Foward Wind

Photo by Barger Photography (courtesy of Michels Corporation)

Burning tires for fuel stirs debate in Neenah

From an article by Duke Behnke in the Appleton Post-Crescent:

NEENAH — About 90 people crowded into City Hall on Thursday afternoon for a public hearing on Fox Valley Energy Center's plan to burn shredded tires as fuel in its paper sludge combustor.

Several speakers supported the change from coal to shredded tires, known as tire-derived fuel, as a means to preserve the economic vitality of the plant and the paper mills it serves.

A greater number of speakers asked state regulators to block the change, fearing not only hazardous air pollution but also odor.

"If you smell it, it's too late," said Fred Riddell, 811 Neff Court. "You are breathing things like dioxin and potentially heavy metals, including mercury, lead, zinc … things that you have to be concerned about."

Fox Valley Energy Center, formerly Minergy Neenah, asked the Department of Natural Resources for an exemption to its air pollution control permit to test the burning of tire-derived fuel in its furnace to reduce operating costs. The plant burns coal and paper sludge to produce steam.

The DNR made a preliminary determination in late August that the three-month test would not present a significant hazard to public health or the environment. It sought public comment during a 10-day period, but local government officials and residents demanded a longer comment period and a public hearing.

Lawrence University launches new green initiative

From an article by Kate McGinty in the Appleton Post-Crescent:

APPLETON — The Vikings want to go green.

Lawrence University launched a campuswide initiative Thursday to build on the school's drive for environmental sustainability.

It already has entered into an exclusive partnership with the students who maintain the Sustainable Lawrence University Garden. All produce grown in the garden now is served in Lawrence dining halls.

The school also recently signed with Red Barn Family Farms, a new Appleton family-owned dairy company, to serve its premium brand of milk in both of the college's dining halls beginning the end of this month. The local shipment will reduce gasoline emissions and support the Fox Valley economy.

Lawrence will intensify its efforts with Green Roots, a 10-person committee of faculty, staff and students. They will study the environmental footprint of the college and propose institutional changes to increase environmental awareness and sustainability.

"This is Earth. This is where we live, and we only have one of these," said Jeff Clark, associate professor of geology and a committee spokesman.

The biggest push for sustainability on campus is already in the works. The Campus Center — a $35 million building slated for completion next spring — will compete for environmentally friendly certification.

Wisconsin’s newest wind projects in the Fox Valley

RENEW Wisconsin's summer/fall edition of Wisconsin Renewable Quarterly is now online, including the following articles:

Peak Oil Spices Meeting with Cong. Baldwin
Countdown to Solar Tour
Solar H2O on Madison Fire Stations
Global Warming Task Force Report
Wisconsin’s Newest Wind Projects
PHEV+Wind=Clean Air
Small Wind Conference Wrap-up
Calendar

WPPI wants to fund zero energy homes

From a media release from Wisconsin Public Power, Incorporated:

Homeowners looking to build or remodel in communities served by WPPI member utilities have an opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint through WPPI’s GreenMax Home program. WPPI is now soliciting competitive proposals for grants to help fund the construction of up to three net zero energy homes within WPPI member utility service areas.

As part of WPPI’s overall efforts to encourage public and community support for renewable energy, energy conservation and energy efficiency, the GreenMax Home program will help customers build highly efficient, environmentally friendly homes. Grants will be awarded to cover part of the incremental cost of designing and building a GreenMax Home over the cost of constructing a conventional Upper Midwest house. Incremental costs will include the design elements and technologies directly related to reducing energy use or producing energy through renewable resources.

“We are pleased to present another opportunity for homeowners in WPPI member communities to build and live in homes with net zero energy use,” said Senior Vice President of Customer Services and Administration Tom Paque. “The GreenMax Home program allows homeowners to take advantage of renewable energy technologies and demonstrate practical approaches to the efficient use of energy.”

WPPI’s GreenMax Home program supports the design and lifestyle choices that move a home from “highly efficient” to “net zero.” Net zero homes combine state-of-the-art green and environmentally friendly technologies and practices with renewable energy technology to ensure that the homes produce as much energy as they consume. To the greatest extent possible, the energy consumption (heating, cooling and electrical) of the homes will be provided by renewable energy sources.

