Walker whittles away at money saving "Focus on Energy" program, costing us all more.

It's an amazing game of words coming from the the Walker administration. Walker says we should stay with fossil fuels because that will keep prices down, all the while the PSC is raising prices, all the while solar and wind energy generation is now competitive and costs less.

It always seemed odd to me that utility companies that made money from energy use, would tell their customer how to save energy. That charade has ended:

Wisconsin's electric utilities back the bill, which would cut funding for the Focus on Energy program by $7 million at a time when electricity costs in Wisconsin have risen above the national average.Utilities and state regulators say the proposed cut would return money to ratepayers, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. 

Since really big business took control of Wisconsin's legislature, the muscle flexing has begun, at the expense of it's citizens and smaller businesses:

But the program's supporters cite its savings, pointing out that the program has delivered $3 of savings to customers for every $1 spent. Theresa Lehman, director of sustainable services at Miron Construction.  said at a time when capital spending budgets are tight, the program offers incentives that help customers cut their costs by allowing them to afford the upfront expenses of switching to more efficient LED lighting.

St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton is saving $30,000 a year by upgrading the lighting in its corridors, Lehman said. Another client, Lake Mills Elementary School, received $100,000 in incentives from the program and is now saving $85,000 every year on its energy costs, she said.

Families and businesses will now pay more, and not save energy. Hey, we're just trying to save the utilities money!!!

Supporters of the cut, including Wisconsin utilities and manufacturing groups, say it fixes a problem that effectively charges some utilities twice for the program. Investor-owned utilities are paying into the program based on a percentage of sales, and then municipal utilities — which buy power from investor-owned utilities — are paying into the program separately, at a rate of $8 per meter. The proposed change would collect program funding by retail rather than total utility electric sales, so investor utilities aren't paying for both their customers' and municipal customers' contributions to Focus on Energy. "Our concern is the formula and getting rid of the double charge," We Energies spokesman Brian Manthey said. Total funding for the program would increase over time as utility power sales rise, he said.

And that savings will go right back to the customer, so they can pay for the increases by the PSC. Not a bad scam;

Madison-based Alliant Energy and Milwaukee-based WEC Energy Group, parent of We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service, are backing the bill. All three of the utilities estimate they would see savings of about $2 million a year. PSC spokeswoman Elise Nelson contends the change is about equity and fairness and "would put $7 million back in ratepayers' pockets."

In Walker's way from the beginning: Keep the following in mind, since it's directly related and is another example of Walker outsourcing Wisconsin jobs. Scott Walker's first victim was a 30 year old Wisconsin company, replaced by one from Baton Rouge, La.

WSJ: Focus on Energy, a statewide program that promotes energy efficiency … new management by an out-of-state corporation, suspension of a popular rebate program, and sharp funding cuts in the pending state budget … Nearly 20 people already have lost their jobs … In the past 10 years, more than 91,000 businesses and more than 1.7 million residents used the program and saved $2.20 for every dollar spent.

The nonprofit Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corp. (WECC) has handled the program since 2001 … grew to 235 employees, with clients in 12 states and a building in University Research Park that’s a showpiece for energy efficiency.

But a panel decided in May (2011) to award the contract to Shaw Environmental & Infrastructure, part of The Shaw Group, a publicly traded Baton Rouge, La., corporation

I wonder why….

Other divisions of Shaw design and build power plants, erect pipelines and manage radioactive waste.

Hey, didn't Republicans end the nuke plant moratorium? Coincidence? And so Walker’s war on green energy began:

Since taking over Focus on Energy on May 9, one of Shaw’s first decisions, with PSC support, was to suspend payments to businesses that install renewable-energy systems, as of June 30.

Contractors like Seventh Generation Energy Systems were stunned. “It’s pretty devastating,” said James Yockey, chief executive officer. “It probably took out six to 10 projects that we were looking to close ... for work in the fall and the coming spring.” Several of the projects were wind turbines for farmers. “I think the incentives are decisive in people saying yes,” Yockey said.

Under Walker, fixed rate energy increases skyrocket burning cheap coal. So why is he suing the EPA?

Electric rates are going up again, even as the state continues to use "cheap" fossil fuels like coal. You won't hear Scott Walker complain about the price hike or the strain that this will have on fixed income seniors or customers thinking about installing solar panels. 

Your best friend Coal.

All of this flies in the face of the Republican governors lawsuit against the EPA; the governors claim electric bills will actually be going up if we move away from cheap coal. Really?

