Energy Independent Communities Pilot Project
What uses nearly seven million kilowatt hours of electricity per year? We recently learned the local answer to this question. A Chequamegon Bay partnership has been busy collecting data on their energy use as part of a state-wide Energy Independent Communities initiative. The partnership includes Ashland and Bayfield Counties, Cities of Ashland, Washburn and Bayfield, Towns of La Pointe and Bayfield, Red Cliff Tribal Government and the Bay Area Rural Transit Authority. The Alliance for Sustainability coordinated the local initiative and UW-Extension provided statewide and local support. The 7 million kWh sum is the combined total of governmental electric usage for 2008, it does not include citizen or business uses.
The Energy Independent Communities initiative has the goal of producing 25% of Wisconsin’s energy use from renewable sources by 2025. In 2007, Wisconsin spent almost $21.5 billion on energy. Wisconsin has few instate sources of conventional energy. If we can produce 25% of that demand with renewable, regional resources, we could keep most of $5.3 billion dollars circulating within the state.
In December 2008, the Office of Energy Independence announced a grant opportunity for pilot communities willing to assess their usage and develop plans for achieving the 25x25 goal. The Chequamegon Bay partnership was one of ten government entities from around the state to develop a successful proposal. The Chequamegon Bay partnership is the only multiple-member group and is viewed by the state as a rural model in this effort.
The group’s work through much of the spring and summer was to collect data on all their various uses of energy. This proved much more difficult than expected. Many of the partners have multiple electric meters and some are served by both Xcel Energy and Bayfield Electric; electricity is used not only in buildings but also street lighting, water pumping for municipal systems, traffic lights, parks, etc. Tracking heating and transportation fuels presented another challenge. Through several months of effort most of the data was retrieved or compiled and was then entered into a very large spreadsheet and analyzed by the Energy Center of Wisconsin. The results were recently received by the partnership. The baseline data and the analysis enables each partner to set conservation and renewable energy goals that will enable it to reach the 25x25 goal.
Partners are now analyzing options and developing plans. Many of the government buildings operated by the partners have had energy audits completed that identify the most cost effective opportunities for conservation. Examples of common problems include old, inefficient heating systems and lighting fixtures, leaky windows, insufficient insulation and wasteful equipment. The partners have implemented conservation efforts in the past, and this initiative has helped identify future projects and has opened the door to securing project funding from the state.
Opportunities for the use of renewable energy are also being explored. The new solar hot water system for the Bayfield County Jail is an example of a renewable energy system with a good payback. The Town of La Pointe is exploring the potential for commercial wind energy production on the island. Many of the partners are interested in cooperative purchasing of bio-diesel and a few are investigating the purchase of hybrid vehicles.
At quarterly meetings of all of the pilot communities, we’re learning about efforts in other parts of the state. Communities are installing LED street lights, systems that capture methane from landfills, wind generators and solar panels, as well as changing energy consumption behaviors. Each community is approaching the 25x25 goals in ways that best match their unique circumstances, just as the partners are doing in the Chequamegon Bay region. As final plans are completed and analyzed, communities will continue work toward the overall goal of saving energy and dollars, and ultimately of becoming more energy independent.
For more information contact the Ashland (715-682-7017) or Bayfield (715-373-6104) County Extension offices or the Alliance for Sustainability (715-682-1189).
“Extension Cord” Ashland Daily Press article for week of October 5th, 2009. By Tom Wojciechowski, Community Resource Development Educator, Ashland County
The Energy Independent Communities initiative has the goal of producing 25% of Wisconsin’s energy use from renewable sources by 2025. In 2007, Wisconsin spent almost $21.5 billion on energy. Wisconsin has few instate sources of conventional energy. If we can produce 25% of that demand with renewable, regional resources, we could keep most of $5.3 billion dollars circulating within the state.
In December 2008, the Office of Energy Independence announced a grant opportunity for pilot communities willing to assess their usage and develop plans for achieving the 25x25 goal. The Chequamegon Bay partnership was one of ten government entities from around the state to develop a successful proposal. The Chequamegon Bay partnership is the only multiple-member group and is viewed by the state as a rural model in this effort.
The group’s work through much of the spring and summer was to collect data on all their various uses of energy. This proved much more difficult than expected. Many of the partners have multiple electric meters and some are served by both Xcel Energy and Bayfield Electric; electricity is used not only in buildings but also street lighting, water pumping for municipal systems, traffic lights, parks, etc. Tracking heating and transportation fuels presented another challenge. Through several months of effort most of the data was retrieved or compiled and was then entered into a very large spreadsheet and analyzed by the Energy Center of Wisconsin. The results were recently received by the partnership. The baseline data and the analysis enables each partner to set conservation and renewable energy goals that will enable it to reach the 25x25 goal.
Partners are now analyzing options and developing plans. Many of the government buildings operated by the partners have had energy audits completed that identify the most cost effective opportunities for conservation. Examples of common problems include old, inefficient heating systems and lighting fixtures, leaky windows, insufficient insulation and wasteful equipment. The partners have implemented conservation efforts in the past, and this initiative has helped identify future projects and has opened the door to securing project funding from the state.
Opportunities for the use of renewable energy are also being explored. The new solar hot water system for the Bayfield County Jail is an example of a renewable energy system with a good payback. The Town of La Pointe is exploring the potential for commercial wind energy production on the island. Many of the partners are interested in cooperative purchasing of bio-diesel and a few are investigating the purchase of hybrid vehicles.
At quarterly meetings of all of the pilot communities, we’re learning about efforts in other parts of the state. Communities are installing LED street lights, systems that capture methane from landfills, wind generators and solar panels, as well as changing energy consumption behaviors. Each community is approaching the 25x25 goals in ways that best match their unique circumstances, just as the partners are doing in the Chequamegon Bay region. As final plans are completed and analyzed, communities will continue work toward the overall goal of saving energy and dollars, and ultimately of becoming more energy independent.
For more information contact the Ashland (715-682-7017) or Bayfield (715-373-6104) County Extension offices or the Alliance for Sustainability (715-682-1189).
“Extension Cord” Ashland Daily Press article for week of October 5th, 2009. By Tom Wojciechowski, Community Resource Development Educator, Ashland County
