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Wisconsin Development GREEN News
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WEC Energy CEO Leverett suffers stroke
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 Allen Leverett, chief executive officer of Milwaukee-based WEC Energy Group, has suffered an apparent stroke, the company announced in a statement Thursday afternoon.
Leverett is in the hospital and receiving medical treatment, the
company said. Gale Klappa was appointed interim CEO today, until
Leverett can recover and resume his role.... ...more
Ken Notes: We wish to extend our sincere condolences and best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery.
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League of Women Voters Presents a Public Program on Wisconsin’s Changing Environmental Laws & Regulations on November 11
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Ken Notes: Put this on your calendar. This will make for great articles, interviews, and other press...
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Eau Claire Gets National Recognition For Solar Efforts
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 A Nonprofit Backed By The US Department Of Energy Applauds City For Making Solar Transition Easier For HomeownersA nonprofit organization called SOLSMART,
which is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy has awarded Eau Claire
with its top honor for easing the transition to solar power for
homeowners.
SOLSMART is a group that encourages municipalities to reduce what it
calls "soft costs" associated with the installation of solar panels and
related infrastructure on peoples` property. For Eau Claire, Associate
Planner Ned Noel said that meant getting the city council to enact solar
specific rules that weren’t on the books prior to 2015.
"The ordinance really clarifies expectations for development of
solar, whether it’s on a rooftop or on the ground," said Noel. “"t also
is very solar friendly from the point of view that there’s not a lot of
cumbersome ordinances or special permits that are needed."..
Ken Notes: Congrats.
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Wisconsin mining bill authors argue economy, environment don`t have to compete
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 Economic gains can be made without
jeopardizing Wisconsin`s environment, the authors of a bill that would
promote mining activity in the state argued on Friday. But
conservation groups and tribal leaders said the legislation would put
Wisconsin`s long-term environmental integrity at risk in exchange for
short-term profits. "I
believe there’s room for all. It’s a big state. We can do all these
things and we can do them safely without intruding on each other," said
Sen. Tom Tiffany, R-Hazelhurst. "I know that we can do this safely."...
Ken Notes: If we can do this safely we need bipartisan consideration and DNR support. This is not how we are going about it.
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SunPeak
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SunPeak is a turnkey developer of commercial solar PV electricity systems based in Madison, Wisconsin. Businesses can be assured their turnkey project will be professionally handled from initial feasibility study to final commissioning. Projects typically range from 100 kW to 5 MW (hundreds to thousands of solar panels) and offer significant cost savings relative to conventional utility electric rates.
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Foxconn Project Creating Interest And Concern In Great Lakes Basin
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 Great Lakes Mayors Urging No Weakening Of Environmental Protections A group representing mayors from around the Great Lakes says it`s
concerned about exemptions from environmental regulations being given by
Wisconsin for the large Foxconn electronics factory planned for Racine
County. The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative represents about
170 mayors. Initiative President John Dickert says the proposed Foxconn
plant could mean thousands of jobs. But Dickert recently told a forum at
the Society of Environmental Journalists annual conference that if
environmental regulations are compromised, other companies will come to
the Great Lakes region seeking exemptions and access to resources, like large amounts of water....
Ken Notes: Again I HOPE this is about process not about actual protections. I actually think this is the case because Foxconn does not have their head in the sand regarding the potential for a legislative shift in the future. If they do we are all in trouble.
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Going full Doomsday: Reporters must convey the perils of climate change without paralyzing their audience
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 According to the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, Americans fall into six groups when it comes to climate change: alarmed, concerned, cautious, disengaged, doubtful, and dismissive.
I would add a seventh category:
panicked. That’s me. I’m a science journalist, so I understand and
accept the problem. But I when I read articles about global warming, my
anxiety soars. I have to disengage. I check Facebook for puppy videos... ...more
Ken Notes: And then there is my idea --- CHANGE THE DEBATE, eliminate global warming and long term effects from the discussion and start talking about the benefits of clean air and water now. Show the effects of controls in the 70`s on the Great Lakes and rivers. Contrast the US, China, Mexico and India. Talk about the fact if we clean up production elsewhere we return manufacturing to the US. There is lots to talk about that is not subject to denial.
