As Obama Extols Wisc. Cleantech, Fears of Governor's Anti-Wind Policies Grow

[Fledermaus]

Pres. Obama unwittingly visits a wind plant that could go under if Gov. Walker's policy rollback occurs. Solar, however, is being left to flourish for now
By Maria Gallucci

President Obama's recent visit to a Wisconsin town to trumpet its cleantech success has inadvertently shone a spotlight on the state's new governor and his plans to reverse a law that advocates say is needed for the wind industry to stay afloat.

Manitowoc, about 80 miles north of Milwaukee and on Lake Michigan, is home to two major renewables firms: Orion Energy Systems, which makes high-efficiency lighting and solar products, and Tower Tech Systems, a manufacturer of towers for utility-scale wind turbines.

Obama toured the one-time shipbuilding city of about 34,000 people following his Jan. 25 State of the Union address as an example of success in his efforts to foster investments in clean energy projects.

At the Orion plant, the president lauded the state's $850,000 tax credit plan, signed by former Democratic governor, Jim Doyle. The policy helped the solar products maker create 170 jobs and retain 115 positions by expanding its manufacturing capacity and building a new headquarters.

"We need to get behind clean energy companies like Orion. We need to get behind innovation," Obama told some 200 workers at the plant. "This plant and company have been supported by tax credits...to help give a leg up to renewable energy companies."

The president also praised the 250 manufacturing jobs at the Tower Tech plant — jobs he said will help slash the nation's energy bills, make the planet safer and keep America competitive by growing its renewable energy industry.

But now — in light of a bill by newly elected Gov. Scott Walker, a Tea Party-backed Republican — wind industry officials say that Obama's stop at Tower Tech was unwittingly ironic.

Wind Investors Urged to 'Escape to Illinois'

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/07/idUS234492609620110207

[HereSince1628]

1. For those outside the midwest "Escape to Illinois" plays on Wisconsin's

tourism motto "Escape to Wisconsin"

[Kolesar]

3. Because President Obama is from Illinois, I presume...eom

[madrchsod]

2. we will be more than happy to have them move to illinois.

[HereSince1628]

5. Would they be subject to the new Illinois tax increases?

Great lakes shipping makes it easy to move big stuff like the tower sections for commercial turbines, and because the water-land boundary of the great lakes have temperature differences that create winds I'd be thinking those locations are prime for commercial wind development. If the company leaves Wisconsin they'd likely still want to be on a great lake. I can imagine Gary and northwestern Indiana as a logical choice for a move, also much of northern Ohio and old industrial sites on the shores of the state of Michigan.

[jpak]

4. Job Killer Walker

yuo