New wind turbine produces energy, training opportunities at LTC

A 50 kW Entegrity wind turbine is installed May 26 on Lakeshore Technical College’s Cleveland campus. The turbine was made operable June 8 and is visible from I-43.

From a news release issued by Lakeshore Technical College:

A second wind turbine is up and running on Lakeshore Technical College's Cleveland campus, providing additional opportunities for student training and field testing, as well as energy savings for the college.

The 120-foot, 50 kW Entegrity turbine is located just northwest of the LTC Flexible Training Arena. It was installed May 26 with the help of Seventh Generation Energy Systems, and was made operable June 8 following final interconnection tests and inspections by We Energies.

The Entegrity is expected to produce between 75,000 and 91,900 kWh annually — slightly more than the Vestas V-15 turbine, which was erected on campus in 2004. A third turbine, a 50 kW Endurance, will be installed at LTC later this summer.

"The main point of the project is the head-to-head comparison of these three models for energy production, maintenance costs, installation costs and other factors," said Doug Lindsey, LTC's dean of Trade and Industry. "We Energies has a strong interest in providing consumer-level field test data on these turbines."

Regular maintenance on the Entegrity will be performed by second-year students in the Wind Energy Technology associate degree program.

While the two existing turbines — the Vestas and the Entegrity — are similar in size, Wind Energy Technology Instructor Jenny Heinzen said individuals visiting or passing by the campus will notice one key difference.

"The Entegrity is a downwind machine, which means it operates with its blades facing away from the wind," Heinzen said. "Because the Vestas operates by pointing into the wind, the two will appear to be positioned in reverse directions while operating simultaneously."

Fond du Lac hearing on wind farm siting draws crowd

From an article by Colleen Kottke in the Fond du Lac Reporter:

They came from near and far, packing Legislative Chambers at the City County Government Center in Fond du Lac Monday to voice their opinions about proposed wind farm siting rules to be crafted by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission.

The proposed rules would ultimately result in uniform wind farm siting standards for local units of government, replacing a patchwork of different rules and moratoriums that have been imposed by counties and towns around the state in relation to small wind power projects.

The public hearings, scheduled around the state this week, were launched by the state Legislature after it passed a uniform siting law in October.

Using citizen input, the PSC will draft legislation touching on controversial issues such as maximum sound levels and setback requirements. Once passed, municipalities considering ordinances for wind farms would not be allowed to make their local ordinance more restrictive than the state model. . . .

"Right now the proposed rules are just a draft; that's why the public comments are very important. There are a lot of interested parties and we want to make sure this is a balanced process," said Deborah Erwin, renewable energy policy analyst for the PSC.

Energy slacker
Barnaby Dinges, owner of a public relations firm and member of the American Wind Energy Association, warned that more restrictive rules for siting wind farms would further harm the state's quest to build its alternative energy portfolio.

"Wisconsin is already an energy slacker. We're the only Midwest state that doesn't currently have a major wind energy project under construction," Dinges said. "New restrictions will make the state even less desirable for development of wind projects."

He pointed out that the Wisconsin PSC already has a rigorous wind farm approval process in place for wind farms over 100 mega watts.

Tour the top of a turbine

From Madison Gas Electric:

"Many of us have seen giant wind turbines from the road... but very few people get a chance to go inside. In this story, see what's in the core and climb with us to the very top of the turbine!

It's a 26 story vertical climb in a very tight space. See how it's done and find out how energy is transferred from the blades, into the nacell and down the core of the turbine"

SCA Tissue bets on wind to power its Town of Menasha office needs

With three turbines set, crews raise a fourth one beside the SCA Tissue office building in the Town of Menasha.

From an article by Michael King in the Appleton Post-Crescent:

TOWN OF MENASHA — SCA Tissue is at the forefront of renewable energy applications and looking for more opportunities.

On Monday, the papermaker installed the first of four 100-foot-tall, 20-kilowatt wind turbines outside the SCA Tissue Service Excellence Center offices at 1451 McMahon Drive as part of a $300,000 project. The turbines with the 15-foot blades tower over the building, which has rooftop solar panels that were installed a few years ago.

"This is the first commercial wind (turbine project) in the town," said Mike Dillon, SCA Tissue manager of environmental and risk management. He said SCA once again turned to local firms to aid its latest renewable, or "green" initiative.

