According to a study by Alliant Energy, you are using power even when you think it’s not on. These “always on” devices include things like wireless internet routers, which need electricity to maintain a constant connection, or televisions, which take a long time to power up and need some juice in order to respond when you push the remote control. But there are dozens of other culprits — including computers, printers, rarely used DVD players and anything with a DC power converter — sucking up power around the clock.
A 2015 study by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) estimated nearly a quarter of all household electricity use in the United States is consumed by appliances and other equipment in standby mode. Over the course of a year, that can add up to more than $300 worth of electricity for the average Wisconsin household and the equivalent output of 50 large power plants.

Madison Gas and Electric has filed an application with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin for approval of an agreement to partner with Dane County on a 9-megawatt solar array near the Dane County Regional Airport. The solar array will generate enough carbon-free electricity to provide Dane County with about 40 percent of the energy used by all County-owned facilities.

In a filing submitted to Minnesota regulators, Xcel proposes to shut down its Allen S. King and Sherco unit 2 generators during the spring and fall and run them only when profitable.
The move could save between $8.5 million and $28 million a year on fuel costs alone, according to Xcel, which expects to save another $2 million a year in operations and maintenance costs and avoid more than $27 million in capital investments in the King plant before its retirement in 2028. As a result, Xcel expects to eliminate between 2.7 million and 6 million tons per year of planned carbon dioxide emissions.

Wisconsin regulators authorized construction of a $700 million natural gas generator in Superior in spite of concerns over the project’s environmental impact.
The Public Service Commission has voted 2-1 to approve a permit for Dairyland Power Cooperative of La Crosse to build the 625-megawatt Nemadji Trail Energy Center, which is to be jointly owned by Duluth-based Minnesota Power.

The utilities have argued the plant is needed to allow them to move away from coal-fired generation and that it will support the addition of intermittent sources like wind and solar.

A new turbine design from UW-Green Bay’s engineering department aims to improve the efficiency of wind power generation. The system’s inventor, Md Maruf Hossain, has applied for a patent on the design, and WiSys is seeking commercial partners in the wind power generation industry to help develop the new technology. WiSys handles licensing for UW System universities other than UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee.
According to an information sheet, most wind power generation comes from horizontal axis wind turbines. But WiSys says vertical axis systems have several advantages including lighter weight and improved function during “turbulent, small and inconsistent wind situations.”

The Stout Technology and Business Park and the Menomonie Industrial Park both have shovel-ready
sites certified through Xcel Energy’s Certified Sites program.

There are about 130 elements required to become an Xcel Energy certified site, ranging from asking
price to environmental studies and a letter of support, said Brian Elwood, general manager, customer
and community service for Xcel Energy in Wisconsin and Michigan.
“By promoting economic development, Xcel Energy helps bring jobs and capital investment to the
communities and regions we serve,” Elwood said. “The certified sites program provides an opportunity
for the company to efficiently highlight and market communities’ key assets to businesses looking to
relocate or to expand operations. Time is of the essence when trying to attract or retain potential clients.
Having certified sites cuts some of the red tape, providing speed to market for the potential clients and
reducing their risk.”

Xcel Energy started the certified sites program in 2017. Nationally, the company has 37 certified sites,
five ready sites and 27 ready buildings in its eight-state service territory, Elwood said. In Wisconsin, the
company has six certified sites, including the two in Menomonie.

WEC ENERGY GROUP RAISES QUARTERLY DIVIDEND
WEC Energy has declared a quarterly cash dividend of 63.25 cents per share on the company’s common stock, an increase of 7 percent over the current quarterly dividend of 59 cents a share. This raises the annual dividend rate to $2.53 a share.

The higher dividend is payable March 1, 2020, to stockholders of record on February 14, 2020. This marks the 310th consecutive quarter — dating back to 1942 — that the company will have paid a dividend to its stockholders.

XCEL BOARD DECLARES DIVIDEND ON COMMON STOCK
The Board of Directors of Xcel Energy has declared a quarterly dividend on its common stock of 40.5 cents per share. The dividends were payable January 20, 2020, to shareholders of record on December 26, 2019.
Xcel Energy is a major U.S. electricity and natural gas company, with operations in 8 Western and Midwestern states. Xcel Energy provides a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.6 million electricity customers and 2.0 million natural gas customers through its regulated operating companies.

LANE ELECTED TO WEC ENERGY GROUP BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tom Lane, Vice Chairman of Energy Capital Partners, has been elected to the board of directors of WEC Energy Group (NYSE:WEC), effective January 1. The addition of Lane reflects the board’s commitment to succession planning as several directors approach retirement age.

Lane was a partner at Energy Capital Partners from its inception in 2005 through the end of 2016. Prior to joining the private equity firm, Lane, 62, worked in the Investment Banking Division of Goldman Sachs. As a managing director, he provided senior-level coverage for electric and gas utilities, independent power producers and midstream energy companies throughout the country. Lane is a graduate of Wheaton College. He received an MBA in Finance from the University of Chicago.

