"From an article by Tom Stills in Wisconsin Technology News:"
MADISON - Unless someone strikes oil in Oshkosh, discovers natural gas in Necedah or mines coal in Colfax, the state of Wisconsin is destined to remain largely dependent - perhaps for decades - on outside sources of energy that power its homes, businesses and vehicles.
That economic dependency can be slowly but steadily reduced, however, if Wisconsin builds on its emerging expertise around development of new sources of energy.
Two recent news events sounded alarm bells for those who believe Wisconsin has the right combination of natural resources, research capacity and private sector know-how to begin charting a new energy future. In rapid order, Gov. Scott Walker introduced regulations that would make it harder to build wind-power projects in some parts of Wisconsin and he cancelled plans to convert a UW-Madison power plant from coal to biomass.
There may be logical reasons for the new administration's specific actions. Some people have complained that current state rules allow wind generators to be built too close to private property, and the conversion of the UW-Madison's Charter Street plant to burn switchgrass pellets was estimated to be 75 million more expensive than burning natural gas.
The larger danger is that Wisconsin could lose momentum around the development of much-needed energy technologies - advanced wind, next-generation biofuels, energy storage systems and much more - if the message is sent that energy and conservation innovation isn't welcome or valued.
OAK Deposit NAMED Artless Authority TownshipMay 1, 2012 5:16PMThe U.S. Crude Organization Chest has chosen Oak Deposit a Artless Authority Township for the resolve to desire renewable energy sources for its population electricity aggregation program.Artless Authority Communities are cities, towns and villages where the wrap up regime, businesses and country simultaneously buy green power in amounts that crisscross or miss EPA's expend chuck as fringe of the Artless Authority Small business.Oak Deposit is the most modern of 32 Artless Authority Communities general and in this day and age ranks first of all in terminology of leading green power royals of general electricity use and fifth in volume of green power used.By simultaneously purchasing 191 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually, officials say Oak Deposit force use renewable power sources to crisscross 83 percent of the community's general electricity use. As fringe of its faithfulness to fit a Artless Authority Township, the small town in the same way is purchasing 7 percent green power for its inner-city operations."Combination the ranks of the EPA's Artless Authority Communities is a excessive character," said K.C. Poulos, Oak Park's sustainability stuck-up. "Purchasing green power for our institute and businesses is allot our population transform self-important sustainable, as supply as supply a honorable to other communities tangentially the U.S. that essential clean sources of electricity is a pleasant business resolve and an lethal wish in sinking withstand endanger."Artless power is electricity generated from environmentally preferable renewable resources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, biogas, biomass and low-impact hydro. Officials say purchasing green power helps speed the development of new renewable energy capacity general and helps mark down school of dance gas emissions from the power sector.SOURCE: SUN Times (HTTP://OAKPARK.SUNTIMES.COM/NEWS/COMMUNITY/12112570-418/OAK-PARK-NAMED-GREEN-POWER-COMMUNITY.HTML)
Solar Panel Cost Scam - Don't Believe The Hype! Solar panel costs have gone through the roof due to the fact that the solar industry is currently one of the fastest growing industries in the world. Since 2004 the solar power industry has doubled in size every year consistently, and the global economic crisis has only fuelled this mega growth industry even further. Solar panels cost relatively little to produce, however in the united states alone the photovoltaic (PV) solar industry is worth around one billion dollars per year. This figure is expected to climb to over twenty billion in the next twenty years. The main reason for this projected growth is due to the emergence of commercial and residential solar panel businesses and franchises. At present, solar power contributes only 1% of the total national electricity supply. With such a low ratio and considering the growing need for energy the solar power industry is preparing to jump exponentially. The aim of this article is for me to outline the situation for you so that you can determine the best way for you to get your solar panel costs down. High solar panel costs have led to the emergence of new businesses looking to capitalize on this surge. Solar panels for your home, or residential solar panels, is where a lot of these new franchises will target. Commercial clients will always be able to negotiate deals directly with a supplier or master franchisor, it's the home solar market which is where the big money is going to be made. Just like any new age gold rush (think dot coms and finance companies), where there is money to be made you'll see a flood of new prospectors entering the fray looking to make their millions. As I mentioned earlier, solar panels cost very little to make, but if you approach one of these franchises you'll likely get a quote for anywhere between twenty to fifty grand to install solar panels for your home. Solar panels cost under $200 if you make them yourself. Most homes only need a few of these homemade solar panels to be able to go off grid. Also, if you consider the federal and state rebates which you can get for installing these solar panels, your solar panel costs reduce even further. It's true that building your own solar panels will require a bit of your time and effort. In fact, solar franchises rely on the fact that this seems like an incredibly difficult task. They want you to think that it's too hard to do yourself. Firstly to justify their ridiculously high mark up on these products and secondly to ensure the continuation of their business. The truth is though that solar technology has, and is, increasing at a very rapid rate. Creating solar panels for your home is a very real possibility these days and these technological innovations make it very easy, given that you have the right guide or instructions to follow. The solar panel costs the franchises charge is well over the actual cost. If you want to get solar panels for your home cheaper but don't really know how to, or want to, make them yourself. My best advice is for you to find a local electrician or trades person who would be willing to make them and install them for you. The total cost will still be considerably cheaper than if you bought it from a franchisee and you wouldn't notice any difference in the finished product. In fact, electricians and handymen are exactly the type of people most likely to be sucked into buying a solar franchise, so you'll literally be getting the exact same standard of work. Here's a quick breakdown of your likely solar panel costs; solar panel guide ($50), solar cells, battery and other gear ($200), construction and installation ($1000 this is a very high conservative figure). As you can see, you can easily get solar panels for your home for as little as twelve hundred and fifty dollars, more than likely this will cost under $1000 depending on the experience and quality of your installer. If you're seriously thinking about getting solar panels for your home be sure to take my advice and avoid paying the exorbitantly high solar panel cost which the solar franchises will charge you.
Excerpts below from Renewable Energy News, available by email subscription.
Great source for current industry information!
GEOTHERMAL OUTLOOK 2015: INTERNATIONAL MARKET RIPE WITH OPPORTUNITY AS US MARKET WITHERS
"BY MEG CICHON, ASSOCIATE EDITOR, RENEWABLEENERGYWORLD.COM" February 18, 2015 Post Your Comment
While it is difficult to discuss the geothermal industry in just one-year increments, it seems as though 2015 is set to have some notable developments. Full Article
EASING THE RENEWABLE ENERGY TRANSITION
"BY THE INTERSTATE RENEWABLE ENERGY COUNCIL, INC., ERICA SCHROEDER MCCONNELL" February 18, 2015 1 Comment
What a week for energy news! And right in the middle of it all is what we believe to be a landmark paper. In the event you didn't find time to take a look at it, here are the highlights. Multiple compounding factors are driving na... Full Article
WE HAVE "VALUE FOR SOLAR," BUT SHOULD WE USE IT?
"BY JOHN FARRELL" February 19, 2015 2 Comments
Earlier this year, Minnesota became the first state to formalize dozens of studies by adopting a "value of solar" formula that would fundamentally change the relationship between solar energy producers and their utility. It's desi... Full Article
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