Go Green 2016

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B R O U G H T T O YO U I N PA R T B Y

catching some renewable rays SUBMITTED PHOTO

utility providers connect with solar revolution WORDS: TOM GIFFEY

F

ive hundred years ago, the realization that the sun was at the center of our solar system revolutionized science. Today, another revolution is taking place, and once again the sun is at the center. This revolution has to do with how we power our society – making the shift from carbon-emitting fossil fuels to renewable energy sources such as solar power.

In the Chippewa Valley, two utility providers are on top of the trend. Xcel Energy, will soon launch on a one-megawatt solar garden on Eau Claire’s south side. Meanwhile, the Eau Claire Energy Cooperative is already turning the sun’s rays into electricity in a field a few miles outside the city. In both cases, investment from conscientious customers is making the projects possible.

XCEL ENERGY

When complete, Xcel’s Solar Connect Community will be the biggest community solar garden program in the state. Locally, it will involve a solar array on 7½ acres along West Hamilton Avenue, just across the street from Xcel’s Wisconsin headquarters.

The property was a city landfill from the 1940s to the 1960s, but it’s been vacant since. Ground will be broken on this

Dylan Klindworth of Lambalot Acres with some of the sheep that control vegetation around the Eau Claire Energy Co-op’s MemberSolar panels. project in the fall, and the solar garden will be operating by the end of the year, said David Donovan, general manager of customer and community services for Xcel. A similar garden will be built in La Crosse County as well.

The solar gardens are part of Xcel’s long-term effort to transition to more renewable energy sources and reduce carbon emissions, Donovan said. By 2030, he said, the utility firm wants to

reduce carbon emissions by 60 percent and to have a 63 percent carbon-free mix. Getting to that goal means burning less coal and relying more on the sun, wind, and natural gas (which produces less C02 than coal when burned).

“While the amount of generation from these solar facilities is quite small in comparison to the overall electrical needs of our Wisconsin customers, what we will learn from these facili-

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ties for use in the future is invaluable,” Donovan said. For example, the program will help Xcel determine how much solar power costs to generate, how it impacts their distribution system, and how much customer demand there is for solar energy.

On the latter point, at least, the answer has been promising: The Solar Connect program is funded entirely through customer subscriptions, and so

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

far 80 individuals and businesses have committed to being part of the program (many more have expressed interest).

After an upfront investment (for residential customers, it’s $200 per kilowatt), customers will receive bill credits for 25 years. While the program is “revenue neutral” for Xcel, it allows customers access to solar power without having to build and maintain their own rooftop solar systems.

If you’re an Xcel customer and want to learn more about the program, visit xcelenergy.com/SolarConnectCommunity or call (800) 824-1688.

EAU CLAIRE ENERGY COOPERATIVE

The co-op – which serves more than 10,000 members across west-central Wisconsin – officially plugged in its MemberSolar project in January. Nearly 3,000 solar panels cover about 4½ acres near the co-op’s office between Eau Claire and Fall Creek. While the details of the program are different, broadly speaking it’s similar to Xcel’s: Energy co-op customers pay upfront for a share of the solar production, then receive credits on their electricity bills for the next 20 years. Mary Kay Brevig, the coop’s communications manager, said subscribers have claimed about 55 percent

Workers install solar panels as part of an Xcel Energy project in Colorado of the solar panels, which means ecoconscious customers can still get in on the action. If that sounds intriguing, visit ecec.com and click on “MemberSolar.”

As MemberSolar entered the summer of its first year, it became green in more ways than one: With the help of Lambalot Acres of August, Eau Claire Energy Co-op retained the services of 25

ewe lambs to control vegetation growing around the solar panels. Using lambs to gobble the greenery keeps the co-op from having to be in the ironic position of burning fossil fuels to mow around the solar array. Plus, raising the lambs helps Dylan Klindworth – whose parents own Lambalot Acres – with his 4-H and agriculture class projects.

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helping the city sustain the effort college interns aid city with environmental projects WORDS: SAMANTHA WEST UW-EAU CLAIRE NEWS BUREAU

U

W-Eau Claire environmental studies students are working toward a greener Eau Claire community while simultaneously getting a valuable internship opportunity.