"The turbines are the first commercial units built by a new Oshkosh company called Renewegy," he said. "Faith Technologies in Menasha is doing the electrical work and the foundation work for the towers was done by our neighbor, Miron Construction."

Once in place, the four turbines will produce 100 to 125 megawatt-hours annually, enough to power 10 to 12 homes each year, but the electricity is being used exclusively in the office building, Dillon said.

"We're actually going to consume every bit of (electricity) in the building," Dillon said. "This is a continuation of our work with renewable energy, looking at new technologies and improved technologies. It's another piece of a (renewable) portfolio we're trying to develop."

SCA Tissue already is looking at solar and wind power options for its converting facility on Ehlers Road in the Town of Menasha and for its Menasha paper mill, along with SCA facilities in Arizona, New York and Alabama.

Concensus unlikely on recommendations from Wind Siting Council

From an article by Paul Ryan in The Daily Reporter:

Deadline pressure and 100 amendments are cracking the unity of the state‘s Wind Siting Council as it strives to agree on turbine placement standards.

Even the definition of agreement is a point of contention among the 15 members. The state law that formed the council requires only that the panel make recommendations that will go to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin and, ultimately, the state Legislature.

But some council members insist they will testify against recommendations not based on a consensus vote.

"I told them they can come in with studies and articles and hearsay,” said Larry Wunsch, a Brownsville resident and council member. “I come in with experience. I live in a wind farm, and I can tell you what it looks like and how it sounds."

“But if they’re going to go with majority rule, then, yeah, I would argue against it at future hearings.”

The council is designed to establish turbine placement standards for wind farms that generate less than 100 megawatts of electricity. The PSC already reviews wind farms that generate more than 100 megawatts.

The PSC intends to finalize rules based on the council’s recommendations by Sept. 1, PSC spokeswoman Teresa Weidemann-Smith said.

Public hearings on draft rules begin next week, and the public comment period for recommendations ends July 7.

That puts the council on a tight timeline to finish its work, said Michael Vickerman, a member of the council and executive director of RENEW Wisconsin, a nonprofit organization focused on clean energy. . . .

Vickerman said he doubts there will be consensus. But, he said, the council represents a wide array of experience and interest, and the PSC and Legislature must take that into account when approving rules for wind turbine placement.

“Those who oppose wind have already made their minds up,” Vickerman said. “We can have a dialogue with them, but I don’t think we can have a meeting of the minds.”

PSC rejects Oakfield family's wind farm claim

From an article by Coleen Kottke in the Fond du Lac Reporter:

The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin has rejected a complaint filed by an Oakfield family about the Forward Energy Wind Center.

Jason and Ann Wirtz contended that the Forward Energy Wind Center cost them their alpaca-breeding business and created such significant health problems for the family that they were eventually forced out of their home.

PSC Chairman Eric Callisto said the commission is not the proper forum for personal injury claims.

In the claim, the Wirtzes asked the PSC to reopen the Forward Wind Energy Center proceedings to hold a hearing about prior health claims from residents living within the wind farm. The Wirtzes hoped to convince the PSC at a hearing to require Invenergy to compensate the family for prior damages.

The Wisconsin Attorney General's Office advised the PSC that it cannot do so.

In a 12-page decision released on June 18, the PSC said that according to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, the agency has no legal basis to assert jurisdiction over a lawsuit filed in April by the Wirtz family that claims the wind farm caused them personal injury and diminished their property value.

Kress library in De Pere to go solar

From an article by McLean Bennett in the Green Bay Press Gazette:

DE PERE — A renewable energy project in De Pere is intended to cut energy costs and educate the public about sustainability.

Workers likely will begin installing about 90 solar panels on the roof of the Kress Family Branch of the Brown County Library, 333 N. Broadway, in September or October, said Randy Rake, chairman of SEEDs for De Pere, which stands for Social, Ecological and Economic Development.

Other Brown County libraries are increasing energy efficiency by replacing light bulbs and cleaning air vents.

The De Pere library was targeted for the solar panel project because it is in an ideal spot to capture sunlight and because SEEDs for De Pere helped spearhead the project, said Lynn Stainbrook, director of the Brown County Library System. The project's focus will be educating people about sustainability.

