— State officials say Wisconsin is making progress toward its clean energy goals, pointing to projected utility emissions reductions, new renewable resources and other steps.
The Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy yesterday released its first progress report, about a year after Gov. Tony Evers created the state’s Clean Energy Plan in April 2022. Among other objectives, the state aims to reach 100 percent carbon-free electricity consumption by 2050, reduce fossil fuel pollution and expand the clean energy workforce.
To achieve these goals, OSCE Director Maria Redmond says the state is working to accelerate deployment of clean energy technologies, improve energy efficiency efforts, “modernize” buildings and industries and drive innovation in the transportation space.
“We also continue to prioritize health equity, environmental justice, and equitable economic development, fast-track workforce development and just transition, and accelerate government-led efforts,” she said in the report.
The 27-page report covers a wide array of activities, ranging from actions by the Public Service Commission supporting renewables and new energy storage projects to electric vehicle infrastructure development.
Utilities in Wisconsin project they will reduce emissions from electricity generation by 58 percent by 2028, marking “significant progress” from the 40 percent reduction from baseline seen in 2020, report authors wrote.
They note the “key driving factor” for that estimate is the planned decommissioning of three of the state’s seven utility-scale coal facilities. Once that’s complete, the share of Wisconsin’s electricity generation from coal will drop from about 33 percent to 20 percent, the report shows. That gap will be filled in part by planned solar energy developments and more battery storage.
The report highlights efforts to reduce energy consumption by state agencies and on UW System campuses, including new solar projects being developed at UW-Parkside, UW-Stout and UW-Stevens Point.
And it includes an overview of efforts by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority to encourage more sustainable building practices around the state.
See the full report: https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/WIGOV/2023/05/16/file_attachments/2500046/Clean%20Energy%20Plan%202023%20Progress%20Report.pdf
See more: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WIGOV/bulletins/35a33b3
— The Port of Green Bay is highlighting a “significant increase” in shipping volumes during March and April.
According to port officials, the combined weight for shipments through the port in those two months was 186,066 tons, marking an 84 percent increase over the same period of 2022. The largest import categories were salt, petroleum products, cement and coal.
This year’s shipping season began March 15, a release shows. Seventeen ships entered the port between then and the end of April, which is six more than at that point last year.
“We’re having a very strong start to this shipping season,” Port of Green Bay Director Dean Haen said in a statement, adding he expects to see “a steady inflow of commodities” in the coming months.
— Johnson Controls has broken ground on a new engineering center and lab facility site across from its Glendale campus.
Construction on the 105,000-square-foot facility is expected to wrap up by late 2024, according to a release. Once operational, about 250 employees will be conducting hardware and software engineering operations there focused on building automation and materials testing.
“Buildings account for nearly 40% of global emissions, meaning we have the opportunity to solve one of the most important challenges of our time by applying innovative technologies through healthy, safe and sustainable buildings,” Johnson Controls Chairman and CEO George Oliver said in the release.
Johnson Controls will lease the property from Milwaukee-based owner and developer Weas Development, the release shows.
See more project details: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/johnson-controls-and-weas-development-break-ground-at-new-state-of-the-art-glendale-engineering-center-and-lab-space-301827931.html
— The Department of Workforce Development is expanding mentorship opportunities through new partnerships with MENTOR Greater Milwaukee and EmpowHER.
The agency yesterday announced it’s partnering with these groups to offer more state resources and training for mentors, while helping residents in apprenticeship programs get connected to established professionals in their field.
According to the DWD release, MENTOR Greater Milwaukee will connect with the state’s apprenticeship committees and sponsors, offering more resources to help apprentices gain on-the-job mentorship experience.
And EmpowHER, which provides services for women in the trades in partnership with the AFL-CIO Building-Construction Trades Councils, will work with the DWD to get more female apprentices connected with mentorship services, the release shows.