WPPI's member utilities are
Alger Delta, MI
Algoma
Baraga, MI
Black River Falls
Boscobel
Brodhead
Cedarburg
Columbus
Cuba City
Eagle River
Evansville
Florence
Gladstone, MI
Hartford
Hustisford
Independence, IA
Jefferson
Juneau
Kaukauna
L'Anse, MI
Lake Mills
Lodi
Maquoketa, IA
Menasha
Mount Horeb
Muscoda
Negaunee, MI
New Glarus
New Holstein
New London
New Richmond
Norway, MI
Oconomowoc
Oconto Falls
Plymouth
Prairie du Sac
Reedsburg
Richland Center
River Falls
Slinger
Stoughton
Sturgeon Bay
Sun Prairie
Two Rivers
Waterloo
Waunakee
Waupun
Westby
Whitehall

High energy prices spur interest in renewable sources

From an article by Malavika Jagannathan in the Green Bay Press Gazette:

When Euripides Ortiz started building a solar-paneled patio next to his Ashwaubenon house, he said his neighbor thought he was building a grandstand.

Today, his panels, which generate the majority of the home's electricity, are a topic of interest around the neighborhood. For a year, he's been running most of the home's electricity from these 15,300-watt panels, reducing his electric bills from $200 a month to $30.

"There has to be something you can do as an individual," said Ortiz, a retired Department of Corrections officer. "Once I got started, it only took me a couple of months."

Crippling gas prices have many people looking to alternative energy sources for their homes, such as solar, wind or geothermal. Although the initial costs may be high, the payback comes in energy savings and from an environmental standpoint.

According to the Energy Information Administration, 7 percent of the country's energy consumption in 2007 came from renewable sources, including wind, solar, geothermal, biomass and hydroelectricity. State data show that wood and solar constitute most of the renewable sources used in homes, with utilities leaning toward hydroelectricity, biogas and wind.

Both the state and federal governments offer tax breaks and other incentives for homeowners who choose to install alternative energy sources in their homes.

Gov. Doyle announces regional initiative focused on wind energy support

From a media release issued by Governor Jim Doyle:

MADISON - Today Governor Jim Doyle and four other Midwest Governors announced the creation of a regional transmission planning effort that will promote regional electric transmission investment and cost sharing. The Upper Midwest Transmission Development Initiative will identify wind generation resources, transmission projects and infrastructure needed to support those resources in a cost-effective manner. Over the next 12 months, participants will determine a reasonable allocation for the costs of the region and will lead to the development of a concrete plan or tariff proposal for the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (MISO).

Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota will join Wisconsin to coordinate efforts among state regulatory agencies, transmission companies, utilities, independent generation owners and other key stakeholders in the initiative. These states will work closely with MISO which is presently conducting a variety of transmission planning studies with results expected in 2009.

“Coordinated transmission planning centered on renewable energy is critical to providing a diverse supply of affordable, clean energy to our region,” Governor Jim Doyle said. “The coordinated transmission planning we are announcing today matches the recommendations made in a report by Wisconsin’s Global Warming Task Force.”

Governors from the other four participating states also expressed optimism for this joint effort . . .

Turbines at the end of the rainbow

From the blog Butter Side Down:

Last Monday, even though it was raining, we decided to take a drive to find the new wind farm that was completed this summer in northeast Wisconsin. The wind farm was designed to generate 145 megawatts (MW) of electricity from 88 Vestas wind turbines, which means it’s capable of powering about 36,000 homes. In practical terms, that means that this wind field alone generates enough power to provide the electricity for two out of every hundred residences in Wisconsin.

Sounds like a winner to me.

Right as we approached, the sun came out from a break in the clouds behind us, creating a spectacular rainbow arching over the wind turbines.

See the photo.

Another strike against oil: Mother Nature's wrath

From an editorial in The Northwestern (Oshkosh):

It was certainly no butterfly. But hard to dispute we aren't feeling the "flap of its wings."