For the last three years, Ned Noel, associate planner for the City of Eau

Claire, has hired environmental studies students through a connection to UW-Eau Claire’s Watershed Institute for Collaborative Environmental Studies.

The students are able to get internship credit through the university, fulfill their service-learning requirements, or opt for a paid internship through the

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Great Lakes Higher Education grant, awarded to UW-Eau Claire in fall 2015.

The students’ projects vary, Noel said, but generally the students work on anything related to sustainability, as well as other city planning work.

“It’s very dependent on the current projects, so some of the interns have helped me with the carbon footprint in the past. That’s generally the biggest project,” Noel said. “The university also does a similar project, and if we can find a student who has worked on the project at the university, then they have the experience to apply to the city.”

This summer’s intern, Derek Dahlk, a liberal studies major studying critical theory and public policy, works on projects dealing with solar policy, public art, water conservation, and nutrition planning. He also works in coalition with the city’s Advisory Commission on Sustainability, creating policy briefs as well as brochures about solar policy and water conservation in order to develop “discourses about efficient design and building a more resilient Eau Claire,” Dahlk said. Dahlk is also able to participate in community meetings for the Health Impact Assessment for the city’s Cannery District redevelopment.

The internship allows him a real look into how the inside of a city government operates, rather than simply learning about the theory of the process in a classroom setting, Dahlk said. “Working with the city allows me to see into the institutional functions besides just writing about them in an abstract manner. It allows me to see the process that public decisions go through and the people who are fighting to improve the lived experience of Eau Claire residents,” Dahlk said.

Suntsov, the first City of Eau Claire sustainability intern and a chemistry student, put together the city’s first greenhouse gas report after being in the carbon footprint honors class at the university. This summer Dahlk is making new strides in carbon footprint research for the greater community.

“Derek is the first one working on the question of how we can quantify the carbon footprint of the whole city, so we’ve been able to establish enough understanding to figure out our own, and so now we can look at the whole community,” Noel said.

Because many students interested in environmental studies end up working within municipal governments, this internship experience is invaluable, said Dr. James Boulter, Watershed Institute director.

“It’s a great opportunity to meet people in the community, in the city planning office and city government because a lot of people who are interested in sustainability will go into government-type jobs,” Boulter said. “For a student to work in city government doing the work of city planning and sustainability is fantastic.”

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RED CEDAR WATERSHED GETS THE BLUES SUBMITTED PHOTO

program explores social aspects of reducing blue-green algae woes WORDS: JERRY POLING / UW-STOUT

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ocal and regional partners in a new collaborative effort led by UW-Stout, the state Department of Natural Resources, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are ready to harness their resources to improve water quality in the Red Cedar River watershed.

The DNR recently awarded a $200,000 lake protection grant to the project, and the Army Corps has committed $300,000 in water quality assessment funding from 2016 through 2018 to identify solutions and implement them to help reduce toxic blue-green algae blooms in the nearly 1,900-square mile watershed across 10 west-central Wisconsin counties.

The project, called the Red Cedar River Water Quality Partnership, includes other government agencies and organizations that have been working on the problem for more than 25 years.

The impact of the toxic algae blooms that turn the water green stretches from lakes Tainter and Menomin

Blue-green algae flows into Lake Menomin in Menomonie

in Menomonie to the Chetek chain of lakes in Barron County and to the headwaters of the Red Cedar River on Big Chetac Lake near Birchwood.

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The significance of the new effort is threefold: The sizable amount of funding, the sheer number of groups on board, and the decision to include social impact as

B R O U G H T T O YO U I N PA R T B Y

LEARN MORE Students involved in this summer’s LAKES Research Experience for Undergraduates at UW-Stout will present their research on water quality in the Red Cedar River watershed at 5pm Wednesday, Aug. 3, at The Raw Deal, 603 S. Broadway St., Menomonie. As part of the eight-week program this summer, students from universities around the nation conducted research on issues relating the blue-green algae problem that affects Lake Menomin, Lake Tainter, and other bodies of water. part of the research process to identify solutions.

Nels Paulson, an associate professor of sociology at UW-Stout, has coled three summers of undergraduate research through the separately funded LAKES REU (which stands for “Research Experience for Undergraduates”).