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Kronenwetter high school installs solar energy system
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KRONENWETTER, WIS. (WSAW) Northland Lutheran High School in Kronenwetter is seeing the light and learning from it.
The school became the 56th member Monday of the
Wisconsin Public Service SolarWise for Schools program. School leaders
and WPS representatives unveiled a new three-kilowatt solar energy
system. The system was donated by the SolarWise for Schools program
which is funded through voluntary donations to the WPS Community
Foundation.
The program, in it`s 22nd year, allows students to learn about renewable energy through hands-on lessons.
...more
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Miron Construction
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Miron specializes in providing innovative pre-construction, construction management, design-build, general construction and industrial services.
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Judge throws out well permits while ordering Wisconsin DNR to consider impacts of heavy water use
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 A Dane County judge ruled this week
that the Department of Natural Resources must take into account the
cumulative impacts of high-capacity wells on other water resources in
cases where she invalidated seven permits approved by the agency last
year. In a closely watched case, the judge
said Wednesday the DNR had ample authority to set limits on well
applications to protect drinking water supplies and lakes and streams
that might be imperiled by heavy water use... ...more
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Long-range plan addresses Wisconsin`s future wastewater needs
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 MADISON, WIS, OCT 16, 2017 -- A plan to manage the region`s wastewater
through 2040 will advance to the Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources following a hearing and public comment period organized by
Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District and concurrence by the Capital
Area Regional Planning Commission. The district`s proposed liquid processing facilities
plan focuses on future needs of the district and opportunities related
to the Nine Springs Wastewater Treatment Plant liquid treatment
processes. The facilities plan addresses the need for increased
capacity, resiliency and flexibility to manage peak flows... ...more
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Wisconsin affiliate of the U.S. Green Building Council
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WGBA has combined forces with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and together we will pilot a new model for USGBC chapters and local market engagement...
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OPINION: Loss of bipartisanship on environment hurts Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin has a rich heritage of
conservation. From the Native American tribes who inhabited this land
for generations, to John Muir, Aldo Leopold, Warren Knowles and Gaylord
Nelson, Wisconsin has been a national leader in protecting our land,
water and air. The Public Trust Doctrine, enshrined in our state
constitution, guarantees that the waters of Wisconsin belong to the
people of Wisconsin....
Ken Notes: True BUT, we are still pointing fingers and blaming others. While under more liberal control the administrative and DNR did nothing to build bridges...
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Renewable energy jobs up 16 percent in Minnesota
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 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A nonprofit study shows renewable energy jobs in Minnesota grew by 16 percent from 2015 to 2016. The
research by Clean Energy Economy Minnesota says there are about 6,200
jobs in the state in renewable energy, most in solar or wind power. Some traditional energy sectors, such as
coal mining, have seen an exodus of jobs. In Minnesota, six coal-fired
generators are set to close over the next decade. The coal plants are a
major emitter of greenhouse gases...
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SCS Engineers
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SCS - At the forefront of sustainable environmental solutions for over 40 years
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OPINION: What happened to Wisconsin`s environmental heritage?
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Wisconsin has a
rich heritage of conservation. From the Native American Tribes who
inhabited this land for generations, to John Muir, Aldo Leopold, Warren
Knowles and Gaylord Nelson – Wisconsin has been a national leader in
protecting our land, water and air. The public trust doctrine, enshrined
in our state constitution, guarantees that the waters of Wisconsin
belong to the people of Wisconsin.There was a time when this was a shared
ethic amongst Democrats and Republicans. Our greatest environmental
achievements have always been accomplished together, working toward the
goal of making a better Wisconsin for our children and grandchildren...
...more
Ken Notes: Again true but one sided.
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$2 Million in Cash Grants from WI`s Focus On Energy Announced for Commercial Solar
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 Applications for the ~$2 million in solar grants available from Focus On Energy (FOE) are due Oct.13, 2017. FOE`s new solar funding can greatly improve project financials, and may be combined with the existing 30% Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and accelerated depreciation tax benefits. Cumulatively, these incentives can now cover upwards of 60% of a solar project`s costs. Commercial solar electric systems installed in 2017 or 2018 are eligible for these cash grants through a competitive bidding process. As full grant parameters are complex, SunPeak is offering free grant writing and submission services for committed customers. Commitments must be secured by Sept. 22, 2017 to ensure adequate time for grant compilation. ...more
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Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council
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The WI Sustainable Business Council is a network of Wisconsin businesses and organizations that are interested in, or actively responding to, the challenge of sustainability.