The solar panels likely will be most effective in the summer, when days are longer and there is no snow covering them, Rake said.

The panels are expected to reduce the library's annual energy use by about 6 percent, saving about $87,000 over 30 years, Rake said.

"That's our best guess," he said, explaining that some factors, including future increases in energy costs, could mean the panels save even more money than expected.

The project will include an informational kiosk in the library to educate people about renewable energy.

Visit RENEW at the Energy Fair, June 18-20

Visit RENEW in booth C2 at the 21st Annual Energy Fair June 18-20, 2010.

Each year the MREA Energy Fair transforms rural Central Wisconsin into the global hot spot for renewable energy education. The Energy Fair brings over 20,000 people from nearly every state in the U.S. and several countries around the world to learn, connect with others and ready them for action at home. The Energy Fair is the nation's longest running energy education event of its kind.

Advance Energy Fair tickets and Reservations for Back 40 Camping will be available starting April 1st.

The Energy Fair features:

•Over 275 exhibitors - sustainable living and energy products
•Over 200 workshops - from introductory level to hands-on education
•Clean Energy Car Show - demonstration vehicles and workshops
•Green Home Pavilion – focused on building and remodeling in a sustainable way
•Sustainable Tables – workshops, chef demos, and a farmers market bringing sustainability to your dinner table
•Inspirational keynotes, lively entertainment, great food, and local beer.
The Energy Fair is held in Custer, WI just seven miles east of Stevens Point. Join us for the 21st Annual Energy Fair June 18-20, 2010. For more information about the Fair, contact the Midwest Renewable Energy Association at 715-592-6595 or visit the website: www.the-mrea.org.

RENEW president and tech college's Green-to-Go trailer head to Energy Fair, June 18-20

Lakeshore Technical College (LTC) instructor Jenny Heinzen, also president of RENEW Wisconsin, will present two workshops - Basic Electricity for Women and Wind Basics for Women -- at the Energy Fair, June 19, Custer, WI.

In addition, LTC will display its Green to Go trailer:

Continuing its commitment to be a regional leader in sustainability training, Lakeshore Technical College has developed Green to Go, a mobile demonstration and training unit that will reach the community through education, customized training and community outreach. The unit was adapted from a donated FEMA mobile trailer, and features demonstrations in sustainable lighting, plumbing, flooring and heating options.

With help from local industry partners like Orion Energy Systems, Kohler Company, Arch Electric, Dulmes Décor and others, LTC will use Green to Go to expose a larger audience to the benefits of sustainable living and the supporting educational and training opportunities at LTC. These partnerships benefit all parties and play an important role in furthering sustainable energy in Northeast Wisconsin.

Green to Go reaches the community in the following ways:
+ Education. Green to Go provides a training platform for apprentice- and journey-level trade workers, students in LTC programs, and the general public to acquire skills and knowledge in sustainability and renewable energy concepts and systems. In this application, the trailer serves as a workable hands-on platform where the instructor and students can install and remove different systems and components.
+ Customized Training. Green to Go offers a training solution to local businesses and industries — including construction, plumbing and electrical contractors — working with emerging energy and water efficiency products. In an effort to meet employer needs, training programs are convenient in time and location, delivering skills on-site and in a customized manner.
+ Community Outreach. Green to Go also serves as an idea-generator for sustainable homes and businesses, exposing the community to services in sustainability while highlighting the products and services of LTC’s Green to Go industry partners. The mobile unit can travel to local schools, businesses and community events to introduce attendees to these concepts.

Businesses becoming efficient with Renewegy wind turbines from Oshkosh

From an article by Jeff Bollier in The Northwesern, Oshkosh:

Renewegy wasn't even a word when Michael Dillon and his fellow managers at SCA Tissue North America's Neenah offices set out to reduce their plants emissions by 20 percent between 2005 and 2020.

About 75 percent of their goal would be accomplished by making heating and air conditioning units more efficient, re-wiring the McMahon Drive building, installing motion sensors and other efficiency efforts. However, the other 25 percent would have to come from renewable energy sources, Dillon said.

SCA's energy use has dropped from 88 megawatt-hours-per-month to 62 megawatt-hours-per-month.

"We figured we would reduce consumption as much as we could and then maximize our use of alternative energy sources where applicable," Dillon said.