He said the most significant aspect of RCRWQP is likely the expanded social science research.

LAKES students have documented how poor water quality affects recreation, tourism, real estate and, therefore, the economy and quality of life in the impacted areas. LAKES already has shown that improved water quality would boost the Menomonie area economy by $36.6 million a year (at that’s a conservative estimate). The new funding will help complete a full social science analysis of the problem.

“The DNR and Army Corps have been wanting to integrate more social science into water quality research projects. With this knowledge, we can help empower the community to clean up the watershed,” Paulson said.

“When organizations get together, that’s how you get more research done.

We’re expanding on the research efforts we’re doing and want to be a pilot for how to do this across the state in the future. I’ve been told that nothing like this has ever been done before,” he added.

Patrick “Buzz” Sorge, lake grants coordinator for the DNR’s west-central region, agrees. “I’m extremely excited about this and the potential outcome,” he said.

Sorge credits LAKES for revealing the scope of the problem beyond its root cause, which is excessive phosphorous in the watershed’s streams, rivers, and lakes.

“The biophysical chemistry is the ‘what’ so to speak. We’ve got a lot of ‘what’ out there. The social science will be the ‘how do we get this done,’ and the ‘how’ is really important,” Sorge said.

“It was really the LAKES REU students who gave us these insights.

“We’ve got to change the paradigm to solve these water quality problems.

By allowing all this to happen in one major project is outstanding, and to have one of our state university institutions practice the Wisconsin Idea also is very rewarding,” he added.

The purpose of the social science assessment is to identify the major atti-

tudinal, normative, economic, and cultural factors that shape land-use decisions and community incentives and policies, according to Paulson and Sorge.

“By distinguishing such variables the local townships, cities, and counties can move forward with ways to grow their community capacity for changing landuse norms and practices and improve water resources and quality of life in the Red Cedar basin,” Paulson said.

Paulson, Sorge, and the Army Corps don’t expect the decades-old water quality problems to magically be solved in the next three years, but RCRWQP can build the foundation for change in the near future.

“This is foundational work that hopefully will allow the rest of the work to move forward at a quicker and more appropriate scale. This doesn’t work if we get 30 to 50 percent of pollution sources under control. We need to be 70 to 90 percent. Then you’ll see lakes Tainter and Menomin look much different in August,” Sorge said.

RCRWQP will get underway this summer through more LAKES research and with the hiring of a research coordinator.

The Army Corps’ $300,000 commitment will provide modeling and water quality monitoring tools and some staff support for the project, said Nate Campbell, a biologist and project manager for the Army Corps’ St. Paul district. The Army Corps will work directly with UW-Stout biology instructor Bill James, a former Army Corps employee, and other professors.

The hard science of water testing needs to tie in with social science research “to really get things done in a watershed,” Campbell said.

“We’re really excited to be involved.

It’s rare to see so many groups working together. With UW-Stout’s work in outreach, we saw this as a cool opportunity to get involved with something that’s been on the forefront of where water assessment is going,” Campbell said.

Along with Paulson and James, support from UW-Stout includes; Chris Ferguson, economics; Tina Lee, anthropology; the Discovery Center; Research Services; and others.

The watershed includes about 40,000 acres of open water and 4,900 miles of waterways, according to the RCRWQP plan, which can be seen online at naturalresources.uwex.edu/redcedar/ publications.html.

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B R O U G H T T O YO U I N PA R T B Y

GO GREEN AND KEEP GOING!

events, groups, projects, PROGRAMS, and BUILDERS KEEPING THE VALLEY SUSTAINABLE

EVENTS Cleaning up Lake Menomin - Public Forum

Aug. 3, 5pm • Raw Deal, 603 S. Broadway St., Menomonie • FREE • (715) 231-3255 • rawdealwi.com A public forum including students and UW-Stout faculty from a variety of disciplines (economics, geography, sociology, anthropology, and mathematics), to present the National Science Foundation sponsored LAKES research on how to can fix our polluted waters. This is a significant expansion on the LAKES research from the previous two summers.