The spiking variations in gas prices around the Oshkosh area and the Fox Valley in the wake of Hurricane Ike supply more motivation to pursue alternative energy sources. Obviously, Mother Nature hasn't a care about the location of domestic oil rigs and refineries.

On Monday, the price of an unleaded gallon of gasoline was on its way up, anywhere from $3.80 at one Oshkosh filling station to $4.20 at another in Fond du Lac. If you don't like Ike, we understand. It's having an impact on gasoline prices everywhere.

Do our congressional and presidential candidates care to talk about this most recent and potent shortcoming of oil and its production as the rhetoric heats up on more drilling in North America's hurricane alley?

Does the latest pain at the pump everyday people in places like Fond du Lac, Oshkosh and Appleton endure matter – places far from hurricane territory yet places, as of Monday, trying to fathom a 40-cent variation in surging unleaded gasoline rates?

Ike's wrath is only the latest reminder of all the limitation that comes with oil and our addiction to it. News flash: Its production and price are at the mercy of monster storms … in addition to Middle Eastern interests that control it and don't share our purest, most democratic, most fundamental human values. Not to mention its limited supply globally… not to mention the pollution it causes. Only an addict would tolerate all of these unhealthy drawbacks to feed his cravings.

For a nation that put human beings on the moon almost 40 years ago, our approach to pushing for renewable, alternative, clean sources of energy is weak, and Ike's wake reminds us of that.

Our push for things like hydrogen-fired, clean-burning automobiles is anemic when it should be surging, itself the focus — the raging eye — of a presidential campaign and election. Real leadership and real solutions on alternative energy have been relegated to a few lines of a political speech, no focused, attainable energy challenge laid before the feet of the American people other than unformulated energy independence benchmarks.

Brown Co. to build landfill gas-to-energy plant

From an article by Sara Boyod in the Green Bay Press-Gazette:

LEDGEVIEW — Construction of a gas-to-energy facility at 3750 Heritage Road could begin as early as September, officials said.

The Town Board approved the request from the county to build the facility Tuesday; it would collect methane gas from the existing landfill and turn it into usable energy.

Officials want construction to be completed in January or February 2009 and for the facility to be ready for operation, said Chuck Larscheid, solid waste director for Brown County.

With a price tag of about $4 million — borrowed from the future landfill cell development fund — the facility will pull gas from the landfill and sell it to Wisconsin Public Service, Larscheid said. Borrowed funds would be paid back in roughly six years before any of those funds would be needed, he said.

"We made an agreement with them so they will purchase the energy we produce," he said, adding that the cost to the Wisconsin Public Service Corp. — a few cents per kilowatt-hour — will vary depending on the time of day.

The estimate is to sell the electricity at about 7 cents for each kilowatt-hour to produce roughly $3 million in net profit over the life of the facility, he said. . . .

Wind farm open house, Saturday, Sept. 13

The Blue Sky Green Field Wind Energy Center, located in the towns of Calumet and Marshfield in northeast Fond du Lac County, is designed to generate 145 megawatts (MW) of electricity, and is capable of powering approximately 36,000 average residential homes. The site consists of 88 wind turbines.

Construction of the project began in June 2007. On May 19, 2008, Blue Sky Green Field was placed into commercial operation. The turbines are capable of generating more than 328 million emission-free kilowatt-hours annually.

Saturday, Sept.13
9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Blue Sky Green Field Office
N9470 County Highway W
Malone, WI 53049

Tours will be given approximately every 30 minutes. WE Energies invites you to stop by at your convenience during the tour hours listed above. No reservations required.
The turbine is located a short walking distance from the parkingarea. Please wear sturdy shoes suitable for walking on a graveled surface.

ECOS-Fox Valley offers car poolilng.

Webinar on sustainable energy for green communities

WHAT:
Focus on Energy, Wisconsin's energy efficiency and renewable energy initiative, is proud to sponsor a Webinar on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008 titled Sustainable Energy for Green Communities.

The Webinar is designed for individuals who envision a greener future for their communities. Participants will be presented an overview on how to create a community energy plan with energy sustainability as a key component. This plan focuses on areas such as carbon emissions and environmental quality, energy efficiency strategies to apply at the community level and a discussion on renewable resources such as solar, biomass and wind energy.

