The February meeting of ECOS Fox Valley will once again be a business and planning meeting around our three major community out-reach projects.
• Up-date on our funding search for the ECOS community web-site refinement, discuss options
• Earth Day Communication Network progress
• Sustainable Video Clip Developments with the Town of Menasha (discuss topics, proposed speakers, and how we will contact each of them)
• Other topics of interest for discussion and future planning
Date: Thursday, February 2nd
Place: Menasha Public Library
Room: Company E Room in the lower level
Time: 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
This meeting is free and open to the public
Please call 722-6438 if you have questions!
Monday, January 30, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Kaukauna moves ahead with hydro plant plan
From an article by Larry Avila in the Appleton Post-Crescent:
KAUKAUNA — The scene outside Jeffrey Feldt's office window is dominated by the sight and sound of water rushing out of two aging hydro power plants.
This will change in the spring when "Old Badger" and "New Badger," which have operated reliably together for more than 80 years, will be shut down and the area transformed into a construction site, said Feldt, general manager of Kaukauna Utilities. The time has come to replace the power-generating facilities, the first built in 1908 and the other in 1928.
After a decade-long process, which included assorted environmental and economic feasibility studies as well as securing state and federal regulatory approval, the Kaukauna Common Council approved a $44,875,000 bond issue Jan. 17 to cover the costs of building a new $25.5 million hydro power plant and rebuilding the canal — for $10.5 million — which supplies water to the facility. Work is scheduled to start in May with construction expected to last 18 months, city officials said.
Modernization will come at a price, likely in the form of higher electrical rates for the utility's 15,000 power customers in 2013. The utility plans to file a request with the state Public Service Commission before the end of March to seek a 6.5 percent rate increase to generate more revenue to repay the bonds. Rising expenses
Bill Roloff, owner and president of Roloff Manufacturing in Kaukauna, recognizes the benefit of updating the power plants and understands higher electric bills are coming.
"Personally, it's something that's needed," said Roloff, whose business produces assorted castings and is a big power user.
He estimates electricity costs represent 15 percent of his company's overall annual expenses. A rate increase may raise his power costs up to 20 percent, but Roloff sees that as a worst-case scenario.
KAUKAUNA — The scene outside Jeffrey Feldt's office window is dominated by the sight and sound of water rushing out of two aging hydro power plants.
This will change in the spring when "Old Badger" and "New Badger," which have operated reliably together for more than 80 years, will be shut down and the area transformed into a construction site, said Feldt, general manager of Kaukauna Utilities. The time has come to replace the power-generating facilities, the first built in 1908 and the other in 1928.
After a decade-long process, which included assorted environmental and economic feasibility studies as well as securing state and federal regulatory approval, the Kaukauna Common Council approved a $44,875,000 bond issue Jan. 17 to cover the costs of building a new $25.5 million hydro power plant and rebuilding the canal — for $10.5 million — which supplies water to the facility. Work is scheduled to start in May with construction expected to last 18 months, city officials said.
Modernization will come at a price, likely in the form of higher electrical rates for the utility's 15,000 power customers in 2013. The utility plans to file a request with the state Public Service Commission before the end of March to seek a 6.5 percent rate increase to generate more revenue to repay the bonds. Rising expenses
Bill Roloff, owner and president of Roloff Manufacturing in Kaukauna, recognizes the benefit of updating the power plants and understands higher electric bills are coming.
"Personally, it's something that's needed," said Roloff, whose business produces assorted castings and is a big power user.
He estimates electricity costs represent 15 percent of his company's overall annual expenses. A rate increase may raise his power costs up to 20 percent, but Roloff sees that as a worst-case scenario.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Citizen and business action groups help leaders form energy policy
From a report by Alex Brasch on RENEW's Energy Policy Summit:
MADISON, Wis. - Can local governments work together with citizen action groups to effectively transition America away from reliance on fossil fuels? The answer in Wisconsin and Colorado seems to be yes.
Members of Wisconsin's renewable energy industry convened in Madison for the RENEW Wisconsin Energy Policy Summit last week. The diverse crowd of renewable energy manufacturers, installers, state utilities, environmental advocacy groups, university representatives, and government officials, including Dane County Executive Joe Parisi and Madison Mayor Paul Soglin, came together to focus their efforts on retaking the initiative in the fight for a more sustainable energy future for Wisconsin.
Members heard from keynote speaker Leslie Glustrom, a biochemist who belongs to a similar organization in Boulder, Colo. - a group that recently led a successful ballot initiative to authorize creation of a municipal utility in that city.
Don Wichert, founder of RENEW and former chief of energy resources with the Wisconsin Department of Administration and current director of renewable energy services at the Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation created the advocacy group more than 20 years ago to address government officials about clean energy development in the state.
Wichert said Wisconsin spends nearly $6 billion per year on imported coal, petroleum, and natural gas. "As a renewable energy advocacy group composed of concerned citizens, clean energy businesses, environmental organizations, and government employees, RENEW Wisconsin seeks to change the way people think about and consume energy through a combination of advocacy, education, and creative partnerships with state and local governments, businesses, utilities, and citizen groups," Wichert said.
Michael Vickerman, long-time executive director of RENEW, expressed optimism that, "despite current rollbacks of renewable energy policies, including the suspension of clean energy incentives and a weakening of state laws that leverage utility-purchased renewable energy, there is still a network of supportive local officials throughout the state." He challenged advocates to resist acquiescing to the current political situation, and instead, use the sum influence of the clean energy industry, including non-profits and concerned citizens, to drum up support for clean energy development. Vickerman provided three guiding principles as a springboard to start discussion on how to retake the initiative.
First, reframe the message by presenting the industry's true potential as a group of highly-motivated, dynamic organizations with a unifying business plan that will generate green jobs. Second, assert the fact that renewable energy is something intensely desired by businesses and citizens, because it gives customers more options, businesses increased market appeal, and a surefire pathway to more local jobs. And finally, pursue community-owned renewable projects that will keep energy production local and redirect investment into the area economy.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Only 20, not 200, years of coal; we have to move "so fast" to get to 100% renewables
Leslie Glustrom is the featured speaker at RENEW's Energy Policy Summit, January 13, Madison. Read the report that she mentions about 11 minutes into the interview.
Register and get details about the Summit at the Summit Web page.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
See who and what companies are coming to RENEW Energy Policy Summit
It's 2012 and the world of energy is shifting fast. Will you be part of the conversation around the shape that will take in Wisconsin?
If you or your business plan to BUILD, BUY, or BE part of Wisconsin's renewable energy future, register NOW for RENEW's Energy Policy SUMMIT on Friday JANUARY 13th in Madison.
There are a LIMITED number of SPACES available for the RENEW Energy Policy Summit. REGISTER TODAY to make sure you have a seat in the room. Click here to register for the Summit.
Want to know who else will be at the Summit table? You can see which people and what companies are registered to participate in the RENEW Energy Policy Summit at the event home page Click here to see who's coming.
Set your clocks for 2012 and get to the table with RENEW Wisconsin.
RENEW Energy Policy Summit
Date: 1/13/2012 8:30 AM CST - 5:30 PM CST
Location: Pyle Center, UW-Madison Campus
702 Langdon Street
Madison, WI 53703
For more informations and questions email Ed Blume.
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