Beekeeping 103 – Preparing the Hive for Winter

Aug. 6, 9am-3pm • Beaver Creek Reserve, S1 County Road K, Fall Creek • $40 for Friends, $45 for Nonmembers • (715) 877-2212 • beavercreekreserve.org Your bees made it through the summer, now you need to get the bees ready for winter. In this final class in the Beekeeping series, you will learn how to winter bees. Please bring a bee veil or bee suit, a sack lunch and a notebook. Registration and full payment due 8/3.

Tainter Menomin Lake Improvement Association Monthly Meeting Second Tuesday until May. 22,

6-7:30pm; Second Tuesday until Dec. 14, 6-7:30pm • Dunn County Government Center, Room 58, 800 Wilson Ave, Menomonie • FREE • All Ages • TMLIA. org No matter who you are, you live in a watershed and your voice matters. Come introduce yourself to other watershed citizens at this month’s TMLIA meeting.

A Climate Change Conversation: Patti Cleary & Jim Phillips Aug. 21, 10-11am • Unitarian

Universalist Congregation, 421 S. Farwell St., Eau Claire • (715) 834-0690 • uueauclaire.com While the impacts and ramifications of a warming planet remain somewhat uncertain, global climate change is a scientific reality, and the overwhelming body of evidence implicates human activity as the primary cause. Beyond the facts and figures, however, how does spiritual growth help us cope?

3rd Annual Celebrate the Lower Chippewa Valley River Conference - Day 1 Sep. 9, 8:30am-4:30pm

• The Heyde Center for the Arts, 3 South High St., Chippewa Falls • $20 (lunch included) • All Ages • (715) 726-9000 • cvca.net An event that bridges communities, natural resource professionals, and concerned citizens with a coordinated initiative to protect and celebrate the Chippewa River. Day 1 is dedicated to guest speakers, breakout sessions, lunch, networking, and live music. Lecturers for this year’s event will cover a variety of topics including a live eagle program, water quality, history of ferrying, prairie restoration, butterflies, past and current Chippewa River research, connecting kids with nature, historical communities and more.

3rd Annual Celebrate the Lower Chippewa Valley Conference - Day 2 Sep. 10, 8:30am-12:30pm •

Phoenix Park, 330 Riverfront Terrace, Eau Claire • FREE • beavercreekreserve.org An event that bridges communities, natural resource professionals, and concerned citizens with a coordinated initiative to protect and celebrate the Chippewa River. Activities on day 2 include a guided canoe/kayak tour, WDNR fish shocking, guided bike tour, invasive species education, bank fishing, and activities for children such as geocaching and a native plant walk. Bring your own kayaking equipment for the tour.

GreenLifeXpo Energy Exposition Sep. 10, 9am-4pm

• Exhibits and speakers at the Jackson County Fairgrounds inside the Milt Lunda Memorial Arena, Black River Falls. Other events held around the community at “green locations”, • (715) 964-7155 • greenlifexpo.com GreenLifeExpo is an event aimed to educate the public to live “greener”. GreenLifeExpo hosts exhibitors, speakers, and events at “green” locations. In previous years, attendees learned about renewable/alternative energy, recycling, conservation, and sustainable living with exhibits, tours, speakers, prizes, food, and workshops for kids.

Chippewa Valley Sustainable Future Fest Sep. 17, 1pm • Forest Street Gardens, Eau Claire • FREE • sustainablefuturefest.com Learn sustainable living ideas. Green living demonstrations, exhibits, tours of the Forest Street Gardens, food, music, and more.

HAZARDOUS WASTE PICKUP

invites you to join its efforts to educate and beautify the area. They organize several events, seminars, plant sales, garden tours and we manage public gardens for all to experience.

the international environmental group based in San Francisco. Programs vary from slide presentations of trips to talks about environmental issues and suggestions of actions members could take.

14: 4-6pm for farms, businesses and households at the Colfax Fairgrounds, 831 E. Railroad Ave., Colfax // On Sep. 15: 2-3pm for businesses, 3-4pm for farms, 4-7pm for households at the Dunn County Transfer Station, E3900 Hwy 29, Menomonie All farms and businesses must pre-register by Sep. 9. • (715) 232-4017 • co.dunn. wi.us Hazardous waste collections are imperative to keeping the environment clean. They also keep residents safer and healthier by limiting their exposure to hazardous chemicals. Improper storage and disposal of these products can cause fires, groundwater contamination and injuries to people and animals. Please do not throw away hazardous waste with regular garbage or pour it down the drain. Save any or all hazardous waste for a hazardous waste collection in your area.