Then why did this just happen:

Major Rate Increase For Xcel Energy Customers Gets State Approval: Fixed Rates Will Go Up 75 Percent On Electric Bills In Western Wisconsin ... the utility's customers in western Wisconsin will begin paying $14 per month in fixed charges, instead of the $8 per month ...  

But this is a good rate increase because we're burning coal yet. 

And get ready to hear this ridiculous reason for the rate increases using cheap coal, over and over. Just wondering, why hasn’t this been an issue before? Just saying...

Don Reck, regional vice president of rates and regulatory affairs for Xcel, said the increased fixed charge will better reflect the actual costs to provide energy, such as materials and maintenance. "The cost of poles and wires and meters to provide electric service don't vary based on the amount of usage that a customer has," Reck said.

How much more would Obama's new EPA standards raise rates: I recently wrote this: "In fact, Walker whined that electric bills could jump as much as 29% if the EPA rules go into affect. Yet the PSC raised the fixed rate charge for electricity by more the 80% using good old dirty coal.

What just happened in Western Wisconsin is on top of this rate increase a few weeks ago:

UPDATE- Saturday: The rate increase was reduced, and that's a good thing.

Rates for customers of a Green Bay electric utility are on track to drop in 2016, but the customer fixed charge will rise by $2 a month ... Customers of Wisconsin Public Service Corp. will pay a fixed charge of $21 a month next year, after the state Public Service Commission trimmed the utility's request to raise the fixed charge to $25. The utility had raised the fixed charge by more than 80% in January, to $19 a month from $10.40 a month.

Walker's PSC hiking Energy Bills again, while he sues EPA for possible hikes in energy bills?

UPDATE- Saturday: The rate increase was reduced, and that's a good thing. 

Rates for customers of a Green Bay electric utility are on track to drop in 2016, but the customer fixed charge will rise by $2 a month ... Customers of Wisconsin Public Service Corp. will pay a fixed charge of $21 a month next year, after the state Public Service Commission trimmed the utility's request to raise the fixed charge to $25. The utility had raised the fixed charge by more than 80% in January, to $19 a month from $10.40 a month.

That's still an increase. But something else was encouraging, probably due to the fact Wisconsin is getting national attention as an outlier in discouraging green energy:

While approving the smaller increase, commissioners also authorized a study looking at the impact of fixed charge increases on customers. On the fixed charge issue, commissioners Phil Montgomery and Michael Huebsch initially sought to keep it unchanged, with commission Chair Ellen Nowak advocating a $21 charge. Montgomery said it was time for the PSC to review the impact of the fixed charges. He and Huebsch agreed to the increase in the charge to $21 as long as the commission agreed to a review.

But rates were lowered because the utility, unfortunately, saved money cutting 182 jobs in the Green Bay area:

Savings were found primarily thanks to the low price of natural gas burned in utility power plants, The commission trimmed $11.3 million in expenses in light of recent job cuts in Green Bay announced by the utility's parent company. WEC Energy said this month that it eliminated 2% of its workforce, with cuts taking place at its operating headquarters in Green Bay, Milwaukee and Chicago. 

Below is the original story: -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The scary thing about conservative voters is that they never seem to get confused over confusing GOP policies. Maybe that's the disconnect between our two ideologies. Yet some of this stuff is ridiculously obvious.

An Energy Rate Hike vs An Energy Rate Hike...huh? Scott Walker and his AG lapdog Brad Schimel (oh boy did we see that coming), said they're suing the Obama administration over the new carbon emission rules because consumers would be hit hard by rate increases. jsonline:

The states say the rules will heap higher costs on consumers and business … require new plants to use expensive and unproven technology, said Schimel, a Republican.

Walker: "The Obama administration ignored the concerns submitted by Wisconsin ... instead pursuing a political agenda that will increase costs and prevent the construction of future power plants producing reliable, affordable electricity for our state."

No Really, Walker doesn't care about Increased Energy Costs: It's hard to watch Walker's manic support for one dying industry (coal), and support for reviving a depleted, stagnant automated industry (manufacturing). But wasting taxpayer money suing the government in the name of keeping consumer energy price down isn't just foolish, it's also a Walker lie.

Walker, not Obama, is about to increase energy costs again on Wisconsinites when his own GOP dominated PSC, approves a rate hike just last year. What, no complaining or lawsuits?

A year after receiving an 83% increase in the fixed customer charge on monthly electric bills, Wisconsin Public Service Corp. is seeking another increase in that fee — this time by an additional 32%. 

