The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) released its annual report on water withdrawals in Wisconsin. Wisconsin withdraws about 2.2 trillion gallons of water each year from ground and surface water sources. According the WDNR, that is enough water to fill Lambeau Field about 4,700 times. All property owners with systems capable of withdrawing 100,000 […]
Wisconsin Energy Acquisition of Integrys Begins
Date Thu, Oct. 2, 2014 - 1:50pm By Hamilton
The approval process for Wisconsin Energy Corporation’s acquisition of Integrys Energy Group Inc. officially started August 6 with filings to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW). The acquisition will bring together the two holding companies forming the WEC Energy Group. The single holding company will continue to separately operate several electric and gas utilities, including Wisconsin Electric Power Company (WEPCO), […]
UPDATE: Carbon Regulation for Power Plants
Date Thu, Oct. 2, 2014 - 1:49pm By Hamilton
The Midwest Independent System Operator (MISO) released initial study results from a regulatory impact analysis on the proposed EPA carbon rules for power plants. The study consists of two phases that calculate compliance costs within MISO’s footprint by applying the assumptions in EPA’s draft rule and examine the range of emission reductions and their costs […]
Business Groups Submit EPA Comments
Date Fri, Sep. 5, 2014 - 10:47am By Hamilton
A broad coalition of business groups responded to a joint Public Service Commission-Department of Natural Resources request for comment on the proposed Environmental Protection Agency carbon regulation (called the “Clean Power Plan”) for existing power plants. The comments outline the potential negative impact of the proposed rule on Wisconsin’s economic competitiveness, several legal challenges, and […]
Wisconsin’s Energy Profile
Date Thu, Aug. 14, 2014 - 1:30pm By Hamilton
Data provided by the U.S. Energy Information Administration lets us see an interactive state-by-state analysis and map of where our energy comes from. Click on the photo to interact with the map.
2014 Broadband Planning Symposium and PSC Broadband Grants
Date Tue, Jul. 15, 2014 - 3:10pm By Hamilton
On July 8, the Public Service Commission (PSC) of Wisconsin hosted the 2014 Broadband Planning Symposium. The symposium is part of the LinkWISCONSIN initiative to increase Wisconsin’s competitiveness through the availability, adoption, and use of broadband technology. The event provided the opportunity for broadband stakeholders across the state to explore how broadband is changing in […]
Wisconsin Energy to Acquire Integrys Energy Group
Date Thu, Jun. 26, 2014 - 1:46pm By Hamilton
On Monday, June 23, Wisconsin Energy Corp. announced that they intend to acquire Integrys Energy Group in a transaction valued at $9.1 billion in cash, stock, and assumed debt to form the single holding company WEC Energy Group, Inc. The new entity is projected to have a regulated rate base of $16.8 billion in 2015 […]
EPA Announces Landmark Rule on Carbon Emissions
Date Thu, Jun. 5, 2014 - 10:39am By Hamilton
With this week’s announcement of the new EPA rules for existing power plants and carbon emissions, some are calling June 2nd, 2014 the most important day of President Obama’s second term. What makes the new proposed rule on carbon pollution emission guidelines so note-worthy? Background Under direction of the President’s Climate Action Plan, the EPA […]
EPA Proposes Rule to Assess SO2 Air Quality
Date Wed, May. 21, 2014 - 4:26pm By Hamilton
On May 13, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued proposed options for states and local air agencies to use air quality monitoring or modeling to determine whether areas meet the 2010 air quality standards for sulfur dioxide (SO2). Below is a discussion of the proposed rule. Background of 2010 Revised SO2 NAAQS In June 2010, […]
EPA Poised to Set Carbon-Emissions Rules for Existing Power Plants
Date Wed, May. 21, 2014 - 4:23pm By Hamilton
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, Gina McCarthy, announced that the EPA is set to issue the much anticipated rules on June 2nd for existing power plants under § 111(d) of the Clean Air Act. The regulations could significantly limit greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and potentially force many existing coal-fired plants to cease burning the […]