Madison Peak Oil Group

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196621512010-01-08T13:33:41.736-06:00Madison Peak Oil GroupEd Blumehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013655845430298782edblume@mailbag.comBlogger965125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19662151.post-68588528720268005092010-01-08T13:02:00.000-06:002010-01-08T13:03:42.847-06:00Doyle launches Clean Energy Jobs initiative

From a news release issued by Governor Jim Doyle:MADISON – Governor Jim Doyle today was joined by business leaders, labor, legislators and environmental organizations as he launched the Clean Energy Jobs Act, a landmark legislative package to accelerate the state’s green economy and create jobs. New industry-recognized research shows the package will directly create at least 15,000 green jobs in

Ed Blumehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013655845430298782edblume@mailbag.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19662151.post-57400235934538670772010-01-07T14:36:00.000-06:002010-01-07T14:37:04.294-06:00Group says to ignore flawed energy analysis

From the introduction to a report issued by Wisconsin Environment:Madison – As the state of Wisconsin begins to consider the Clean Energy Jobs Act, legislation aimed at reducing the state’s dependence on fossil fuels and creating new jobs in the clean energy economy, Wisconsin Environment Research & Policy Center released a new report today debunking recent claims made by special interest groups

Ed Blumehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013655845430298782edblume@mailbag.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19662151.post-85408925072134113322010-01-06T15:15:00.001-06:002010-01-06T15:18:04.612-06:00Board appears open to urban ag charter school

From an article by Susan Troller in The Capital Times:It's no secret that the Madison school district has generally taken a cautious -- some might say dim -- view of charter school proposals. But a well-organized pitch for Badger Rock, a charter middle school that would focus on environmental sustainability, with an innovative program for urban agriculture, alternative energy and project based

Ed Blumehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013655845430298782edblume@mailbag.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19662151.post-15949637626815146402010-01-05T15:58:00.003-06:002010-01-05T16:01:57.834-06:00Public transportation investments produce more jobs, more quickly

From a news release issued by WISPIRG:Madison, WI (December 17)- Today, the Joint Committee on Finance will hold an informational hearing on the oversight of American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) funds and the jobs it has created and saved in Wisconsin. The Committee should note that the latest stimulus spending data shows that investments in public transportation projects produce more

Ed Blumehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013655845430298782edblume@mailbag.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19662151.post-83861151431167282582010-01-04T05:40:00.002-06:002010-01-04T05:40:00.131-06:00Minnesota gets on board for rail plan

From an article by Bob Von Sternberg in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune:The much-touted high-speed rail line between the Twin Cities and Chicago reached an important milestone Thursday with the release of Minnesota's final statewide rail plan.The plan, released by state transportation officials, doesn't resolve the knottiest political hurdle about the rail line: Its route through

Ed Blumehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013655845430298782edblume@mailbag.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19662151.post-86736009432849737172009-12-31T11:16:00.002-06:002009-12-31T11:18:45.708-06:00MG&E hangs ten on energy wave

From a commentary by Ken Harwood, a writer for online Capital Region Business Journal, where this column first appeared:Now for the positive side of the energy dilemma. One Wisconsin firm has seen the tidal wave and decided to grab a surfboard and ride it in. I sat down with Scott Neitzel of Madison Gas and Electric and asked about the future of energy production in Wisconsin. Scott shared an MGE

Ed Blumehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013655845430298782edblume@mailbag.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19662151.post-44677113800380040382009-12-30T16:15:00.000-06:002009-12-30T16:16:48.606-06:00Keep working toward energy independence

From an editorial in the Sheboygan Press:Gov. Jim Doyle's 2006 campaign promise of having four University of Wisconsin campuses completely "off the grid" by 2012 and get their energy needs from renewable sources was an ambitious one.Unfortunately, it has turned out to be an impossible task.Doyle said that campuses at Oshkosh, River Falls, Green Bay and Stevens Point were to work toward energy

Ed Blumehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013655845430298782edblume@mailbag.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19662151.post-80284558310239073222009-12-29T11:29:00.000-06:002009-12-29T16:30:59.573-06:00Four New Year's resolutions on driving

From an article Jim Motavalli on the Mother Nature Network:Now here a few worthy year-end resolutions from EcoCAR: Drive smart. Planning trips to avoid traffic and stop lights, maintaining steady and legal speeds, slowly accelerating, limiting use of air conditioning, heated seats, and rear window defoggers, and avoiding unnecessary heavy loads can all improve fuel economy. Set car-free goals.

