Expert Says...Oil Peaked; Wind Is The Next Big Thing

This insider says the Gulf blowout is a sign that the days of easy oil are over and wind is where it's at.

Washington Post Takes Real World Look At Sean Duffy

From Dave Obey, a potential goofy step down.

Thoughtful Meditation On Environmentalism, Politics And Commerce In The Northwest

From The NY Times and definitely worth the read.

Walker, Neumann Stand For Discrimination

Scott Walker and Mark Neumann endorse discrimination, specifically singling out gay citizen/taxpayers for reduced rights under the law.

It's nothing less than a craven and self-serving appeal for votes from an ideologically-based constituency, and is an unacceptable attitude for a public official; Neumann comes across as a hapless homophobe while Walker, ever the pol, chooses his words more carefully.

But it's baloney no matter how they slice it.

Embedding legal discrimination in the law, let alone a state constitution like Wisconsin's, should be condemned outright.

It's not a liberal or a conservative issue - - note that leading conservative scholar and former George W. Bush solicitor general Ted Olson is actively trying to undo this legal damage in California.

Wisconsin's constitutional amendment barring same-sex marriages and civil unions was the brainchild of former Assembly Majority leader John Gard, who tried to use it as a platform to the US House of Representatives - - a cynical ploy rejected even by a relatively-conservative northern Wisconsin electorate.

Marriage and civil unions convey legal and financial benefits to those who choose them, and preventing by law a class of Americans from receiving those benefits is absolutely against the US Constitution's equal protection and due process standards.

Let's hope the amendment is thrown out by the Wisconsin Supreme Court and that no proponent of legal bigotry is elected our Governor.

BP Has Its Defenders - - In England, Anyway

Not surprising that the commentator finds the real casualty in the tragedy is not the Gulf of Mexico or its residents' way of life - - it's America's status as a good business partner.

Say what?

Wauwatosa Taxpayers, Through TIF, Will Finance Part of UWM's Engineering/Innovation Campus

I'll be they thought it was a UWM/Private Sector plan.

Not.

$11..5 million in proposed TIF funds from the taxpayers to a developer for infrastructure - - to be taken up by the Tosa Plan Commission Monday, July 12, at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall.

Some readers of the blog cannot see the public notice I copied out. In part, a description from Wauwatosa.now reads:

A TIF district has been proposed for the Co. Grounds where the UW-Milwaukee is creating a engineering and applied science campus at the NE corner of hwy 45 and Watertown Plank Road. The university buildings will be tax exempt. However, a residential development and private research buildings and laboratories are expected to generate tax revenue.

The land is largely unimproved lacking infrastructure such as access road, utility connections and storm water facilities that are needed to make it useful development, UWM officials have said. There also will be costs associated with renovating the historic Eschweiler building, a stipulation of the land sale agreement. Developers estimate the site's potential value at $75 million. A business accelerator and private research facilities are expected to create local jobs. A Joint review board representing the various taxing entities, including the city and Milw Co will meet within the next two weeks to decide whether to allow a TIF. If approved, some of the TIF dollars would be used to cover the local contribution required to get a federal $ 4.2 million grant to construct the accelerator.

Rep. Bart Stupak, (D-MI), Makes The Case For Mining, Drilling Bans Covering Great Lakes

All the Great Lakes states need far tougher bans on oil, gas and minerals exploration and removal from beneath, through or near these precious bodies of water.

Thanks to Xoff for this posting.

Golf Course Runoff Becomes Lake Park Water Feature

Amazing what ingenuity and philanthropy can do.

Reactionaries Out To Buy The Fall Elections

Here comes the Right's flood of campaign funding, with Karl Rove front-and-center.

Bottled Water Is Wasteful; Madison Promoting Its Tap Water

The City of Madison had some problems with some of its wells, but now that's in the past and the city is more aggressively pushing tap water as an alternative to expensive bottled water and its wasteful plastic containers.

This should be a relatively easy sell in progressive Madison.

Sprawling Cities - - Like Atlanta - - Are Hotter

Another negative for sprawl, but a plus for cities with heat-reducing density.

Janesville Firm's Oil Cleanup Demo Getting More YouTube Hits

Closing in on 6,000.

30% increase from yesterday, and far, far more above and beyond its first posting just a few days ago.

I hope they post new video from their upcoming trip to the Gulf.

Online Comments On Newspaper Story Become Recall Organizing Platform

Another example of the way the Internet has changed newspapering: a story about a budding recall effort in Waukesha lets potential allies swap contact information.

Another Gaffe Inspired By GOP Hysteria Over Obama

Joe Wilson ("you lie") and Joe Barton ( the BP Suck-Up Apologist)...meet John Kyl.

Does the whole party have foot-in-mouth disease?

County Garage Concrete Collapse: Let The Investigators Do Their Work

I remember from my Milwaukee Journal days looking into aviation accidents that early suppositions often gave way to hidden facts leading to surprising or layered conclusions.

So I'm going to wait for the investigations to get tied up, or for some official preliminary findings to be released about the collapse of a piece of the County parking structure on Lincoln Memorial Drive before I have anything to say about it here.

