State of the local economy in La Crosse County and the potential for Green Jobs

Karl Green, Assistant Professor, UW-Extension, La Crosse County

Funding for new job creation

• HR 1 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 • Title IV Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy - $16.8B• Innovative Technology Loans - $6B• Other Energy Programs - $22.375B• These include:

– Extended tax credits for producing elec. From renewable sources through 2012 (wind) and 2013 (other)

– Allocations for New Clean Renewable Energy Bonds & Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds

– Removes limitations on the tax credit for residential energy efficient property for solar thermal, wind & geothermal heat pump systems

BiofuelsBiofuels

Solid BiomassSolid Biomass

& Waste& Waste

Hybrid systems Rural Hybrid systems Rural Electrification Resource Electrification Resource

InvestigationInvestigation

Wind Wind TechnologyTechnology

PhotovoltaicPhotovoltaic

SolarthermalSolarthermal

GeothermalGeothermalBiogasBiogas

Wisconsin End Use Energy Expenditures

Total: $19,487,000,000

Source: Wisconsin Energy Statistics, 2007 Office of Energy Independence- Department of Administration

Transportation fuels are a drain on Wisconsin’s economy.

• State Petroleum Use– $10.43B (53%) for 29.4% of utilized btu’s

• State Natural Gas Use– $3.28B (17%) for 21.8% of utilized btu’s

• State Electrical Use– $5.63B (29%) for 49.8% of utilized btu’s

A hierarchy of energy expenditures in Wisconsin:

$Transportation fuels > $Natural Gas > $Electrical Generation

So where might green jobs come from?• Any product that might cause an offset of energy use

– These products ability to create savings have a direct cash flow potential (i.e. LED lighting versus CFL, versus Incandescent light bulb)

• Products that increase efficiency/reduce energy loss– 10% of total electric energy produced in US is lost during transmission– Thermal efficiency of electricity generation is ~30%

• Fuels Densification– How many BTU equivalents can we fit into a mobile battery– Fuel Hierarchy

• Hybrid innovations (NGV w/ hybrid?)• Fuels that have added value

– Carbon sequestration– Less fuel inputs (Biofuels – cellulosic versus grain)– Lowers soil erosion– Creates various by-products

• Coupling of Industry utilizing by-products or waste streams– Flambeau Rivers Biofuels– Anderson Windows

Biofuels

• Numerous Job opportunities:– Chemical engineers, chemists, chemical

equipment operators, chemical technicians, mixing & blending machine operators, agricultural workers, farm product purchasers, aggregators, etc.

– How do we improve biofuel technology?– Process issues?– Farm to facility transportation improvements

How about Methane?

• So what can we produce in Wisconsin?– Methane from cow manure?– Methane from Biomass (dry fermentation)– Methane from wastewater?– Project costs of these options are measured in terms

of return on investment.– However, payback is most often captured in electrical

payback costs from power company• Large portion of investment is for generator costs• Instead – what about a system that compresses the gas for

heating or transportation fuel (fuel cost hierarchy)

What if the methane ran highly efficient neighborhood electric

vehicles??

Made in Reedsburg, WI

Who would care if their mail/parcel delivery came via one of these?

Made in Reedsburg, WI

What about Biocomposites?

• Materials formed between a resin (matrix) and reinforced natural fibers

• Often these products may be biodegradable

• Petrochemical resin base is replaced with a vegetable/animal based resin

• Filler (ex. fiberglass) is replaced with natural fibers (jute, sisal, wood fibers)

All composite products of Wisconsin based TeeLGRT

What about wind power?

• Numerous Job opportunities:– Environmental engineers, iron & steel

workers, millwrights, sheet metal workers, machinists, electrical equipment assemblers, construction equipment operators, industrial production managers,

– How do we improve wind technology?– Design issues?

Conclusions to consider….

• World energy use is increasing, as is US and Wisconsin energy use

• Wisconsin imports nearly all its energy• This currently represents $19 Billion in economic leakage

from the State• Technological innovations could create opportunities in

Wisconsin to generate/ add value to energy costs• New technologies require old skills and new skills. • How should Wisconsin pursue these technologies?• What are Wisconsin’s strengths?• What is the next step for Wisconsin/ Western

Wisconsin?