Wisconsin has become an outlier on fixed charges based on what utility regulators have approved around the country. A review of decisions in other states by Renew Wisconsin found that 35 utilities proposed to increase their fixed charges ... Of those, 14 utilities were required to keep the charges unchanged, while 18 were allowed increases between 1 cent and $4.30 a month. The biggest increases were the three in Wisconsin, ranging from $6.83 to $8.71. "Only in Wisconsin have large increases been granted," said Tyler Huebner, executive director of Renew Wisconsin, a renewable energy advocacy group.

So cry me a river Scott Walker and Brad Schimel, about rate hikes under the new EPA standards.  

Walker stacked the Public Service Commission deck so they could stuff the fossil fuel energy industry pockets with money:

The current chair is Ellen Nowak ... was the chief of staff to Waukesha County Executive … the legal counsel to the Speaker of the Wisconsin Assembly … deputy director of School Choice Wisconsin … practiced business litigation at Mallery & Zimmerman, SC in Milwaukee.

Nowak serves alongside Michael Huebsch (R)(16 years in the state legislature, four years as Wisconsin Department of Administration Secretary) and Phil Montgomery  (previously served six terms as a Republican member of the Wisconsin State Assembly). 

Keeping Seniors in their Homes? More BS: Walker's plundering Republican pirates say they're helping seniors stay in their homes by saving them a laughable $1 on their property taxes. But those same Republicans are forcing seniors to spend that dollar and $7 more on their energy bills. Oh wait, even that wasn't enough?

If approved, the fixed charge paid by WPS customers will have more than doubled since last year, from $10.40 to $25 a month, Patricia Finder-Stone of AARP said during a public hearing on the Green Bay utility's proposal.

"It makes consumers pay more before they even turn on their lights," she said. "This increase has a disproportionate effect on seniors and others that are living on limited or fixed incomes."

Thanks to Obama-derangement syndrome: "Stand with Walker" voters can not only delight in getting bigger energy bills now, but they can also sleep comfortably knowing their sue happy state government will be locked in the coal fired past for some time. I also found the graph below that I just had to post here. The wonders of coal:

Walker promises national roll-out of Wisconsin's phony energy plan "All of the Above."

Scott Walker took office at just the wrong time when it came to business and job creation centered on alternative energy.

Bad timing too, because coal mines are shutting down due to lack of demand, while state's around the country are focusing in on natural gas, solar and wind energy. The writings on the wall...but not if Scott Walker becomes president.

Walker's "All of the Above" spin is anything but, and the charts below prove that spectacularly:

According to Bloomberg News, Walker's the worst:

As far as wind and solar developers are concerned, the Wisconsin governor may be the worst man for the job.

Five years after Walker took office, renewable energy in Wisconsin is lagging the boom in the rest of the country and industry blames the two-term governor for the shortfall. Walker and his appointees have pushed new restrictions on windmills, cut tax incentives and research funding and last year imposed the nation’s highest fees on rooftop solar owners.

“Renewable energy isn't only confined to wind and solar,” Laurel Patrick, a spokeswoman, said in a statement. “Governor Walker wants residents and businesses to have as many options as possible when it comes to energy resources.” an “all of the above” energy policy that didn’t favor any particular source. 

Walker said the country needs as many different “energy options as possible out there and if I was in a position as president I’d advocate for that.” 

The Horrible Reality?

The state hasn’t added any new wind capacity since 2011, according to the Washington-based American Wind Energy Association. And no Midwestern state has added fewer megawatts of solar in that time, says the Solar Energy Industries Association, another Washington group. 

The state has made life harder in other ways, industry says. Wisconsin officials have refused to clarify rules on whether solar companies can lease their panels to homeowners, keeping out national players. Gary Radloff, a policy analyst at the Wisconsin Energy Institute, which conducts research with private sector energy companies, said Wisconsin’s become “an island of renewable-energy stagnation amid a sea of growth.” 

Walker's "Open for Business" should be changed to "Under New Ownership!!!"

So where in the world did big business get the idea they can do almost anything they want in Wisconsin? You don't think it came from the not so subtle messages ballyhoo'd by Scott Walker and his band of plundering pirates in the legislature?

We're beyond warning signs at this point. The following jaw dropping ad demonstrates the actual corrupting influence of money; a former state commerce secretary, now a consultant, is selling his companies lobbying expertise to businesses trying to influence legislation. And if that doesn't work, at least take their case to the state supreme court:

At least Capitol Consultants is upfront about their intentions. 

