The Walker Budget Is Already Working! Part LXXXI

Part of Scott Walker's budget and agenda is to put a stop to such things as renewable and sustainable alternative energy sources. How else could he repay the mining companies by granting the bill written by the same companies?

Well, as he's claiming to want to create possible jobs, he's destroying actual jobs:

Local businesses making gains in renewable energy might be damaged seriously if the Focus on Energy incentives for customer-sited renewable energy systems aren't reinstated.

Several central Wisconsin-area business owners have appealed to the state Public Service Commission to restore full funding for the renewable energy program that reduces the cost of solar, wind and biomass installations for utility customers.

"We have seen a definite downturn in sales as a result" of the suspension by Focus on Energy on renewable energy incentives, said Josh Stolzenburg, founder and co-owner of North Wind Renewable Energy LLC, based in Stevens Point.

North Wind Renewable Energy designs, sells and installs solar electric and solar thermal systems for homes, businesses and farms throughout central Wisconsin.

[...]

"As more (renewable energy) systems are built, we will rely less on fossil fuels. These systems will help meet the increased energy needs of today and tomorrow. And energy costs will be more stable and consistent across the board," Jozwiak said.

Without the incentives, North Wind's business has decreased to where two employees were laid off, Stolzenburg said.

"We'd like to remain doing the majority of our work in central Wisconsin, but we're looking to other states now," Stolzenburg said, adding that Illinois is more receptive than Wisconsin when it comes to supporting renewable energy solutions.

[...]

Wisconsin had been considered a national leader in the development of renewable energy solutions. This prompted people to invest in businesses that manufactured and sold solar, wind and biomass energy systems, Klein said.

"We're going to lose a lot of businesses that were developed because of the attitude that Wisconsin is supportive of renewables. Unless the political climate changes, this will be destructive to the state's position as a leader in renewables," he said.

In order to curry favor with just one company that donated a boatload to Walker and his cronies, they are willing to destroy an entire industry and chase companies out of the state, leaving an untold number of people without jobs.

It's working, my eye.

WISGOP Continues To Look Out For The Tax Payers Their Campaign Donors

From Milwaukee News Buzz regarding the GOP's decision to ax funding for an audit to see if a program is effective enough to warrant an increase in spending:

The audit was intended to evaluate the program’s spending, participation, oversight and effectiveness. Focus on Energy provides grants and rebates to homeowners, businesses and local governments that make energy efficiency upgrades (such as installing solar panels). Supporters of the audit, including State Sen. Robert Cowles (R-Green Bay), said it was needed to determine whether the new funding was necessary.

[...]

These funds would come primarily from ratepayers – but the PSC estimated that increasing rebates and other programs would make homes and businesses more energy efficient, thereby lowering electric bills in the long term. The nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau questioned this analysis, noting that only customers who benefit from or utilize Focus on Energy programs would enjoy savings.

It's so nice to see that the GOP is looking out for the little people, especially as all of the power companies are seeking excessive rate hikes. Again.

Turnaround's Fair Play

Scott Walker thought he was being clever when he tried to make a statement welcoming the companies fleeing Illinois because the state had just raised their taxes.

So far, the only company that I've heard of even thinking about leaving Illinois is Jimmy John's and they would be looking towards moving to Florida (where, by the way, they got some of our money and jobs with their high speed rail).

As it turns out, Illinois leaders weren't hesitant to turn the tables (or should I say, the windmills?) on Walker:

Today the Illinois Wind Energy Association (IWEA) invited wind power developers working in Wisconsin to focus their efforts on Illinois, where Governor Pat Quinn and the Illinois General Assembly have worked to streamline regulations for the wind energy business.

Wind developers have been apprehensive about investing in Wisconsin since Governor Scott Walker proposed legislation that would effectively ban wind development from the Badger State. With these new job-destroying regulations on the table, IWEA is happy to highlight the much more business-friendly climate just to the south.

In fact, it looks like Walker's anti-business agenda could turn into a real windfall for Illinois.  Not only would they gain the wind power related companies to their state, but then they can turn around and sell the electricity they produce to Wisconsin utilities that still have to meet guidelines on having so much of their power come from renewable sources, and their not afraid to point that out:

Developers in Illinois placed 498 MW of wind generating capacity in service in 2010, and almost 400 MW more should come on line in the next three to six months, In contrast, Wisconsin added only 20 MW of wind generation last year.  

“Illinois’ favorable regulatory climate for wind power will create over three-billion dollars in economic activity in the coming decades,” Borgia said.

According to a recent study by Illinois State University, the first 1,848 megawatts of wind capacity in Illinois:

• Support local economies by generating $18 million in annual property taxes

• Generate $8.3 million annually in extra income for Illinois landowners who lease their land to wind farm developers

• Created approximately 9,968 full-time equivalent jobs during construction periods with a total payroll of over $509 million

• Support approximately 494 permanent jobs in rural Illinois areas with a total annual payroll of over $25 million

The proposed wind ban is also helpful to Illinois wind farms because electric utilities in Wisconsin are more likely to meet their renewable energy needs using Illinois resources if wind energy is prohibited in the state.

IWEA urges Wisconsin utilities to reach out to Illinois wind projects to achieve their renewable energy goals, Borgia said.

At the rate Walker's going, he won't need to create 250,000 jobs because there won't be that many people left in the state.