One Wisconsin non-profit organization and three post-secondary schools captured more than $1 million for projects to help the federal government address market and deployment challenges identified in a 2008 Department of Energy report.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 8, 2009

More information
Ed Blume
608.819.0748
eblume@renewwisconsin.org

State snares federal dollars for renewable energy work

(MADISON, WI) -- One Wisconsin non-profit organization and three post-secondary schools captured more than $1 million for projects to help the federal government address market and deployment challenges identified in a 2008 Department of Energy report.

"By contrast to Wisconsin's success, Illinois and Minnesota organizations will receive about $200,000 apiece and Iowa received nothing," said Michael Vickerman, executive director of RENEW Wisconsin, the successful non-profit applicant for funding.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison will get nearly $600,000, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee just over $300,000, and Lakeshore Technical College (Cleveland, WI) a little less than $200,000.

"The grant awards show the strong commitment to renewable energy, especially wind energy, by the State of Wisconsin and our educational institutions," Vickerman added.

RENEW Wisconsin will use part of the funds to develop a one-stop online source of information for wind developers, state and local policymakers and regulators, and the general public.

The web site will include documents and links to relevant state and federal statutes and rules, facts sheets on everything from aesthetics to court decisions, zoning, and other resources, as well as a calendar of upcoming workshops, seminars, training, briefings, grant opportunities, RFPs, and other relevant events and opportunities.

Another part will be used to fund RENEW work to help the Public Service Commission write state-wide standards for siting wind projects.

The other grants will promote workforce development. The UW-Madison will provide short courses in wind power plant design, construction and operations and develop curriculum to integrate wind energy systems curriculum into power engineering education programs, the UW-Milwaukee intends to create a wind energy educational collaborative in southeastern Wisconsin, and Lakeshore Technical College will develop additional partnerships to boosts its ongoing wind technician training programs.

DOE Awards in Market Acceptance:
• RENEW Wisconsin (Madison, WI) - Sowing the Seeds for a Bountiful Harvest: Shaping the Rules and Creating the Tools for Wisconsin's Next Generation of Wind Farms - $93,348

DOE Awards in Workforce Development
• The Board of Regents of the UW System (Madison, WI) - A Continuing Education Short Course and Engineering Curriculum to Accelerate Workforce Development in Wind Power Plant Design, Construction, and Operations - $119,135
• Lakeshore Technical College (Cleveland, WI) - POWER - Purposeful Partnerships Coordinating Wind Education Resources - $199,236
• University of Wisconsin (Madison, WI) - Integration of Wind Energy Systems into Power Engineering Education Programs at UW-Madison - $399,931
• University Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Milwaukee, WI) - Southeast Wisconsin Wind Energy Educational Collaborative - $330,184

Full list of awards and DOE news release at http://www.energy.gov/news2009/print2009/7381.htm.

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RENEW Wisconsin is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that acts as a catalyst to advance a sustainable energy future through public policy and private sector initiatives. More information on RENEW's Web site at www.renewwisconsin.org.