Cap and Trade Featured at Economic Forum

The next Economic Forum, entitled “Cap & Trade – An Examination of Economics & the Environment” will feature a discussion of both the benefits and threats of The American Clean Energy and Security Act, better known as Cap & Trade. The Economic Forum is set for Tuesday, November 3rd beginning at 7:00 a.m. in the Radisson Center. Keynote speakers include Peter Taglia of Clean Wisconsin and Brian Rude of Dairyland Power Cooperative with University of Wisconsin – La Crosse Political Science Professor Joe Heim serving as moderator.

Breakfast begins at 7:00 a.m. on November 3rd with the program beginning at 7:30 a.m. and concluding by 8:45 a.m. Cost is $20 per person. To register, please fill out and return the registration form with your payment by Friday, October 30th.

Green Fund Proposal Applications Due October 30th

The Green Fund was proposed by students and passed in a student referendum in the spring of 2008 by a vote of 2222 to 275. It is a reserve funded by a $5 segregated fee levied each semester to every student. This yields about $80,000 per year.

Applications for projects funded by this money are collected and reviewed by the Joint Committee on Environmental Sustainability, then forwarded to the Student Association Apportionment Committee, and then proposed for final approval by the Student Senate.

Students, faculty, and staff are all encouraged to propose projects and funding from the Green Fund. We value innovation and cooperation. Greening UW-L is something we must do together.

To find out more go to: http://www.uwlax.edu/sustainability/html/green-fund.htm

Rally at UW-L's Coal-fired Power Plant

There will be a rally to show support for moving UW-L's coal-fired power plant to biomass for an alternative fuel source. You can read more about this issue at the Sierra Club's Moving Campuses Beyond Coal website. Please come and show your support.

Tuesday, September 29
3:00 p.m.
UW-L power plant
At the corner of Pine Street and East Avenue North on the UW-L campus.

$860,000 in Grant Funding Available for 2010 Research Projects

This comes to us via Ingrid Kelley (608.238.8276, x136), Program Manager, Focus on Energy, Environmental and Economic Research and Development Program.

Wisconsin's Focus on Energy Environmental and Economic Research and Development Program (EERD) is pleased to announce $860,000 in grant funding available for 2010 research projects that study the environmental and economic impacts of electricity and natural gas use in Wisconsin. EERD is looking for projects that study the environmental or economic impacts of:

• Renewable energy or energy efficiency initiatives
• Biomass energy production and use to offset electric generation and/or natural gas
• Climate change in Wisconsin due to electricity or natural gas use
• Impact of existing fossil fuel-fired electric power generation on PM 2.5 levels in Wisconsin

Any research organization with a project relevant to Wisconsin can apply for a grant. The EERD Research Forum will evaluate proposals and make funding recommendations. We expect to announce funded projects in January 2010.

Prospective applicants must submit an Intent to Propose form by October 8, 2009 and those invited to submit a full proposal must send it electronically by 12 p.m. on November 11, 2009. The 2010 Request for Proposals, Intent to Prose form and other information can be found on the Focus on Energy website.

Visit a Farmers Market This Summer

In the La Crosse area we are fortunate to have a number of farmers markets going strong throughout the week during the summer and early fall months. At each market you'll find a wide variety of in-season produce, flowers, plants and craft items for sale at very reasonable prices. Supporting local farmers and gardeners by buying their products brings you closer to the food you eat...and that's a good thing.

Remember to bring your reusable shopping bags or a backpack with you to take home everything that you purchase. You get bonus points for walking or riding your bike to and from the farmers market nearest you. Here's a list of farmers markets in southwest Wisconsin. Plan to check one out this week if you haven't already.

Odds For Climate Change Much Worse Than Expected

Recent research by MIT shows that the odds that severe climate change will occur before 2100 are worse than previously expected. Below are two quotes from the article:

"The most comprehensive modeling yet carried out on the likelihood of how much hotter the Earth's climate will get in this century shows that without rapid and massive action, the problem will be about twice as severe as previously estimated six years ago - and could be even worse than that."

"And the odds indicated by this modeling may actually understate the problem, because the model does not fully incorporate other positive feedbacks that can occur, for example, if increased temperatures caused a large-scale melting of permafrost in arctic regions and subsequent release of large quantities of methane, a very potent greenhouse gas. Including that feedback is just going to make it worse."

Read the full article to have a better understanding of the research and the seriousness of the predictions made from it. (source: MIT News, May 19, 2009)

UW-L Chancellor, Students Support High Speed Rail Through La Crosse

UW-La Crosse Chancellor Joe Gow spoke in support of high speed rail and more frequent passenger train service through La Crosse on May 28 at the Amtrak train station on the city’s north side. This was part of a press conference organized by Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group (WISPIRG), UW-L’s Environmental Council, and UW-L’s Green Transportation Council. Gow was flanked by students from UW-L and students from campuses with WISPIRG chapters around the state who chose La Crosse as their last stop on a 10-stop tour along the proposed high speed rail line in Wisconsin.

Touted benefits of a high speed line include reduced dependence upon foreign oil, reduced carbon emissions, less congested freeways, and making La Crosse a more viable place to live without a car. About fifty students and community members turned out for the event. To read more about the event, check out the online La Crosse Tribune article. To become involved with future efforts email Jeremy Gragert, student chair of the UW-L Green Transportation Council: gragert.jere@students.uwlax.edu. (submitted by Jeremy Gragert, photo provided by Jonathan Ringdahl)