Enter Oshkosh's Renewegy at just the right time. Four 80 kilowattt wind turbines that are expected to be operational by the end of the month will generate an estimated 100-125 megawatt-hours-per-year and complement a rooftop solar panel that generates about 55 megawatt-hours-per-year.

"We don't want to just talk the talk, we want to walk the walk," Dillon said. "We're excited to be giving back to our community and our planet. We're excited and we look forward to sharing our results with local people, local communities and local companies."

Renewegy's Jeff Ehlers feels about the same way. The company has grown from its three or four founding employees to 16 and is about to begin manufacturing its first 30-unit run this fall. Of the 10 pre-production units made already, two will stay at Renewegy's Oshkosh headquarters, four are going into service at SCA, two more go to another Wisconsin company and the remaining two will be shipped to a Nebraska company.

Homes waste watts of power, study finds

From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

TVs, computers, others leach energy and money

In one of the first studies of its kind, energy researchers in Madison have uncovered a simple way that most consumers can save on their electric bills: pull the plug.

The researchers set up more than 700 in-home metering devices in about 50 homes to monitor the proliferation of electronic devices in our homes, and how they affect our energy use.

Thirty years ago, federal data shows, a typical home had about three plugged-in devices. The new study shows our wall sockets are jammed, with each home hosting 30 or more devices. All told, computers, printers, televisions and other devices account for 15% to 30% of a home's total electricity use - about 20% on average, the study found.

The Energy Center of Wisconsin study was able to quantify the impact of having so many devices plugged in and ready to go - sometimes on, sometimes off, and sometimes in standby mode.

Case in point: Home computers that are left on around the clock in some cases suck power even when they're sitting idle.

"Most computers are set up to turn the monitor off after about 20 minutes," said researcher Scott Pigg. "So we turn it on and use it and walk away and come back into the room and see the monitor's off. We think: 'Well, my computer is managing its power and it's shut down.'

"What they don't realize is that two-thirds of the electricity draw is the thing that's sitting on the floor - not the thing that's sitting on the desk," he added. "And the only visual indication that you have that computer's on is a little fan noise and a little green light somewhere."

A step as simple as changing the power management settings on a home PC will take less time than running to the store and buying another energy-saving light bulb, Pigg said.

Village of Cascade installs two wind turbines at wastewater plant

From a news release issued by RENEW Wisconsin:

With the start-up of two 100-kilowatt (kW) wind turbines, the Village of Cascade became the first Wisconsin community to power its municipal wastewater treatment plant with 100 percent locally produced wind energy.

The impetus behind Cascade’s embrace of wind power was the avoided utility expenditures associated with operating a wastewater treatment plant. In the first year of operation, Cascade stands to save $30,000. With anticipated increases in electric rates, the Village of Cascade should save more than one million dollars over the thirty-year life of the turbines.

Additional revenue will come from the sale of excess power to We Energies.

“With these two turbines, the Village of Cascade has taken a giant step toward energy independence,” said Michael Vickerman. “Its prudent investment in wind energy will enable the community to control its energy budget, saving money for current and future residents.”

Kettle View Renewable Energy, LLC, a wind system installer located in nearby Random Lake, installed and commissioned Cascade’s turbines.
“We are proud that our local efforts on this project made this the first net-zero wastewater treatment plant in Wisconsin,” said project manager Randy Faller. “It speaks volumes to the commitment by the Village of Cascade to generate clean, domestic energy while saving their community money.”

These two turbines double the number of Northwind 100s operating in Wisconsin to four, all installed in the last 12 months. The first two installed turbines serve schools in Wausau and Fort Atkinson.

Northern Power Systems, the Vermont turbine manufacturer, “couldn’t be more pleased that our technologically advanced, American-made Northwind 100 turbines are delivering real energy solutions for municipalities, schools, businesses and farms across Wisconsin,” said Mr. Brett Pingree, Vice President of Americas at Northern Power Systems.

Grants from Milwaukee-based We Energies and Focus on Energy were instrumental in supplementing Cascade’s investment in the project.