Ed Blumehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013655845430298782edblume@mailbag.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19662151.post-3538177826238285622009-12-28T15:25:00.003-06:002009-12-28T15:30:13.384-06:00Dinosaur oil

One of serveral posters from WWF. Click on the picture to enlarge.

Ed Blumehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013655845430298782edblume@mailbag.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19662151.post-6056689675718296802009-12-24T11:34:00.003-06:002009-12-24T11:38:42.026-06:00Another brewery adds renewable solar power

Along with City Brewing in La Crosse the Grumpy Troll added a solar electric system, as described in an article by Gena Kittner in the Wisconsin State Journal:Photovoltaic panels installed last week on the roof of Mount Horeb's Grumpy Troll will soon enable the bar and restaurant to harness solar power to fuel everything from beer-brewing to pizza-making."A lot of the energy will be used for the

Ed Blumehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013655845430298782edblume@mailbag.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19662151.post-17128149365272843172009-12-23T16:20:00.000-06:002009-12-23T16:21:24.178-06:00Brewery digester powers healthcare network

An article by Diane Greer in BioCycle gives a detailed description of the biodigester at Gunderson Lutheran:Gundersen Lutheran Health Systems and City Brewing Company, both based in La Crosse, Wisconsin, are partnering on an innovative cogeneration project fueled by biogas from the brewery’s waste treatment process. The system, which started operating in October, is expected to generate 3 million

Ed Blumehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013655845430298782edblume@mailbag.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19662151.post-46764360826179228042009-12-22T10:24:00.004-06:002009-12-22T10:29:08.435-06:00Increasing Transportation Choices and Cutting Foreign Oil Use with the RTA

222 S. Hamilton Street, Lower level conference roomJanuary 7, 2010An informal brown bag lunch and discussion at the Madison Peak Oil Group's monthly meeting with energy consultant and county board Supervisor Brett Hulsey who will update the Group on the status of the regional transportation authority (RTA) and other transportation plans in Dane County and Madison, including the multi-modal

Ed Blumehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013655845430298782edblume@mailbag.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19662151.post-57821644782319118652009-12-21T06:12:00.000-06:002009-12-21T06:12:00.272-06:00Marketing the benefits of green real estate

From an article by Kren RIvedal in the Wisconsin State Journal:You won’t find a glossy folder in Sara Alvarado’s Near East Side real estate office, or a pen, pad, envelope or sheet of printer paper that isn’t made of recycled material.Alvarado, who co-owns the seven-member company with her husband, Carlos, doesn’t even have a fax machine.In an industry buried in contracts and fliers, the Alvarado

Ed Blumehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013655845430298782edblume@mailbag.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19662151.post-53871501901823188842009-12-18T16:05:00.000-06:002009-12-18T16:06:28.889-06:00Join lobby effort at Conservation Lobby Day, January 26

Each year citizens from across Wisconsin descend on the Capitol to share their conservation values with their Legislators. Since the first Conservation Lobby Day in 2005, it has grown from just 100 citizens to more than 600! As we head into the 6th annual Conservation Lobby Day, there is one thing we can guarantee-when citizens come together to make their conservation values known, legislators

Ed Blumehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013655845430298782edblume@mailbag.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19662151.post-4770382305505610272009-12-16T16:34:00.001-06:002009-12-16T16:34:56.857-06:00Litany of errors mars analysis of bill to enact recommendations of global warming task force

From a news release issued by the coalition for Clean, Responsible Energy for Wisconsin’s Economy (CREWE):(MADISON, Wis.)—The coalition for Clean, Responsible Energy for Wisconsin’s Economy (CREWE) on Tuesday released a fact sheet detailing the errors with the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute’s (WPRI) November 12th report on the adverse economic effects of the Governor’s Task Force on Global

Ed Blumehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013655845430298782edblume@mailbag.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19662151.post-66634822149247574122009-12-15T10:45:00.002-06:002009-12-15T10:47:31.405-06:00Wisconsin's first Training For Transition (T4T)

From Transition Wisconsin:Trainers: Becky and Bill Wilson of Transition US and Midwest PermacultureWhen: Saturday and Sunday, January 30 and 31, 2010Saturday 9am – 5pm*Saturday Evening Movie (Polycultures), "Show & Tell" and Networking: 6:30-11pm(If your group is already working on Transition, feel free to bring alongphotos, slides, video, or just talk about your activities, successes,challenges,

Ed Blumehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013655845430298782edblume@mailbag.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19662151.post-90458538521902691582009-12-14T12:09:00.001-06:002009-12-14T12:12:22.003-06:00Crank up clean energy

