Contacts: Tony Hozeny, Department of Commerce, 608-267-9661
Laura Smith, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2162
MADISON—Governor Jim Doyle today announced $5 million in funding for Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, and $3 million for Price Engineering Co, Inc. in Hartland, Waukesha County. The funding will allow both companies to invest in their operations. It comes from the State Energy Program (SEP), which is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
“Investing in companies that make efforts to reduce greenhouse gases and cut energy costs is vital to the success of Wisconsin,” Governor Doyle said. “I am pleased that we could help Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District and Price Engineering Co, Inc. address environmental challenges.”
“This green energy project will bring tens of millions of dollars in savings to MMSD customers,” Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said. “This federal stimulus funding will help provide property taxpayers with additional savings and further boost our efforts to help retain and grow businesses. I want to thank the State Energy Program for supporting this important landfill gas pipeline project.”
“The SEP funds will allow us to purchase equipment for the gear-driven wind turbine remanufacturing facility,” Price Engineering Co, Inc. President Tom Price said. “It will also allow us to develop funds for remote monitoring & diagnostics. This is a new and important market and we plan to be a leader in it.”
Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District is a regional government agency that provides water reclamation and flood management services for communities in the Greater Milwaukee Area. MMSD will purchase equipment and install new turbines at its facility that manufactures natural organic fertilizer from biosolids. The State Energy Program funds will be used to purchase the turbines that are capable of burning landfill gas. The landfill gas will be converted to electricity and used in the manufacturing process. Total project cost is $88 million.
Price Engineering Co, Inc. is establishing a wind-turbine service facility in Hartland. The company will provide maintenance services and repairs for wind-turbine gear-driven systems. The SEP funds will allow it to purchase equipment for the gear-drive remanufacturing facility. The facility will include material handling, testing capabilities, and a gear-drive spares-management process to ensure replacement of worn gear boxes in turbines. This project creates 111 jobs and represents a total investment of $9 million.
Governor Doyle has led major efforts to help Wisconsin manufacturers improve energy efficiency and invest in clean energy technologies. Wisconsin is the only state directing 100 percent of its state energy funds from the Recovery Act – more than $55 million – to help state manufacturers bring down their costs through energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. The State Energy Program has helped several Milwaukee area companies develop jobs and investment. Among these are Weldall Manufacturing, Waukesha; TecStar Manufacturing, Germantown; Helios USA, Milwaukee; ZBB Energy Corporation, Menomonee Falls; and Idle Free Technologies, Watertown.
This project builds on Governor Doyle’s efforts to position Wisconsin for future growth. Since taking office in 2003, Governor Doyle has worked aggressively to create and retain jobs in Wisconsin. Governor Doyle’s budget last year created some of the strongest economic development tools in the nation to help businesses create jobs and get people back to work. Wisconsin now has powerful new tax credits to help manufacturers create and retain jobs, new tools to help investors create start-ups, and new incentives to spur research and development.