Eau Claire Climate Action Now (CAN) (612) 220-1970 • eauclairecan@gmail.com • facebook.com CAN’s mission is to organize to fight climate change through education, advocacy, and bold proposals that sharply reduce fossil fuel extraction and emissions by fostering a clean energy economy and creating sustainable communities. CAN takes on the moral responsibility to use their collective power to influence the city, county, state, nation, and world to respond appropriately and end climate change.

Sustainable Bag Committee ci.eau-claire.

Dunn County Hazardous Waste Collections On Sep.

Eau Claire County Residential Clean Sweep Sep. 10, 8am-noon • WRR Environmental Services, 5200 Ryder Road, about 1/4 mile south of Interstate 94, Eau Claire • co.eau-claire.wi.us Clean Sweep is an annual program sponsored by Eau Claire County for the safe disposal of hazardous household wastes generated in resident’s homes. With the exception of Very Small Quantity Generator business collections, Clean Sweep is a residential program. This means that hazardous wastes generated in a commercial enterprise, even if it is a home-based business, may not be brought to Clean Sweep.

Chippewa County 2016 Household Hazardous Waste Clean Sweep Oct. 15, 8am-noon • Northern Wisconsin

State Fairgrounds, 306 Jefferson Ave., Chippewa Falls • (715) 726-7999 • co.chippewa.wi.us Chippewa County is making it easy for residents to get rid of household hazardous waste. See contact info for the full list of items you may or may not bring.

GROUPS

Affordable Solar Chippewa Valley • www.solarpowerwis-

consin.com • Making solar energy affordable and accessible for people across the Chippewa Valley and Wisconsin.

Eau Claire Garden Club 2nd Mondays, 7-9pm • First Baptist Church, 416 Niagara St., Eau Claire • (715) 855-7749 • nancyspak@gmail.com • facebook.com/ ecgardenclub To educate members in all phases of gardening, promote civic beauty, and promote conservation of Natural Resources. Summer meetings consist of tours of local gardens.

GreenSense uwstout.orgsync.com/org/

greensense GreenSense is UW-Stout’s student environmental organization since 1990. GreenSense clean up Galloway Creek, participate in an Adopt-a-Highway program, clean up the campus, and manage annual events at UW-Stout including RecycleMania, Earth Week events, a film festival, and they sponsor environmental speakers.

Joining Our Neighbors, Advancing Hope (JONAH): Environmental Task Force JONAH, 2233 Birch St., Eau

Chippewa Valley Transit Alliance (CVTA) Meets monthly

Clean Wisconsin (608) 251-7020 • info@cleanwisconsin.org • cleanwisconsin.org Clean Wisconsin protects Wisconsin’s clean water and air and advocates for clean energy by being an effective voice in the state legislature and by holding elected officials and polluters accountable. Find Clean Wisconsin on Facebook.

Concerned Chippewa Citizen wisair.wordpress. com Featuring tons of resources related to frac sand mining in this area of Wisconsin.

Eau Claire Area Master Gardeners occasional events and meetings • (715) 839-4712 • Erin.lafaive@ces. uwex.edu • eauclairemastergardeners.weebly.com This UW Extension volunteer group provides horticultural education, community service and environmental stewardship. The Eau Claire Master Gardeners community

Tainter Menomin Lake Improvement Association,

Inc. Meetings are second Tuesday of each month.

Check website for times and locations. • PO Box 185, Menomonie • rverdon@att.net • tmlia.org The Tainter/ Menomin Lake Improvement Association is actively engaged in activities to promote Tainter Lake and Lake

groups/414018268660495/ An online gathering of members of the Chippewa Valley concerned about frac sand mining in our area.

Lower Chippewa River Alliance (LCRA) Featuring various programs, meetings, and work days • (715) 835-4829 • ellewolf1@hotmail.com • wisconsinrivers. org LCRA was organized to support the conservation, preservation and stewardship of the Lower Chippewa River and Lower Chippewa River Basin extending from the Dells dam in the City of Eau Claire to the Mississippi River. LCRA organizes two educational open-car train rides into the Tiffany Bottoms each year. Train ride proceeds are donated to the Natural Resources Lower Chippewa River Foundation account, which provides funding for prairie and oak savanna restoration, invasive species eradication and scientific research projects.

