Assessing the Renewable Energy Opportunity in Southwest Wisconsin Phase 1 of 3 University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Urban and Regional Planning Department Workshop, Fall 2011 Table of Contents Table of Contents ................................................................................................................... 1 I. Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 5 Implementing Renewable Energy Projects for Economic Development in SW WI ...................................... 5 Key Collaborators ...................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Southwest Badger ...................................................................................................................................................................... 6 SW WI Regional Planning Commission ............................................................................................................................ 6 UW-Extension .............................................................................................................................................................................. 6 UW-Madison Department of UrBan and Regional Planning ................................................................................... 6 Other stakeholders ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7 The Situation ................................................................................................................................................................................ 7 Regional Profile ........................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Geography ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Population ................................................................................................................................................................................... 10 Economy ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 10 Income ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 10 Employment ................................................................................................................................................................................ 11 The Solution .............................................................................................................................................................................. 12 Innovation ................................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Investment ................................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Independence ............................................................................................................................................................................. 13 JoB Creation ................................................................................................................................................................................ 13 Import SuBstitution ................................................................................................................................................................. 13 Energy 101 ................................................................................................................................................................................. 14 Solar ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Transmission of RenewaBle Energy-Jesse Durst ......................................................................................................... 15 Upfront Costs-Jin Park ............................................................................................................................................................ 16 Wind ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 19 Bioenergy ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 22 Best Practices Regionally and Nationwide .................................................................................................................. 26 Program Design/Implementation .................................................................................................................................... 26 Public Involvement .................................................................................................................................................................. 26 Education/Communication ................................................................................................................................................. 27 Energy Efficiency/LEED certified/Net Zero Buildings ............................................................................................. 27 Creative Uses for Energy/By-Products ........................................................................................................................... 28 Creative Partnerships/Business Models ......................................................................................................................... 28 Additional Considerations .................................................................................................................................................... 29 Digested Solids ........................................................................................................................................................................... 29 Policy Framework .................................................................................................................................................................. 31 Regulated Power ...................................................................................................................................................................... 31 Wind Siting .................................................................................................................................................................................. 32 Focus on Energy Incentives Suspended .......................................................................................................................... 33 Other Incentives ........................................................................................................................................................................ 33 AvailaBility of Credit ............................................................................................................................................................... 34 Assessing the Renewable Energy Opportunity in Southwest Wisconsin 3 Policy Conclusions .................................................................................................................................................................... 34 History and Inventory of Renewable Energy in SW WI ......................................................................................... 34 Inventory of RenewaBle Energy Projects in SW WI ................................................................................................... 36 II. Community Readiness .................................................................................................... 39 Methodology of Our Analysis ............................................................................................................................................ 39 First Impressions Visits .......................................................................................................................................................... 39 Focus Groups .............................................................................................................................................................................. 39 Snowball Survey ........................................................................................................................................................................ 39 Land Evaluation and Site Assessment (LESA) ............................................................................................................. 40 Public Involvement .................................................................................................................................................................