Waukesha Water Utility Commission Knee-Deep In Diversion Politics

The upset defeat of Waukesha Mayor Larry Nelson, a proponent of diverting Lake Michigan water, continues to create a political overflow in Waukesha politics.

And while the Waukesha County Chamber of Commerce is getting involved - - details here - - let's remember that Waukesha's diversion application for Lake Michigan water was found insufficient and incomplete in several areas (see sample graph, blue bold-facing, in left blog margin), including cost breakouts and comparisons that go beyond the split between new Mayor Scrima and other officials.

Janesville Firm's Oil Cleanup Method Getting More Attention

I posted one YouTube video a few days ago. At that time, the video had had 304 view. Today, 4,400.

WISC-TV3 in Madison has newer video of another impressive demonstration.

The company is headed to the Gulf with samples. Rooting for them.

Tuna Being Depleted; As With Whaling, We Learn Nothing

Grim portrait in the NY Times of tuna's future.

Local Reminder That A Federal Government With Resources Is a Good Thing

Whether its the Gulf oil disaster, or a tornado in Eagle, the people still need that big Federal government.

Waukesha Chamber Letter On Water Is Accurate, But...

The Waukesha County Chamber of Commerce is trying through an email to members to drum up support for the city's Lake Michigan diversion plan, and takes the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to task for suspending its review of the application.

I can understand the Chamber's disappointment, but:

The email to Chamber members fails to mention that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, while citing in its tabling of Waukesha's Lake Michigan application the continuing debate within Waukesha government about water supply options, also cited deficiencies in cost data and return flow information in the application, as well.

Here is a portion of the DNR's notification to Waukesha (full text at the end of this posting) a couple of weeks ago, and I thought it was important enough to put out on the front of my blog in bold and colored type:

"...the application lacks sufficient detail, as required by the Compact, regarding the costs for the diversion. We would expect the cost analysis for each of the requested options to be based upon information received from the potential withdrawal sources indicating what they would be charging for providing Great Lakes water. The City must provide to the Department detailed cost estimates for each of the withdrawal and corresponding return flow options."

In other words, the DNR cited multiple factors in its decision to delay its initial review and the water utility has said it will comply with the DNR's requests.

So let's not create a narrative that says that the delay is all about the statements by new Mayor Jeff Scrima that there may yet be alternatives to Lake Michigan that have not been fully explored.

And remember - - these are issues that the Great Lakes Compact spells out, and which, if the DNR does bring them up the other states certainly will.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2010

Exactly What The DNR Said To Waukesha About The Lake Michigan Diversion Application

In the DNR's words, and what it asks for from Waukesha, at a minimum:

June 8, 2010

Jeff Scrima, Mayor City Hall – Room 208 201 Delafield Street Waukesha, WI 53188

Dear Mayor Scrima:

Jim Doyle, Governor Matthew J. Frank, Secretary

101 S. Webster St. Box 7921 Madison, Wisconsin 53707-7921 Telephone 608-266-2621 FAX 608-267-3579 TTY Access via relay - 711

The Department received Waukesha’s application for a diversion of Great Lakes water on May 20, 2010.

After receiving the Waukesha application we conducted an initial completeness review.

That review identified some deficiencies in the application.

Through preliminary discussions with representatives for the City it was suggested to us that Great Lakes water was the only viable option for a sustainable water supply, however, subsequent to the submittal of the application, it has been publically discussed that the City is continuing to examine alternatives to Great Lakes water and is actively considering other sources of Great Lakes water.

We understand these additional considerations may be important to Waukesha’s ultimate decision to seek Great Lakes water. One of the key requirements of the Compact for approving an application for a diversion is demonstrating that there is no reasonable water supply alternative.

Through Discussions with representatives with the city we were told that Great Lakes water was the only viable option for a sustainable water supply. Due to the fact that it has been publically discussed that the City is examining alternatives to Great Lakes water and is actively considering other sources the Department cannot move forward on reviewing the application and the City must confirm that Great Lakes water is in fact the only long term sustainable water option.

The Great Lakes Compact requires the return flow to be as close as possible to the withdrawal source.

The submitted proposal identifies three possible withdrawal source options to obtain Great Lakes water. However, without providing a corresponding return flow option for each withdrawal source it is not possible to determine whether the proposal will comply with this requirement. The City must provide to the Department both the point of withdrawal and with the proposed return flow location.

In addition, the application lacks sufficient detail, as required by the Compact, regarding the costs for the diversion. We would expect the cost analysis for each of the requested options to be based upon information received from the potential withdrawal sources indicating what they would be charging for providing Great Lakes water. The City must provide to the Department detailed cost estimates for each of the withdrawal and corresponding return flow options.

There have been press reports where you have questioned whether this application had gone through the appropriate local approvals. Additionally, the City failed to pay the statutorily (s.281.346 (12)(d), Wis. Stats.) required review fee of $5,000. Before moving forward with the application the City will be required to pay this fee and attest that the application has received all the appropriate city approvals necessary for submittal under the Compact.

At a minimum, resolution of the outlined items above is necessary before the Department can move forward with the acceptance and review of your application. If you have specific questions, please contact Bruce Baker at (608) 266-1902.

Sincerely,

{signed by DNr Secretary Matt Frank: signature did not copy]