From an editorial in the Wisconsin State Journal:It might be hard to muster concern over global warming after shoveling a foot of snow in freezing temperatures last week across Wisconsin.But the risk of man-made climate change is real and demands action - even if some scientists have overstated the evidence.The bottom line is this: Burning less petroleum and coal that produces heat-trapping

Ed Blumehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013655845430298782edblume@mailbag.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19662151.post-26544138381502251612009-12-11T11:59:00.003-06:002009-12-11T12:04:18.156-06:00Global warming bill sets stage for debate

From an article by Tom Content and Lee Bergquist in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:A draft of major legislation released Thursday calls for greater use of renewable power, opens the door to construction of nuclear power plants and lays the groundwork for how Wisconsin addresses global warming.The legislation sets the stage for a major debate in Madison, with proponents touting the promise of

Ed Blumehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013655845430298782edblume@mailbag.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19662151.post-32914708430027856702009-12-10T11:50:00.001-06:002009-12-10T11:57:50.039-06:00Take off the transportation blinders

From a commentary by Dave Zweifel in The Capital Times:It’s long been a myth that the streets, highways and bridges that accommodate our love affair with the automobile are all paid for by highway taxes.Far from it. Just check your local city and county budgets and see how much general purpose tax revenue is siphoned into street repair every year. Property taxes help fund a lot of those orange

Ed Blumehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013655845430298782edblume@mailbag.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19662151.post-89165031433185009732009-12-08T13:57:00.000-06:002009-12-08T13:57:37.683-06:00Cancelled -- Biofuels group seeks help on steering & governing a foundation

Due to the winter weather warning today and this evening, we are cancelling tonight's Education Foundation meeting. Stay tuned for a re-scheduling of this event soon! email to: president@pbbfef.org for more information.From an invitation issued by the PrairieFire BioFuel Education Foundation:We at the PrairieFire BioFuels Education Foundation would like to invite you to become active in the

Ed Blumehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013655845430298782edblume@mailbag.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19662151.post-23657219505131622752009-12-08T12:45:00.002-06:002009-12-08T12:46:36.728-06:00Rail opponents want spring referendum

From an article by Paul Snyder in The Daily Reporter:Dane County Supervisor Eileen Bruskewitz has introduced a resolution to the County Board for an advisory referendum in spring 2010 asking whether Dane County should have commuter rail.She said she was prompted to ask for the referendum after hearing from many residents upset about the county’s creation last month of an RTA.“People are furious

Ed Blumehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013655845430298782edblume@mailbag.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19662151.post-85757388722410200452009-12-08T09:58:00.004-06:002009-12-08T10:02:49.264-06:00Colleges, including the UW-Madison, take advantage of geothermal heating, cooling

From an Associated Press article by Dinesh Ramde published in the Appleton Post-Crescent:MILWAUKEE — While solar and wind power get most of the headlines, geothermal power is quietly gaining traction on college campuses where energy costs can siphon millions each year from the budget. Schools from Wisconsin to New Mexico have geothermal projects in the works. There are 46 schools divvying up

Ed Blumehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013655845430298782edblume@mailbag.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19662151.post-85159374870794580222009-12-07T01:18:00.001-06:002009-12-07T01:18:00.365-06:00Mayors, county executive make appointments to Dane County RTA

From a news release issued by Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk:Mayors Dave Cieslewicz, Joe Chase, Jay Allen and Kurt Sonnentag and County Executive Kathleen Falk announced their appointments to the Dane County Regional Transit Authority (RTA) today. . . .Appointments to the RTA Board are as follows: County Executive: Kristine Euclide, Vice President and General Counsel of MG&

Ed Blumehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013655845430298782edblume@mailbag.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19662151.post-24096334179356152922009-12-04T14:27:00.002-06:002009-12-04T14:29:40.484-06:00Solar panels rise to Capitol heights

Governor Jim Doyle signals a crane operator to lift the first pallet of solar panels (below) for installation on the West Wing of the State Capitol. Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) President Gary (middle) and Chris Collins (right), a representative of the installer H&H Solar, joined in the liftoff. The 48 solar panels in the final installation will cover 9,600 square feet on the Capitol roof and

Ed Blumehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013655845430298782edblume@mailbag.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19662151.post-82642111653286319822009-12-02T16:42:00.002-06:002009-12-02T16:48:47.970-06:00MGE issues neighborhood Green Power challenge

An announcement issued by Madison Gas & Electric: As Madison's community energy company, MGE supports local efforts to improve our environment. To encourage these efforts, MGE is offering a challenge to neighborhoods to go beyond the current levels of green power participation to help significantly reduce environmental impacts of energy use and make Madison a green power champion. Under this

Ed Blumehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16013655845430298782edblume@mailbag.com0