future that is locally self-reliant and that sustains the regional and global environment.

Workshop: Working Smarter with Renewable Wood Energy

From a media release issued by Focus on Energy:

MADISON, Wis. (August 4, 2008) - On Sept. 4, Focus on Energy, Wisconsin's energy efficiency and renewable energy initiative, will host a conference demonstrating how businesses and organizations can take advantage of Wisconsin's most abundant natural resource - wood. The one-day conference titled "Work Smarter with Wood, Renewable Wood Energy," will be held at the Best Western Midway Hotel in Green Bay, Wis., and will offer attendees information and tours highlighting how wood can be used to generate bioenergy. In addition, the conference is being presented as a precursor to the 63rd Annual Lake States Logging Congress - the Midwest's largest forestry tradeshow - presented by the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association September 4 - 6. . . .

Focus on Energy's conference will consist of information sessions and keynotes, including speakers from the Office of Energy Independence, the Environmental Law & Policy Center, the Pellet Fuel Institute, and Focus on Energy. There will also be tours of two area facilities that are benefiting from the use of renewable wood energy, ST Paper and Pomp's Service. Attendees will have a chance to tour a biomass combustion system located at ST Paper and Pomp's Service's wood brokering facility (ST Paper acquires their wood fuel from Pomp's).

Complete workshop details here.

Orion makes another jobs promise

From an article by Charlie Mathews in the Sheboygan Press:

MANITOWOC — Louie Mitcheltree remembered back to June 2004 when he was the only employee in the building, the former mammoth distribution center of Mirro cookware and bakeware.

“There certainly have been a lot of changes,” said Mitcheltree on Thursday, a few minutes after Gov. Jim Doyle was in the Mirro Drive plant now owned by Orion Energy Systems.

In return for agreeing to add 170 jobs over the next three years, Doyle said Orion will receive $854,500 in community development zone tax credits.

It’s a dollar-for-dollar deduction on its Wisconsin corporate income tax return, said Dan Waibel, president of Orion Assets Management.

“The pay will range between $13 to $16.25 an hour, and there’s a requirement we can’t move for five years,” Waibel said.

“We bet on a pretty good horse,” Doyle said of Plymouth-based Orion, which, aided by a 2004 state jobs credit package of $350,000, now has 131 manufacturing employees and another 101 in sales, project management and corporate services.

Orion’s energy-efficient technologies include lighting systems it says produces twice as much light for half the cost.

Its Apollo Light Pipes use “direct renewable energy” — the sun — to bring light to a building’s interior.