Citizens Climate Lobby - Eau Claire Chapter Meets the first Saturday of every month at 11:45am (see contact info for location) • (715) 829-8620 • eauclaire@ citizensclimatelobby.org • citizensclimatelobby. org CCL is a non-profit, grassroots advocacy organization focused on national policies to address climate change. We train and support volunteers to reclaim their democracy and engage elected officials and the media to generate the political will for solutions that will stabilize the Earth’s climate.

details) • sustainabledunn.org This grassroots organization is devoted to promoting decisions that meet the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations. Monthly programs are held covering a variety of sustainability topics. Its website includes “green” news, a discussion group, and more.

Frac Sand Alliance facebook.com/

Chippewa Valley Master Gardeners Association

• (715) 835-4835 • chippewavalleytransitalliance@ gmail.com • facebook.com CVTA is a united voice for transit riders, bicyclists, and pedestrians in Eau Claire and neighboring counties of West Central Wisconsin.

Sustainable Dunn Monthly events (see website for

Foodlums facebook.com/foodlums • foodlums@gmail. com The Foodlums make up UWEC’s new academic and social organization serving both the university and the broader Eau Claire community. The organization sponsors events such as public lectures, creates service learning opportunities for Eau Claire and beyond and raises awareness of sustainable, local and delicious foods.

Claire • (715) 579-1186 • jonahorganizer@gmail.com • jonahjustice.org JONAH’s Environmental Task Force aims to live together in a mutually sustaining relationship with the Earth so the integrity for all is preserved and honored. They educate and inspire others to get involved in preserving our quality of life in the Chippewa Valley.

Check website’s calendar of events for meeting times • (715) 723-6711 • talloaks@charter.net • wimastergardener.org/?q=ChippewaValley The goal of this organization is to promote environmental stewardship in collaboration with UW Extension by developing an appreciation for and understanding of horticultural practices for all Master Gardeners and residents of the Chippewa Valley.

wi.us Charged with the task of exploring the various possibilities to reduce, reuse or recycle plastic and paper bags and examine what others have done.

The Prairie Enthusiasts: Chippewa Savannas Chapter • stahland@centurytel.net • theprairieenthusiasts. org Chippewa Savannas is a chapter of The Prairie Enthusiasts, a non-profit grassroots conservation organization. We work throughout Dunn, Eau Claire, and Pepin counties. We work to restore remnants of prairie ecosystems still remaining in the Chippewa Valley that have not already been lost to development or habitat degradation.

River Country RC&D Various Dates • PO Box 2187,

Eau Claire, WI 54702-2187 • (715) 579-5229 • Info@ RiverCountryRCD.org • rivercountryrcd.org River Country RC&D is known for collaboration and grassroots efforts among private citizens, land-owners, government agencies and businesses. They work with land-owners to cut through red tape and implement programs that improve land-use, foster resource development, and enhance habitat value and beauty of the region.

Sierra Club - Chippewa Valley Group Meets 7:30pm at Northstar Middle School (2711 Abbe Hill Dr., Eau Claire) first Wednesdays, October through May • (608) 256-0565 • john.muir.chapter@sierraclub.org • wisconsin.sierraclub.org/chippewa This is a local chapter of

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GROWING UP

B R O U G H T T O YO U I N PA R T B Y

Menomin, along with those bodies of water which are immediate to the lake, namely the Red Cedar River and the Hay River. Their aim is to support the protection and improvement of Lake Menomin and Tainter Lake waters by providing educational information on water quality and environmental issues affecting these bodies of water and their corresponding watersheds.

UW-Stout Sustainability Office (715) 232-5254 •

rykals@uwstout.edu • uwstout.edu/sustainability/ The mission of UW-Stout’s Sustainability Office is to foster a culture of sustainability among the university community.

The UWEC Conservationists theconservationists@

uwec.edu • Facebook.com/TheUWECConservationists The purpose of The Conservationists is to strengthen ecological awareness and environmental ethics in the community and campus. The primary goal is to work with the community and university in restoration, conservation, and management efforts.

