Oct 18 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Steve Cahalan La Crosse Tribune, Wis.

Explorer Will Steger of Ely, Minn., the fourth person ever to reach both poles, said he's witnessed the effects of global warming in the Arctic and Antarctica.

Nations must act quickly to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and prevent global warming from causing catastrophe, he warned Wednesday during an Executive Energy Forum that Xcel Energy held at the Radisson Hotel for about 50 business leaders.

"I see global warming as a unifying issue in this country," Steger told the group, saying new technologies to counter global warming will lead to job and economic growth.

"We need to get into technology, we need to get into ethanol, the wind, cars that get 80 miles per gallon, efficient light bulbs and so forth," he said in an interview after his talk.

The U.S. Geological Survey said last month that two-thirds of the world's polar bears are expected to be gone by 2050, including Alaska's entire population, because of thinning sea ice from global warming in the Arctic. With the polar bears' habitat "literally melting off," Steger said he was motivated to speak out.

If left unchecked, global warming threatens drastic climate changes and other trouble due to higher sea levels, said J. Drake Hamilton, science policy director for Fresh Energy, a St. Paul-based nonprofit organization that says it promotes a clean, efficient and fair energy system.

"The economics of climate change are going to impact us in the future," said Betsy Engelking, Xcel manager of resource planning and bidding. This must be taken into account when Xcel makes plans to address growing demand for electricity while minimizing effects on the environment, she said.

Engelking discussed Xcel's investments in renewable sources of energy, such as wind and hydroelectric. And she talked about company initiatives such as making effective investments, maximizing current resources, environmental leadership and improving system efficiency.

U.S. demand for electricity is expected to increase 40 percent by 2030, said Bill Brier, vice president of policy and public affairs for the Edison Electric Institute, the association of U.S. shareholder-owned electric utilities.

Residential customers are increasing their electricity use, Brier said. He also said electricity is the engine that drives economic growth in this country.

Different regions of the U.S. rely on different mixes of fuel to produce electricity, Brier said, and mandating particular mixes of renewable energy should be left to states rather than the federal government.

PSC sets hearing on Xcel rate change

The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin will hold public hearings at 3 and 7 p.m.in La Crosse, Madison and Eau Claire on Xcel Energy's request for a 14.3 percent increase in electric rates and 3.3 percent increase in natural gas rates.

The PSC's lead auditor recently recommended the commission instead approve increases of 9.1 percent in electric rates and 2.7 percent in natural gas rates.

The staff recommendation was posted on the agency's Web site this week. The commission expects to make a decision on the rate request by the end of the year.

Steve Cahalan can be reached at (608) 791-8229 or scahalan@lacrossetribune.com.