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OCONOMOWOC UTILITIES WINS GRANT TO “LEAD BY EXAMPLE”
OCONOMOWOC, WI OCTOBER 9TH, 2008:
Oconomowoc Utilities has been awarded the “Leading by Example” grant from power supplier Wisconsin Public Power Inc. (WPPI). Oconomowoc’s energy future will be greener as the program works to implement conservation practices.
Oconomowoc Utilities petitioned WPPI for the opportunity to be a Lead by Example community in December of 2007. Oconomowoc Utilities were selected in the spring of 2008 to be one of three pilot programs in the state sponsored by WPPI. The mission of this pilot program is to instill a strong conservation ethic in the community while demonstrating the effectiveness of energy efficiency and renewable resource development.
“The Lead by Example program presents a great opportunity for our community,” says Oconomowoc Mayor Maury Sullivan. “The grant from WPPI will build upon our existing efforts in this area and help expand our opportunities to inform local utility customers about energy conservation through education, training and community-based projects.”
The Oconomowoc Lead by Example committee consists of City staff members Robert Duffy - Director of Economic Development and is chaired by Dennis Bednarski, City of Oconomowoc Utilities Operations Manager. Local green business entrepreneurs, Michael Farrell from Sentry Equipment Corp. a local energy innovator that has adopted L.E.D light technology within their corporate facility; and Lisa Geason-Bauer from Evolution Marketing an Oconomowoc based environmental marketing and communication firm represent local businesses on the committee. Local residents and customers of Oconomowoc Utilities, Floss Whelan - former City of Oconomowoc mayor and David Nold - 4th district alderman and a member of the City Utilities Committee represent the residential consumer on the committee. Representing the on-going educational component of renewable energy and energy conservation is Michael Barry – Oconomowoc School District Assistant Superintendent of Business Services.
The Lead by Example committee will be able to hit the ground running on conservation efforts this month due to the support of the City of Oconomowoc mayor, administrator, common council and other City departments. One of the first projects the Lead by Example team will tackle is passing a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) ordinance within the City of Oconomowoc.
CITY OF OCONOMOWOC IS LEADING THE REGION ON RENEWABLES
OCONOMOWOC, WI JANUARY 13TH, 2009:
The City of Oconomowoc Common Council voted unanimously on Tuesday Jan. 6th, 2009 to adopt the Wisconsin Energy Independent Community partnership agreement. This agreement resolves that the City of Oconomowoc Utilities will generate 25% of its electricity and 25% of our transportation fuels from renewable resources by 2025.
The City of Oconomowoc is the first community within Southeastern Wisconsin and the Metro-Milwaukee area to pass this resolution. Oconomowoc is leading the region by publically supporting the use of renewable resources/fuels. The Oconomowoc Lead by Example team along with the City of Oconomowoc Utility committee both strongly recommended adoption of the 25 x 25 resolution in December. Floss Whalen, member of the Lead by Example team stated, “It is refreshing to live/work and pay taxes within a community that is actively leading the region in setting bench marks for renewables.”
Renewable energy is generated from wind turbines, solar panels and biogas/methane digesters. Renewable energy is sustainable, and in many cases it is also pollution/emission free. By increasing the amount of renewable energy purchased within our community, the City of Oconomowoc is demonstrating to our residents the importance of conserving natural resources.
Currently 2% of the electric users within Oconomowoc are purchasing renewable energy. Over the next 16 years Oconomowoc Utilities will work to increase the amount of renewable energy purchase by residents and businesses in order to meet our goal of 25% by 2025. Dennis Bednarski, Oconomowoc Utilities manager explained, “As the chair of the Lead by Example team – I am very pleased to announce that in 2009 our team will be focusing on resident and business user education about renewable energy.”
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