MEDIA CONTACTS:
Danielle Johnson, Wisconsin Department of Tourism
608-266-0458; djohnson@travelwisconsin.com
Eva Robelia, Wisconsin State Energy Office
608-261-6592; eval.robelia@wisconsin.gov
103-year old family-owned business partnering with State and U.S. Forest Service
CABLE, WI (July 20, 2011) — Today, Wisconsin Secretary of Tourism Stephanie Klett announced a $163,650 clean energy award for the installation of a bioenergy heating project at Lakewoods Resort. The 103-year old family-owned resort in northern Wisconsin is one of the largest employers in the area and will be utilizing locally produced wood pellets and wood chips from nearby forests to fuel their heating system.
“I am pleased that one of our most prominent resorts located in the Chequamegon National Forest, will be investing in a local renewable energy source,” said Secretary Klett. “The project will protect the natural beauty of northern Wisconsin, provide local jobs and invest in Wisconsin’s renewable resources.”
Lakewoods Resort, a popular tourist destination and a Travel Green Wisconsin certified business member, is retiring an old propane boiler system and upgrading to a commercial scale pellet boiler system. The project will be completed by December 2012 and is expected save approximately $72,000 in fossil fuel costs in the first year of use.
In addition, using woody biomass can significantly reduce a facility’s carbon footprint and increase our Nation’s energy independence.
“The devastating fires out west are a reminder of the importance of keeping our forests healthy,” said Lew McCreery, U.S. Forest Service. “By making use of the smaller diameter forest materials for boiler fuel the project will provide jobs in the state, build a market for fire reduction efforts and assist businesses to become more energy self-sufficient.”
The purchase of the bioenergy system was funded by the U.S. Forest Service Wood Education Resource Center (WERC). WERC is working in cooperation with the Wisconsin State Energy Office and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to run the project.
For more information on the project, or to find out if your business could convert to bioenergy, please visit www.na.fs.fed.us/werc or www.energyindependence.wi.gov.
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