TOPIC 'Environment' on Aug 10, 2009 (CEST)
Wisconsin Announces Green Manufacturing Program
Wisconsin has announced a new program aimed at reducing dependence on energy for the state’s manufacturing base. A total of $28 million is being made available from the Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to be used in the State Energy Program (SEP). This is the first installment of the $55 million in ARRA funding the state will receive for this program.
The funds will be made available to manufacturers through the Wisconsin Department of Commerce for projects that either improve energy efficiency or are part of a switch to renewable energy sources that reduce greenhouse gases. Grants will be made for:
• Reducing fossil fuel use in manufacturing by deploying renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies;
• Retooling Wisconsin businesses to enable them to produce components of renewable energy systems and energy efficient products; and
• Investing in renewable energy projects.
• Projects must create or retain jobs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce fossil fuel use, and/or deploy renewable energy.
Governor Jim Doyle made the announcement in Madison on July 27th. "Wisconsin is the only state to target its SEP funds exclusively to manufacturing,” he said. Wisconsin has a larger percentage of employees in manufacturing than any other state, and we can leverage our innovative, high-skilled workforce to create clean energy products and processes."
The decision to use the funds for manufacturing is part of a larger state effort to create jobs while moving in a green direction. Wisconsin has lost over 150,000 jobs in the last 18 months, many of them high paying industrial work. Manufacturing has long been the heart of the economy in Wisconsin, and this is seen as a chance to use the Federal investment to retool that for the future.
"With these funds, Wisconsin can work with state businesses and take a leadership role in clean energy manufacturing and create good jobs," Governor Doyle said.
Applications and program information will be available at the Commerce website: http://commerce.wi.gov/BD/BD-SEP-ARRA.html. Applications are evaluated on a first-com, first-served basis, and there is no deadline.
For more information on the SEP, contact Amy Cumblad at Commerce, amy.cumblad@wisconsin.gov; or David Jenkins at the Office of Energy Independence, davidj.jenkins@wisconsin.gov.
Jason Grace
on behalf of the
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