“With this grant, we have the chance to be deliberate in our efforts to connect to women in nontraditional industries and pair them with female mentors,” said Christina Breitlow, president of EmpowHER. “We look forward to seeing the positive effects of this new project.”
— The Wisconsin Technology Council has announced the 13 finalists in this year’s Governor’s Business Plan Contest.
These finalists will present at the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs Conference, being held May 31-June 1 in Milwaukee. Each will have seven minutes to deliver an overview on their business ideas to a crowd of attendees.
The finalists are: Chocolate Rescue for Dogs Co., of Germantown; Empower2Retain, Eau Claire; Energy Tech Innovations, Milwaukee; FASTMedical, Beloit; Flux XII, Madison; Graceful Management Systems, Madison; Gud Medical, Winneconne; Home Perks Network, Madison; IQDecide, Madison; RoseTech Creativity Center, Marshfield; SixLine Semiconductor, Middleton; Soul Mobility, Oconomowoc; and WORKSHIFT, West Allis.
See more at Madison Startups: https://www.madisonstartups.com/2023-biz-contest-diligent-dozen-named/
See the Tech Council release: https://wisconsintechnologycouncil.com/diligent-bakers-dozen-to-present-live-may-31-at-entrepreneurs-conference-in-milwaukee/
<br><b><i>Top headlines from the Health Care Report…</b></i>
— Exact Sciences is awarding $1.1 million in grants to 18 organizations promoting colorectal cancer screening and care, including two in Wisconsin.
And Marquette University has received a $2.5 million donation to support renovation and expansion plans for its College of Nursing.
<i>For more of the most relevant news on COVID-19, reports on groundbreaking health research in Wisconsin, links to top stories and more, sign up today for the free daily Health Care Report from WisPolitics.com and WisBusiness.com.</i>
Sign up here: http://forms.gle/o8FtqTLviGJPja8C9
— Competitive Wisconsin next month will host an “action accelerator” event in Wausau on rural economic development, featuring more than a dozen expert speakers.
The June 12 event will be held from 8 a.m. to noon at Northcentral Technical College, where several panel discussions will focus on economic diversity, workforce development and next steps for driving a “rural resurgence.”
See more event details and register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/competitive-wisconsin-inc-action-accelerator-rural-resurgence-tickets-637480680877
#TOP STORIES#
# WisDOT releases plans to extend Hiawatha rail line to Green Bay, connections between Milwaukee and Madison
# Officials break ground on upper Mississippi River ecosystem project
# Madison ranks 5th lowest in women’s business ownership, study finds
#TOPICS#
# ADVERTISING
– Oscar Mayer Wienermobile’s name has changed, for better or wurst
# AGRIBUSINESS
– Boosting Wisconsin’s dairy industry: Grant program fuels innovation and modernization
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=503&yr=2023
# ECONOMY
– ‘We’re Titletown for a reason’: US News & World Report names Green Bay the best place to live in America
# EDUCATION
– UW-River Falls one of eight recipients of state meat processing infrastructure grant
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=499&yr=2023
# FINANCIAL SERVICES
– Milwaukee-based Borgman Capital expands with new Twin Cities office
# REAL ESTATE
– Slinger approves aid for Three Leaf’s $133M development without the housing units in earlier plans
– Previous owner of Germantown manufacturer sells firm’s real estate for $32.7 million
# TECHNOLOGY
– Milwaukee startup Forj acquires San Francisco software company
# TOURISM
– See Visit Milwaukee take over Union Station in downtown Chicago: Slideshow
– VISIT Milwaukee uses beer garden, snacks to promote tourism at Chicago’s Union Station
# TRANSPORTATION
– State projects passenger rail expansion could draw 250,000 new riders
# UTILITIES
– Blumenfeld tours UW-Parkside’s ongoing solar energy project
# PRESS RELEASES
<i>See these and other press releases:
https://www.wisbusiness.com/press-releases/ </i>
Fox Cities Chamber: Expands on site hours for small business consultations
Illinois Tool Works Welding: Selects Hiebing their agency of record