Participants will also learn how Focus on Energy can assist communities in implementing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. In addition, other community energy resources will be presented from the University of Wisconsin Extension Service, and the Wisconsin Office of Energy Independence through its Energy Independent Communities Program.

WHEN:
Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008
12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

REGISTRATION and COST:
Those interested in participating in the Sustainable Energy for Green Communities Webinar can register online at www.ecw.org/sustenergy. The cost is $29.00.

WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE:
Local government officials and planners, private planning consultants, plan commissioners, and other professionals and volunteers involved in sustainable community planning issues. (1.25 AICP Certification Maintenance credits, AICP approval pending)

Town of Menasha will rebid solar project

An article from The Post-Crescent (Appleton):

TOWN OF MENASHA — Plans to erect a 28-kilowatt solar system on the west side of the town's municipal complex are on hold for now for cost reasons.

The Town Board Monday rejected the two bids received for the ground-mounted photo-voltaic system because the town's cost exceeded its budget by $38,580.

"We're going to re-bid it," said Community Development director George Dearborn. The town estimated the system to cost $250,000 overall with two grants totaling nearly $150,000 and $100,608 included in a town borrowing package.

H&H Solar Energy Services, Madison, had the low bid of $288,465.

Originally, the plan had been to place the solar system on the roof of the town garage but Dearborn said the roof could not support it. The pole mounts caused the price of the system to increase, he said.

Earlier this year, two town businesses, Neuroscience Group of Northeast Wisconsin and SCA Tissue offices, installed large solar energy systems.

"We're anxious to make this happen," said Dearborn, who indicated the payback would depend on the final size and cost.

Businesses eye hybrid trucks

From an article by Nathan Phelps in the Appleton Post-Crescent:

ASHWAUBENON — At first glace, the white T270 Kenworth delivery truck looks like many others seen on the road.

But what sets this vehicle apart from others — to the eye — is a box about the size of an oversized piece of luggage attached to the chassis on the driver's side.

That box, and the 340-volt lithium-ion battery packed in it, are part of a diesel-electric hybrid system that Kenworth and other truck manufacturers are rolling out in the face of $4.18 diesel prices and tightening environmental expectations.

"The people we have talked to have been pretty proactive about it, but there's still not enough knowledge out there so we have to teach them about it," said Dave Long, a truck sales specialist with Wisconsin Kenworth in Ashwaubenon.

In essence, the delivery truck's system switches power between several modes: electric only, combined diesel and electric; and diesel power depending on driving conditions. For example, electric power is used on acceleration to get the truck moving and when more horsepower is needed the diesel engine engages.

Electricity generated through regenerative braking is stored and used for acceleration, assisting the diesel engine, according to information from the company.

The hybrid system, manufactured by Eaton, is expected to boost fuel efficiency by about 30 percent when used in the stop-and-go slow traffic.

Kenworth also is rolling out a utility model of the truck, the T370, which uses the same modes when driving, but also allows users to shut off the truck's diesel engine when using machinery on the back — a boom, for example — in favor of the truck's electric motor.

In traditional utility models, the engine remains in idle to power gear on the back, said Joe Morris, a regional sales manager for medium-duty trucks for Kenworth.

The company anticipates efficiencies of around 50 percent in urban use with this model of truck.

Recyling Web site for northeastern Wisconsin

From an article by Lee Bergquist in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

A group of Wisconsin communities has assembled a new Web site with information designed to help people become better recyclers.

It's called Recycle More Wisconsin and was created by the Be SMART coalition, a group of municipalities formed in 1995 to reduce the waste going into landfills.

The Web site was created this month because research showed there were barriers to recycling.

A survey of 400 residents in northeastern and southeastern Wisconsin found that 93% of people said they recycled regularly, but 36% said they were only recycling "sometimes."

Also, people younger than 35 are less likely to recycle, the survey found.

Plastic bottles, aluminum cans, glass and newspapers are regularly recycled, but mixed paper such as junk mail frequently is not, according to the survey.