A business group in Milwaukee, trying to get off the hook for converting a coal plant to natural gas (trying to get regular consumers to pay instead), is getting just what they want. And conservative "stand with Walker" voters and ratepayers will fork over more of their hard earned cash to big energy. jsonline:

Milwaukee's primary business booster group is pushing state lawmakers to cut funding for the Citizens Utility Board, a move that would cripple the group that represents consumers when utilities like We Energies seek state approval for rate increases.

Spearheaded by the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce … If approved by the Legislature, it would eliminate a grant that provides $300,000 a year in utility ratepayer dollars to CUB, which was created by state law more than 35 years ago.

Last year alone, CUB — which has a total budget of $771,580 — helped persuade the Wisconsin Public Service Commission to reduce utilities' initial rate proposals enough to save customers a total of $161 million. So this cut would represent savings of less than a penny for every $100 that electric customers pay. "We are truly a bargain," said Kira Loehr, CUB's executive director and general counsel. "There is no other state agency or group in the country that does what we do on the budget we have."

Just so you weren't confused over the intentions of the MMAC big business partners:

The change would also limit funding for CUB and other groups to hire expert witnesses in utility cases. The Republican-dominated finance committee adopted on a 12-4 party-line vote … (saying) they can't see why ratepayers should fund advocacy groups...

...ah, because they saved ratepayers $161 million? What am I missing in this debate? And we as ratepayers have been taking it in shorts for years in Wisconsin, even with the help of CUB:

The move to cut funding for CUB and other groups that advocate at the PSC comes at a time when the state's utility rates have risen faster than the rate of inflation and rank second-highest in the Midwest. 

Walker's Wisconsin ruled by "No Climate Tax Pledge" to Koch's, and banning Climate Change Science.

It's all becoming so much clearer now, after I stumble on a curious Scott Walker reference and link in a recent Huffington Post story.

The nationally embarrassing story making the rounds? The Walker administration's copy cat Florida policy banning any mention of climate change at a Wisconsin state agency.

But that story has a history, like this one from the Cap Times' Steven Elbow back in July of 2013:

Scott Walker among signers of Koch-backed 'No Climate Tax Pledge:' You’ve no doubt heard about Grover Norquist’s “Taxpayer Protection Pledge.” Well, there’s a new pledge in town … This pledge is called the “No Climate Tax Pledge,” but it might as well be called the “Koch Brothers Protection Pledge,” since it was devised by a group co-founded and backed by the billionaire brothers.

Signers of the pledge, now numbering 411, promise to "oppose any legislation relating to climate change that includes a net increase in government revenue” ... They include all Republicans, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, U.S. Reps. Jim Sensenbrenner, Sean Duffy and Reid Ribble, state Sens. Leah Vukmir, Alberta Darling, Rep. Glenn Grothman and Mary Lazich, and state Reps. Dale Kooyenga, Don Pridemore, Jim Ott and Bill Kramer.Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch … for ideological reasons and because of the state's wealth of frac sand.

While Walker didn't openly suggest banning all references to climate change, he's made it clear the idea itself has no place in his government. These losers are okay with not playing it safe, you know, just for the heck of it. If they're wrong, they will be taking us down with them.

From Ed Schultz, Sen. Chris Larson and the Progressive's Ruth Conniff help the nation understand just how bizarre our Humpty Dumptyish state treasurer really is about climate change:



Here's Chris Hayes with the only person on a panel of 3, not to vote for the climate change ban, Secretary of State Doug La Follette:



Attorney General Brad Schimel wasted no time blowing any credibility he might have had left after his fumbling bumbling campaign for the top cop spot. Is he not a real life Homer Simpson?

Scott Walker keeps Wisconsin on Coal Power, complains Gas and Renewable Energy would cost too much.

There are consequences for not helping Wisconsin embrace a strong clean energy plan.

Instead of making our own energy, as opposed to importing it from out-of-state suppliers, Scott Walker has sent a clear message to wind and solar manufactures and installers that alternative energy is not welcome here. His crony filled PSC just raised rates on customers in a way that discourages the spread of solar and energy savings.

So now Walker is whining about the cost of sticking coal. Go figure. He’s not a smart man:

The Republican governor said the proposed rule would have a detrimental effect on Wisconsin’s manufacturing-based economy, as well as household ratepayers. Those ratepayers, however, already are seeing rate increases from the utilities under Walker's watch.  Walker said the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin said the proposed rule would cost the state … which recently approved a rate hike for Milwaukee area electricity customers.