Free Energy assessments for for small industrial facilities in Manitowoc and surrounding areas

From a news release issued by Focus on Energy:

Participation is limited; interested parties are encouraged to RSVP today

(June 9, 2010) - Focus on Energy, Wisconsin's statewide program for energy efficiency and renewable energy, in partnership with Wisconsin Public Service, is offering free energy assessments to eligible small industrial businesses in the WPS service territory. Assessments will be conducted July 12 through 16, 2010, with an orientation meeting held Monday, July 12, 2010 at the Holiday Inn Manitowoc. Attendees will learn how to save energy and money through energy efficiency, and explore the many services and incentives available through Focus and WPS. Businesses that take part will also learn about new bonus incentives from Focus on Energy and WPS that are available to those who implement two or more efficiency and/or renewable energy upgrades.

During the free energy assessments, an energy professional will visit participants' facilities and evaluate energy-saving opportunities at the site. Following the assessment, Focus on Energy will provide a report of the findings, along with practical recommendations for saving energy and money, as well as information on financial incentives, including the new bonus offer, to help implement projects.

Participation and eligibility is limited, so interested parties are encouraged to RSVP today by calling Focus on Energy at 800.762.7077, visiting focusonenergy.com/wps, or emailing industrialaudit@focusonenergy.com.

Green teams work at work

Tips to manage costs, stay cool, and enjoy summer

From a news release issued by the Public Service Commission:

MADISON - – Utility bills can soar with rising temperatures. To stay cool this summer while conserving energy and keeping costs down, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) offers these easy, low-cost steps:

 Use cold water for doing laundry and air dry your clothes on clotheslines.
 Wash dishes with cold water and air dry.
 Turn off lights when leaving a room.
 Check the weather-stripping and caulking for leaks around doors and windows.
 Use a microwave oven or cook outside instead of using the stove or oven.
 Minimize the amount of time your refrigerator and freezer doors are open.
 Use natural lighting and compact fluorescent light bulbs. Ninety percent of the energy used by an incandescent bulb makes heat.

WPS offers rate to buy agricultural biogas in pilot

From a news release issued by WPS:

Green Bay, WI – Wisconsin Public Service Corporation (WPS) recently received approval from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin to begin a pilot program to purchase electricity generated from agricultural biogas. In the pilot program, WPS will accept up to 10,000 kilowatts generated from new anaerobic digester operations (no more than 2,000 kilowatts from a single generator) within its service territory. The rate will encourage the development of this renewable resource which will allow WPS to better understand the costs and benefits associated with this type of power purchase, and at the same time provide environmental benefits.

Farmers interested in the program must sign a contract with WPS prior to January 1, 2013.

"Increasing the number of renewable resources is unquestionably good for the environment," said Dennis Derricks, WPS Director of Electric Regulatory Policy. "This tariff is another way to partner with our agricultural customers to find solutions the benefit both parties." Digesters help the farmers with solutions to dealing with vast amounts of waste, while the utility receives another source of renewable energy.

Derricks said WPS has several current digester operations within its territory and this new rate offers "another pricing option specifically for these types of operations." Derricks said the existing contracts were fitted under tariffs not specifically designed for this application.

Farm digester operations sell power to the utility and then buy back what they need at regular rates for farm use.

The new rate is called PG-BioGas, is offered until December 31, 2012 (or until fully subscribed: 10 MW) and is in effect now. The maximum project cap is 2 MW, with an on-peak rate of approx. $0.106/kWh, an off-peak rate of approx. $0.061/kWh, which yields an effective (24 hour) rate of $0.0807/kWh. All environmental attributes from generation purchased under this rate will be claimed by WPS.

Kaukauna school board to study plans for wind turbines at high school

From an article in the Appleton Post-Crescent:

KAUKAUNA — The Board of Education considers this month whether to back plans to install two wind turbines on the west side of Kaukauna High School.

The school board meets Monday and June 14. Members may at one of those meetings approve the 20-kilowatt turbines proposed by Kaukauna Utilities. The school district has not released agendas for either meeting.

The 100-foot, modern-day windmills, similar in height to stadium lights, are not to be confused with the multi-megawatt-scale turbines used in wind farms.

"These are not the huge 400-foot towers," school Supt. Lloyd McCabe said.

The utility has identified a site between the high school's west entrance and a cornfield. It plans to maintain the turbines, which will generate energy for households served by the utility.

Students, meanwhile, would be able to measure the turbines' energy production.

After the first 10 years, the utility plans to turn the turbines over to the Kaukauna Area School District to help offset electricity costs at the high school.