Below is an excerpt from the most recent edition of WisBusiness Tuesday Trends.
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RISING
Water tech: The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. unveils a Global Freshwater Seed Accelerator program, which officials call a first-of-its-kind effort to bolster water technology startups. The program, which will be managed by the Milwaukee-based Water Council, will issue grants of $50,000 to each of six water tech firms with commercialization potential. The six-month accelerator program will also provide the firms with space in the city’s new Water Council Technology Building, resources from UW-Whitewater’s Institute for Water Business and UW-Milwaukee’s School for Freshwater Sciences, and access to water technology experts and investment capital funding sources. The startup firms will be selected based on growth potential, compatibility with existing companies and long-term interest in Milwaukee; WEDC says the program will solidify the city’s reputation as a global center for water-related research and industry.
MIXED
Wind energy: The developer of a proposed wind energy farm in western Wisconsin appeals the rejection of its initial application, but it gets the same answer from the PSC: a 2-1 vote rejecting the project. Emerging Energies said in its appeal that it could provide new evidence addressing the PSC’s concerns about noise limits from the turbines at the proposed Highland Wind Farm. But majority commissioners said the time for such appeals had passed. Meanwhile, a bill that would allow municipalities to set more restrictive wind farm setback requirements moves forward, receiving several hours of testimony during a Senate committee hearing. The bill’s sponsors — Green Bay-area Republicans Frank Lasee in the Senate and Andre Jacque in the Assembly — say their measure would enable communities to protect their residents from what they argue are the negative health effects of nearby turbines. The Wisconsin Realtors Association also signs on as a backer of the measure. Critics, however, argue increased limits would simply continue to keep Wisconsin from realizing the economic benefits of clean energy projects. Despite the controversy in Wisconsin over wind farms, the industry is still helping the economy in some areas — highlighted this week by Illinois-based Broadwind Energy’s announcement of a $35 million order for wind towers to be built at its Manitowoc plant.
FALLING
UW research: As the impact of federal sequestration takes effect this month, the president of the University of Wisconsin System tells its governing body that across-the-board cuts are expected to put a dent in research efforts across the entire network of UW campuses. Kevin Reilly tells the UW Board of Regents that UW-Madison alone stands to lose 3.5 percent of its approximately $1 billion in annual research funding due to the sequester. Reilly says that represents $35 million in grants that won’t be funded and research that won’t be continued. Moreover, he says projected deep cuts to the National Science Foundation will affect NSF-backed projects on every campus, while other research agencies could slow down renewals and reduce the overall number of approved projects.
