While many businesses are worried only about getting themselves through a recession, Wisconsin Power and Light (an Alliant Energy company) is helping local entrepreneurs to reduce their utility bills.

Alliant Energy is now offering comprehensive energy efficiency check-ups to small businesses in the Janesville area. During the check-ups, small business customers will receive an on-site walkthrough of their business and an Alliant Energy consultant will review their energy-using equipment and discuss potential energy-saving opportunities. After the check-up is completed, Alliant Energy will provide the business with a detailed report that lists suggested technologies and methods to reduce energy use and the estimated savings a small business could realize by implementing the recommended actions.

But, the Bright Ideas for your Business Program doesn’t stop there. Alliant Energy will also share information about low-cost financing through its Shared Savings program and Focus on Energy’s financial incentives. Resources from both Alliant Energy and Focus on Energy can help small business customers offset the costs of making energy efficiency improvements. Customers can choose which options make the most sense for their business to reduce energy use, increase productivity and ultimately reduce their monthly utility bills.

WUI members from across Wisconsin came to the Brookfield Suites on Thursday September 17th to hear from Wisconsin’s 5 investor owned utilities, the Edison Electric Institute, ATC Management and our featured speaker Gale Klappa, CEO of Wisconsin Energy.

WUI members were briefed on pressing issues affecting utilities like fuel rules and cap and trade and trained in using PowerLines, WUI’s online grassroots advocacy program.  Members then lined up to register for PowerLines and sent letters to their representatives to urge them to support a fuel rules bill which streamlines the currently clumsy process.

Gale Klappa updated utility investors on the current status of Wisconsin Energy, and even took time to answer several quetions from our members.  Mr. Klapp proved to those in attendance why he has been such an effective and successful leader in the utility industry.

Thank you again to all of those who attended and presented,  and don’t forget that WUI will be co-hosting a Nuclear Roundtable on October 26th at the Best Western Hudson House Inn.  Call 608-663-5813 to RSVP today.

According to a Rasmussen Reports pollrelease today, Americans increasingly believe climate change is caused by planetary forces rather than human activity and increasingly oppose Waxman-Markey Cap and Trade legislation. 

Thirty-five percent (35%) of Americans favor the climate change bill intended to curb global warming that was passed by the House in June and is set for review by the Senate when it returns next week. Forty percent (40%) are opposed to it. However, the antis feel more strongly: Twenty-six percent (26%) Strongly Oppose the bill versus 10% who Strongly Favor it.

Forty-seven percent (47%) of U.S. voters say global warming is caused by long-term planetary trends rather than human activity.

However, the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% still blame human activity more for climate change, while five percent (5%) say there is some other reason.