Urge Congress to extend credit for renewable energy

An editorial from the Wisconsin State Journal:

America's effort to develop cleaner, more sustainable energy sources is threatened by the looming expiration of federal tax credits that boost renewable energy production and use.

Congress should respond this month by extending and enhancing the credits, which encourage investment in solar, wind, biomass and other renewable power sources.

A significant risk exists that at the end of this year Congress will let credits worth $500 million a year lapse, as it did three previous times. In those cases, investment in renewables fell dramatically before Congress revived the credits. Investment in wind power production, for example, fell 93 percent following the expiration of tax credits in 2000.

This year the vast majority in Congress supports extending the credits, available to homeowners, businesses and investors for buying equipment to use or produce renewable energy. But legislation extending and improving the credits is stalled by a dispute over what to do about the impact on the federal budget deficit.

The credits are part of a larger package of tax breaks scheduled to expire at the end of the year. Extending the breaks would cost the treasury $50 billion over 10 years.

Plans call for Congress to offset the lost revenue by raising fees or taxes or by cutting other programs.

Many senators and representatives are balking at the offsets.

Congress deserves praise for making sure the credits do not exacerbate the already-enormous budget deficits. But its members should also recognize the value the renewable energy tax credits have to an economy weighed down by the high cost of fossil fuels and to an environment threatened by pollution from burning fossil fuels.

With Congress scheduled to adjourn for the year at the end of this month, it's time for its members to compromise on a package of tax credits that can be offset with reasonable fee or tax increases and program cuts.

Wisconsin has much at stake. The state has great potential to become a national leader in renewable energy.

Tax credits spur the industry by making it more cost-effective to invest in equipment to use renewable energy in homes or businesses. The credits also make it more cost-effective to invest in starting or expanding renewable energy production plants.

Allowing the credits to expire would be a setback with costly consequences.

Wisconsin's congressional delegation should help engineer a resolution that extends the credits without enlarging the budget deficit.

The American Wind Energy Association makes it easy to contact your U.S. representatives and senators, through a page dedicated to urging members of Congress to act.

ECOS Fox Valley meets September 4

The next meeting of “your” ECOS Fox Valley Coalition
- Begins at 6 PM
- Held in the Menasha Library , lower level Company E Room, Corner of Racine and 1st street in Menasha

This meeting will feature the NEW “Open Format” round-table discussion format that we announced last month! In brief, it is YOU the attendees that will set the agenda for the evening and the available time will be allotted amongst those that wish to speak. So bring your community sustainability activities, your support needs and share them with the group.

Everyone will be welcome to come and participate! You are encouraged to bring a written copy of your any announcements you want to share so we can better publish them with the community.

Catherine Neiswender of UW-Ext will facilitate this first session for us!

The last part of the evening will be set aside for networking.

Hope to see you there! We want everyone to get involved!

Green Building Fair Mosquito Hill, Oct. 4

October 4th
ECOS-FV will have a table at Green Building Fair, Mosquito Hill, New London.
Open 12 to 4 PM

Need volunteers to staff table and help other vendors with set up and tear down of their display. ECOS Contact is Russ Klug (rkklug2@aol.com)

Menasha Utilities Community Energy Fair

October 2nd
ECOS-FV will have a table at Menasha Utilities Community Energy Fair, at Menasha Utililites, 321 Milwaukee Street, Menasha, 3 PM to 7 PM; no charge to the public

Features: Sustainability Groups of the Fox Valley (including City of Menasha and UW-FV), Building Contractors and Vendors, Renewable Energy Vendors, SCA, Regional Planning Commission and Menasha High School Students demonstrating energy saving activities for use in your home. Need volunteers to staff ECOS table; ECOS contact is Roger Kanitz (rkanitz@new.rr.com)

Blue Sky Green Fields Wind Turbine Tour

Jean Marie Hinds has volunteered to coordinate carpooling from the Fox Valley for the September 13 Blue Sky Green Fields Wind Turbine Tour. Contact her at jhinds@new.rr.com or 920-202-3459 with your name, email address, phone number, where you live, when you would like to be there, and if you are willing to drive (as needed).

More details on the tour here.