Feb 15 - Daily Reporter (Milwaukee)

 

It's just about time for the Energy Efficiency and Renewables Act to make its entrance onto the Senate floor, but it had to sit through one more committee hearing Tuesday.

Representatives from numerous energy cooperatives, companies and agencies filled a tiny hearing room to voice their support of SB 459 in the state Capitol as the Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Information Technology held a hearing that saw a number of individuals testify in support of the act.

When you get all the people who helped put this legislation together in the same room, I kind of compare it to the barroom scene from the first 'Star Wars' movie, said David Helbach of Alliant Energy. It's not the easiest situation, but we're all here in support of it.

This kind of legislation, which provides more security to the customer and their dollars, is long overdue.

The act is the result of both the Senate and Assembly committees on Energy, Utilities and Information Technology working with Gov. Jim Doyle's Task Force on Energy Efficiency and Renewables to come up with new strategies not only in moving the state's energy policy forward but also making the state more self-sufficient.

Lead by example

The key point of the legislation is the requirement for Wisconsin to manufacture 10 percent of its energy from the state's own renewable resources by 2015. But that's the first point on the agenda, said Sen. Robert Cowles, R-Green Bay, the chairman of the Senate committee and one of the chief authors of the bill.

We're also implementing public benefits reforms, because we want to find the most cost-effective ways to provide energy in the state, he said. We want to show the state government can lead by example and help further develop local governments and the agricultural industry.

Cowles also pointed out stipulations in the bill that prevent the governor from removing funds to balance the stage budget, including putting any excess funds into different energy programs as not to have them enter the state treasury for possible removal.

Dan Schooff, executive assistant to Wisconsin Public Service Commission Chairman Dan Ebert, was also on hand to voice his support of the legislation.

When it comes to solving energy crises in the state, I think it's noteworthy that a bipartisan effort is always launched to help the residents of this state, he said, noting both the makeup of the task force and committee.

PSC support

The PSC has remained an outspoken supporter of the legislation from the start and has also had to repeatedly answer the question on all consumers' minds, What will this do to my rates? The question was raised again at the hearing.

There's no way to predict what will happen to rates in one month, two years or 10 years, Schoof said. What this bill provides is a good product that will ensure the ratepayers get good services.

Lee Cullen of the Wisconsin Energy Efficiency and Renewables Group echoed Schoof's claims that while immediate or drastic changes in rate prices can be guaranteed, the act was a step in the right direction in the interests of consumers.

We have no control over price jumps, but what we can do is make an effort to firm up and define what and how we're spending on energy, he said. To me, the best education on the effects of the bill will be when customers take a look at their bills.

Cowles said that because of the multiple recommendations from groups around the state and the recent drastic effects hurricanes Katrina and Rita had on energy prices, the bill was the most difficult one he had worked on in his 20 years of experience.

But the number of proponents testifying Tuesday and voicing their support over the past four months has also verified the importance of the legislation.

We've come up with something that will help Wisconsin residents now and in the future, Cowles said.