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Why is the grass greener? Sports-field experiment to reveal results on Oct. 19 in Stoughton
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 The results of an unusual, real world experiment on four methods for
managing sports fields will be shown to the public on Oct. 19. The experiment has run for three years on four baseball diamonds at Racetrack Park in Stoughton. The experiment’s designer, Doug Soldat, a professor of soil science
at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, explains that the project “arose
from a really common issue. There are different opinions on the
acceptable amount of maintenance for sports fields and turf in general,
particularly around the use of pesticide and sometimes of fertilizers.”... ...more
Ken Notes: This is good info!
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Some of our links... Many more at WDNGreen.com
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 Links we like supporting Wisconsin`s Environment and Business. More will follow each week...
...moreKen Notes: Share this and if you want to be included:
Call us - 608.334.2174 or Editor [at] WDNGreen.com....
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Yet Another Environmental Disaster-in-Waiting
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 Thoughts and prayers for the salmon—and for us....First, in Wisconsin, the state legislature, which is chock-full of
extraction industry sublets, is about to pass something called the
Industrial Acid Mining Bill, which is every bit as horrible as its name
implies. This bill would effectively eliminate Wisconsin`s beloved
"Prove It First" law by which companies wishing to open mines in
Wisconsin have to demonstrate that they`ve managed to open and close a
sulfide mine for 10 years without leaching acid into the groundwater and
surface water. The new bill—sponsored by, I swear to god, a state legislator named Tom Tiffany—would do away with Prove It First.... ...more
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Report identifies 2.6 gigawatts of ‘uneconomic’ coal plants in Midwest
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 In a report released today,
the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) identifies 2.6 gigawatts (GW)
of coal capacity across six Midwest states considered uneconomic
compared to cleaner alternatives, raising the possibility that some of
those plants may close in coming years.
Nationwide, the report found that 21
percent of the coal-fired generation capacity in 2016 is currently
deemed uneconomic, while an additional 18 percent of national coal-fired
capacity is covered by announcements of closure or conversion to
natural gas... ...more
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R.A. Smith National
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Our ecological staff provides needed information to clients, enabling them to make informed decisions about their land use planning efforts and site development decisions. Our goal is to facilitate our clients’ project needs without compromising the important values that natural resources provide to the community.
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Wisconsin and National Links for GREEN Resources
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 We try to include links to help you consider your GREEN economic
development options in Wisconsin. Businesses feel free to send us your information here. ...moreKen Notes: Feel free to include this link and logo on your website. Our Tools and Resources are always a click away. Also a new easy to use address: www.WDNGreen.com/tools/
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WELCOME to WDNews GREEN!
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 Coverage of local and national eco news for commercial development,
home, transportation, food and community. We search for environmentally
friendly news that makes economic sense for Wisconsin. ONLINE HERE. Please share with a friend. To receive WDNews GREEN on Monday of each week as an email you must subscribe - secure link to subscribe is here. Want to comment, or have an idea:
Ideas[at]WisconsinDevelopment.comWe may now need to build a
coalition that is willing to lobby from a "greener" yet pro business
perspective. Lots of HUGE issues: Sand Mining, CNG, LEED Alternatives,
Focus On Energy, LED Lighting R&D, Cleaner Power Generation,
Recycling, Power Lines, Electric Cars, Wind, Solar, Bio Fuels,
Digestors, Green AG, Business Incentives...And of course the Greenest
and Happiest of Holidays to you! Please consider sponsoring WDNGreen! WDNews GREEN will be emailed on Mondays, included in WDNews on Thursdays, and online all the time at: WDNGreen.com
Each week we will find 10 to 20 articles from Wisconsin and across the
Nation dealing with environmental issues. Our goal is to promote
environmental excellence from a sound business perspective. Our
resource guide at the bottom of this publication will continue to grow,
and you may add links, suggest articles, include your press releases, or
comment by eMailing Me. As always thanks for reading, and if you would like to sponsor or get involved call 608.334.2174... ...moreKen Notes: Please forward this to friends and colleagues who have an interest in our economy and environment. You may eMail Me Here.
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H2Integration
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Ken Harwood