UWEC Student Office of Sustainability (715) 836-4646 • sos@uwec.edu • uwec.edu The Student Office of Sustainability is a Student Senate commission responsible for allocation of the green fund. The green fund is comprised of student segregated fees for the purpose of improving sustainability at UW-Eau Claire.

UWEC Watershed Institute for Collaborative Environmental Studies (715) 836-4175 • watershed@uwec. edu • uwec.edu/watershed/index.htm The mission of WICES is to unite the efforts and expertise of faculty, staff and students across disciplines, enhancing the strong liberal arts experience offered at UW-Eau Claire by fostering interdisciplinary education, scholarship and community outreach. Its core goal is for UW-Eau Claire students to develop an increased environmental awareness, vital ecological literacy, a commitment to conservation and sustainability, and a respectful, appreciative, and ethically intentional relationship between human society and the natural world in the Lower Chippewa River Watershed and beyond.

Wisconsin Bike Fed (414) 431-1798 • info@wisconsin-

bikefed.org • wisconsinbikefed.org The Wisconsin Bike Fed, celebrating 27 years of bicycle advocacy in 2015, is a statewide organization representing thousands of members across Wisconsin and has staff based in Eau Claire. Its mission is to inspire, motivate, and unite a strong community of civic, business and political leaders, motorists and bicyclists to move bicycling forward in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Grassroots Network wisconsingrassroots. net Connecting progressive grassroots groups throughout the state of Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Green Building Alliance (414) 224-9422 •

info@wgba.org • wgba.org This organization’s mission is to promote ecologically sustainable development practices and provides resources such as an annual conference, educational forums and site visits to demonstration projects.

Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters - Eau Claire (715) 225-3344 • info@conservationvoters.

org • conservationvoters.org A nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to electing conservation leaders, holding decision makers accountable and encouraging lawmakers to champion conservation policies that effectively protect Wisconsin’s public health and natural resources.

Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice (608) 250-

BUILDINGS

ADG: Architectural Design Group Banbury Place Bldg

D04 Suite 202, 800 Wisconsin St., Eau Claire • (715) 832-4848, 715-832-4850 • adg-architects.com With over 20 years of experience, Architectural Design Group (ADG) has grown to become a leader in architectural and sustainable design. Our studios specialize in business, energy & technology, government & public safety, health & wellness, learning, living, and spiritual facilities AgOilPress - Cold Press Oil Extractors 3839 W Folsom St., Eau Claire • (877) 645-7737 • sales@agoilpress. com • agoilpress.com Our oil presses are ideal for anyone who desires to produce their own plant based oils for bio-fuels, culinary arts cooking or direct consumption. Extracts oil from: soybeans, sunflower seed, canola seed, sesame seed, ground-nuts, poppyseed, inseed, flaxseed, peanut, mustard seed, cotton seed, and more!

Produces 80-110 gal./acre (with sunflower or canola).

Badger State Inc. 2507 Fortune Drive, Eau Claire • (715) 874-7777 • info@badgerstateinc.com • badgerstateinc. com/index.php This plumbing and heating contractor now offers residential and commercial solar water heating.

Bed, Bath and Drapery • 3475 E. Hamilton Ave., Eau Claire • (715) 839-9000 • Full service decorating shop, providing home decorating services with free home and business consultations. Selling high quality products as well as provide installation, repair, and cleaning services.

Bubbling Springs Solar 408 Red Cedar St. #5,

Menomonie • (715) 231-1885 • bss@wwt.net This family owned Menomonie business offers solar thermal collectors for hot water.

Chippewa Valley Alternative Energy (866) 460-8656

• info@startsomewhere.co • startsomewhere.co/home. html Dedicated to lowering heating costs using solar thermal, waste oil heaters, and biomass pellets. CVAE services include Solar PV sales, design, accessories and installation, solar site assessments; used-oil heater parts, repair, troubleshooting, rebuilds and accessories; pellet mill sales, accessories and more.

Energy Concepts 2349 Willis Miller Dr., Hudson • (715) 381-9977 • energyconcepts.us Energy Concepts provides turn-key commercial and residential solutions for all your renewable energy project needs—including wind, solar and high-efficiency Garn wood-burning boilers.

