Dec 25 - Daily Reporter (Milwaukee)

The state in 2009 will reach for the sun as a renewable energy focus for new and existing developments despite a growing shadow of skepticism.

"If (solar) is a viable option, let the private industry investigate it and then sell it to the public, like a car," said Brownsville resident Gerry Meyer. "I don't know if it will put power on the grid, and I'm very suspicious about government involvement with it."

Meyer, an opponent of wind farm development in Wisconsin and one of many fighting the state Legislature over statewide regulation of wind farms, said government should not dictate the state's path toward new energy development.

But, he said, neither should government simply stand on the sidelines.

"I know I'm contradicting myself," he said, "because I do think the government needs to step in and remove the moratorium on the development of nuclear plants."

Eric Callisto, chairman of the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, said the state has no choice but to play an active role. Wisconsin is committed to establishing the foundation for renewable energy as set forth in recommendations by the Governor's Task Force on Global Warming.

"We've already put in the laws and statutes," Callisto said. "We have our goals for renewable energy in this state, and now we have to meet them."

To that end, the PSC last week announced a collaborative effort with the Sierra Club and other renewable energy proponents to focus on solar power development in 2009. Callisto said the PSC wants to take advantage of dropping prices for photovoltaic panels, and the agency is searching for the most cost-effective way to place panels on the roofs of public buildings and in large, open areas.

Ultimately, he said, state government will offer developers incentives to include solar power in projects.

Jennifer Feyerherm, associate regional representative for the Sierra Club, said Wisconsin is ready to generate viable solar power.

"The entire country of Germany is located north of Wisconsin, and they've been producing solar power at an incredible rate," she said. "Critics talk about it not being enough for a baseload power source, but we need a combination of things that will get us there.

"And solar fills a niche that wind and biomass can't."

Callisto said the shifting focus to solar power won't undercut the state's interest in wind and biomass. Those renewable energy sources will be subjects of legislative debate in the upcoming session.

He also said he expects resistance to solar energy.

"We'll have to investigate how aesthetics and NIMBY-ism (not in my backyard) play into the debate," Callisto said.

Still, solar might not fight the same headwinds as those other energy sources. Lynda Barry-Kawula, co-founder of renewable energy group Better Plan Wisconsin, who opposes government control of wind farm development, said she is encouraged to see the state's focus shifting to solar.

"That's an early Christmas gift," she said. "There's so much potential for it, and solar is more reliable and easier to dispatch than wind."

Despite lingering arguments that the private sector should determine a renewable energy's effectiveness, Callisto said the state cannot afford to wait.

"I agree that when it gets to increased involvement with solar technology, the time will come when it's no longer necessary to incent developers to use it, and they can then go to the competitive market," he said. "But we're not there yet."

Originally published by Paul Snyder.

(c) 2008 Daily Reporter (Milwaukee). Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.