MICHAEL D. GARCIA APPOINTED TO ALLIANT ENERGY BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Alliant Energy Board of Directors has appointed Michael D. Garcia as a new director effective January 1, 2020. Mr. Garcia, 55, is President of Domtar Corporation’s (NYSE: UFS; TSX: UFS) Pulp and Paper division, responsible for the strategy and oversight of its pulp, paper and biomaterials businesses. Domtar is North America’s largest producer of uncoated free sheet (white papers) and one of the largest softwood market pulp producers in the world.
“We’re pleased to welcome Michael to our board of directors,” said John O. Larsen, Alliant Energy Chairman, President and CEO. “As a military veteran with diverse global executive management experience, he will bring fresh insights and a unique perspective that will help us continue to power what’s next for our customers, communities and shareowners.”
Mr. Garcia joined Domtar in 2014 after spending more than four years with Evraz PLC. He was Chief Executive Officer for Evraz Highveld Steel and Vanadium from 2011 to 2014 and Senior Vice President, Manufacturing & Supply Chain, from 2010 to 2011.
Mr. Garcia is a Director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Charlotte Branch, and an at-large board member of the United Service Organization (USO) of North Carolina. He is a graduate of The U.S. Military Academy at West Point and holds an MBA from Harvard University.

The City of Racine is proposing to lease out 2.64 acres of land at Olsen Prairie Park, 3444 S. Memorial Drive, to We Energies for a 600 kilowatt solar farm. The initiative is through We Energies’ Solar Now pilot program. According to the terms of the proposed agreement, We Energies would own all the solar capacity and in return the city would receive about $2,000 per month for an estimated $26,151 per year.

The agreement also states that We Energies would be responsible for the design, permitting, construction and upkeep of the system. The lifetime of the lease is 30 years.

State regulators have approved a settlement negotiated with We Energies that will increase We Energies’ electric revenues by 1.3 percent and its gas revenues by 2.8 percent. The Public Service Commission will decide at a later hearing how the increase will be allocated among residential, small business, commercial, industrial and other customers.

The commission also approved similar settlements for Wisconsin Gas and Wisconsin Public Service. Wisconsin Gas’s overall rates will drop by 0.2 percent and WPS’ electric rates will increase 4.7 percent. The increases in electric rates will be the first for We Energies in four years and for WPS in five years. The rate increases approved for We Energies and WPS will be partially offset by lower fuel costs. And WPS’ rate increase will be partially offset by a lower tax rate approved in December 2017.

Ninety-five years ago Eau Claire agreed to allow a local power company to install hydroelectric generators at Dells Pond Dam. The city has signed a new agreement with Xcel Energy, which obtained ownership of the dam in 2003, to work together toward each of their even more ambitious goals to drastically cut pollution by 2050.

In March 2018, the City Council adopted a resolution providing that Eau Claire, the city government and entire community, should operate on percent renewable energy by 2050. Several months later, Xcel announced its intent to produce entirely carbon-free electricity by 2050

The Public Service Commission approved the first rate increases in four years for We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service of Green Bay, both subsidiaries of WEC Energy Group. Along with adjustments for fuel costs and provisions of a settlement agreement approved earlier this month, about 1.1 million We Energies customers can expect rates to increase by about 0.66 percent in 2020. Rates are expected to increase by about 1.6 percent for about 442,000 WPS customers. The PSC separately approved modest rate decreases for Madison Gas and Electric and Alliant Energy to account for lower-than-expected natural gas prices. Average residential customers of MGE can expect to save about 54 cents on their monthly electric bills in 2020, while the typical residential customer of Alliant will save about $1.58 per month. As part of the WEC rate cases, the commission ruled that neither utility can use ratepayer money to subsidize home charging stations for electric vehicles. The utilities had sought to spend up to $10 million to offer $1,000 rebates for customers who install the equipment as part of a two-year pilot program in which participants would pay time of use rates for charging their vehicles.

Brendan Conway, a spokesman for WE Energies had this to say about the PSC decision, “Working with the commission and customer and business groups, our rate proposal protects customers and allows us to continue on a path to a cleaner energy future that is safe, reliable and affordable. We appreciate the feedback from the commission on our EV proposal and will continue to work with them and other stakeholders on this emerging technology.”

Lyft and Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) are partnering to increase the use of electric vehicle (EV) ridesharing in Madison and grow awareness of the benefits of EVs. The two companies will offer a $500 bonus to Madison-area EV drivers who sign up to drive with Lyft. “This program is a unique opportunity for Madison-area residents to ride in an EV and experience what they have to offer,” said Debbie Branson, MGE Manager of Electrification. “EVs offer convenience— for example, with EVs, there are no oil changes or trips to the gas station. They cost less to fuel and maintain than gas-powered vehicles, and they are fun to drive.” Visit mge.com/Lyft to learn more.

Alliant Energy has been chosen for the annual list of the Top Utilities in Economic Development. Site Selection magazine provided the recognition based on the company’s contribution to the local economies and communities
in its service area.

“We’re proud to be recognized for our efforts to bring investment, growth and job creation to the communities we serve,” said Terry Kouba, President of Alliant Energy’s Iowa energy  company. “We appreciate our local, regional and state economic development partners. Together, we can provide growth that brings value to our customers, communities and new and expanding businesses.”

Alliant Energy has completed the implosion of the remaining structures of the company’s Marshaltown Iowa Sutherland Generating Station (SGS). The demolition was carried out by Bierlein Companies from Midland, Michigan, and Dykon Blasting Corporation of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The 1950s-era coal-fired facility ceased operations in June 2017 following the construction of the nearby Marshalltown Generating Station (MGS). MGS is a 706-megawatt natural gas-fired facility and is one of the most efficient natural gas power plants in the nation. Its construction complements Alliant Energy’s renewable energy expansion. As a result of investments in wind and solar energy, Alliant Energy will have the ability to provide cleaner energy for more than 600,000 Iowa homes.