He added Wisconsin obtains more than half its electricity from coal and shifting to natural gas will jeopardize reliability. An EPA spokeswoman issued a statement saying any small price increases would be dwarfed by huge benefits and it’s too early to make reliability claims since states haven’t developed implementation plans.

Too early is an understatement. By 2030 we’ll probably be phasing out solar and wind for the energy rich dilithium crystal.

Walker found himself lying again, claiming an increase in energy efficiency – that program went away – and increase renewable energy usage – he’s doing everything he can to kill that.   

Walker, in his statement, said, “Wisconsin has invested approximately $10.5 billion over the past 15 years to help reduce CO2 emissions, increase renewable energy usage and energy efficiency, and install air pollution control equipment."

Oh sure, Walker wants you to forget this:

Focus had suspended renewables incentives in 2011, for one year, after the PSC concluded it had been spending too much on renewables, which don't provide as strong a payback that energy-saving efficiency projects do. We Energies and Renew Wisconsin have been at odds since We Energies terminated a renewable energy development program that provided incentives for churches and nonprofit groups to add solar. Utilities are also opposing moves to allow companies to build and own the solar panels that are on customers' rooftops.

Walker’s rejection of Wind and Solar Energy resulting in bigger bills for you and me, now and in the Future. Other states will be lowery their bills.

Scott Walker is doing what he can to slow or stop green energy progress in the state.

Renewable energy businesses that want to develop projects in Wisconsin are having success in other states … DVO, a Chilton-based company that is the state’s leading builder of waste-to-energy digesters, is actively pursuing projects in places like Serbia, Chile and Vietnam … Vermont and other states … less demand in Wisconsin after utilities increased the price they would pay to buy the electricity generated by the dairy farm digesters in the state.

Matt Neumann, son of former Republican Rep. Mark Neumann, of Sunvest Solar in Pewaukee, said his company has been actively installing solar projects around the country … Of more 212 projects the company has in the pipeline this year, just one is in Wisconsin, he said.

While other states have been moving quickly into solar, giving Americans the freedom to create their own energy and save money, Walker is trying to protect energy companies from losing their market monopolies. For example, in far off Arizona the power company wanted to charge solar customers and extra $100 a month to discourage the spread of solar panels. That didn't exactly work, but others are trying to do the same.

Nationwide, 80% of new solar installations last year came in states like New Jersey, California and Arizona that have given the go-ahead to third-party ownership.

It’s what Walker and the Republicans won’t allow to happen here:

Wisconsin needs to open the door to more solar through allowing third-party ownership of solar projects, which enable solar developers to own the panels and homeowners and businesses to lease the panels on their rooftops.

What’s the holdup?

Utilities have concerns about allowing too many solar projects, and the ripple effect on other customers if large businesses and other customers shift to generate their own power. Utilities have fixed costs that need to be paid for and policymakers need to be measured to assure that utility finances aren't upended by distributed generation, he said.

Walker is cutting taxes so you can spend more on your energy bills:

The state is falling behind its neighboring states, speakers at the conference said. Michigan built more wind power in 2012 than Wisconsin has built over the past 15 years … In Minnesota and Iowa, where utility costs are less expensive than Wisconsin, utilities are well on their way to hit 25% to 30% of their power from renewable sources.

It’s a market driven green energy movement, pure “economics, it’s cheaper:”

In Minnesota, Xcel Energy is moving to build more wind farms in a bid to meet the renewable energy standard as well as reduce its overall emissions, said Mike Bull of the Center for Energy and Environment in Minneapolis. In addition, the new wind farms are projected to reduce costs for customers over time because there is no fuel price that needs to be paid when the wind blows, Sullivan said. As a result, Xcel’s aggressive move to add wind power in 2013 represents an investment of more than $3.5 billion, said Michael Noble of Minnesota-based Fresh Energy.

“None of that was driven by mandates. None of that was driven by renewable energy standards, none of that was driven by state law,” he said. “That was all driven by economics: it’s cheaper.”

“We must always push the bar up a little higher to see how much we can do because this is a competitive world,” said Sen. Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center.

Oops, scratch Walker’s line about moving Wisconsin forward:

Schoenherr, of the Department of Administration, said the time isn't necessarily right to move forward … because utility sales are flat … time to consider it would be when the state is looking to add more power plants.

The state should move first to expand funding for renewable energy projects through the state Focus on Energy program – which has suspended funding for renewables twice in recent years, said Rep. Katrina Shankland, D-Stevens Point.