Erin Designs, LLC See contact info for location details • (715) 456-1850 • erin@erindesigns.com • ErinDesigns.com Sustainable, eco-friendly interior design consulting. Erin is committed to understanding the environmental impact of all her design projects. By incorporating “Green Building” practices, she helps clients create healthy places to live and work.

Heritage Builders N6160 370th St., Menomonie • (715)

235-7910 • info@heritagebuildersmenomonie.com • heritagebuildersmenomonie.com This home repair, remodel, and builder from Menomonie is dedicated to making homes more energy efficient. They also do drywall art.

Jim Erdman (715) 235-8941 • jiminwis@yahoo.com A certified site assessor, Jim will survey your property to find out if wind or solar energy systems could work.

MEP Associates 2720 Arbor Court, Eau Claire • (715) 832-5680 • info@mepassociates.com • mepassociates.com This consulting firm specializes in designing mechanical, electrical, plumbing, medical gas, and geothermal systems.

Next Step Energy Systems 612 Wagner St, Eau Claire • (715) 830-9337 • info@nextstepenergy.com • nextstepenergy.com Specializes in designing and installing radiant heating and renewable energy applications such as solar and wind applications.

Red Cedar Solar (715) 379-6315 • Certified solar site

9240 • info@wnpj.org • wnpj.org Founded in 1991 as a coalition of activist groups and citizens of conscience within Wisconsin. WNPJ facilitates activities, cooperation and communication among Wisconsin organizations and individuals working toward the creation of a sustainable world.

assessments.

PROGRAMS

SpaceGrower Menomonie, WI 54751 • (715) 231-6174 • info@spacegrower.com • spacegrower.com Providing sustainable residential design.

Energy Audits dxcelenergy.com Xcel Energy offers a Community Conservation Program in which small businesses and area residents can audit buildings to check heating, air conditioning, lighting, windows, doors, and air filtration for energy efficiency.

Energy Service Corps feneislm@gmail.com • energyservicecorps.org/schedule The Eau Claire chapter of Energy Service Corps’ mission is to educate the Eau Claire community on ways they can increase the energy efficiency of their homes and save money on monthly bills. Two Energy Service Corps members will arrive at your house at a scheduled time to look at how energy is being used in your home and recommend ways to make your home more efficient. Takes 30-60 mins.

Focus On Energy 800-762-7077 • Focusinfo@focusonenergy.com • FocusOnEnergy.com Focus on Energy works with eligible Wisconsin residents and businesses to install cost effective energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Its efforts help Wisconsin residents and businesses manage rising energy costs, promote in-state economic development, protect our environment and control the state’s growing demand for electricity and natural gas.

SDS Architects 7 S. Dewey Street, Eau Claire • (715)

832-1605 • info@sdsarch.com • sdsarch.com This LEEDcertified architectural firm specializes in higher education, K-12 education, industrial, commercial, community, religious, health care, and government projects, while focusing on energy conservation and sustainable design.

Tetra Tech 1837 County Highway OO, Chippewa Falls • (715) 832-0282 • tetratech.com Providing environmental engineering and consulting services addressing complex water contamination, cultural resource management, and other environmental concerns.

Tiry Engineering 220 1/2 North Bridge St. (P.O. Box 44)

Chippewa Falls • (715) 723-6777, (866) 944-6777 • contact@tiryengineering.com • tiryengineering.com Among other services, Tiry Engineering provide clients with conservation designs that take the environment into careful consideration. Services include dams, erosion control, water supply, wetland delineation and restoration, air dispersion modeling, and anaerobic digestion services.

Water Source Heating & Cooling 3650 Greenway Street, Eau Claire • (715) 833-9001 • watersourcegeothermal.com Providing geothermal heating and cooling systems to the Eau Claire area.

WRR Environmental Services 5200 Ryder Rd., Eau Claire • 800-727-8760 • wrrstaff@wrres.com • wrres. com Serving the community and the environment with services including solvent recycling, fuel blending, wastewater treatment, hazardous waste collection, hazardous material spill response, site remediation, chemical processing and more.

VolumeOne.org 50 July 27, 2016

VolumeOne.org 51 July 27, 2016