These sources, when used in place of traditional coal-fired power plants, can prevent further damage to our environment by emitting fewer of the greenhouse gases that have been linked to acid rain, smog, and the depletion of the Earth’s ozone layer.

Wisconsin’s RPS requires that by 2015, 10 percent of the state’s electricity be generated from renewable resources, like from the energy sources listed above.

In addition to the technologies listed above, the legislation includes Orion’s direct-use renewable Apollo solar light pipe, which harvests daylight and focuses it to the facility floor using no electricity.

This forward-thinking legislation will position Wisconsin as a nationwide leader in energy efficiency and set a precedent for other states to include these innovative technologies in their policies and legislation.

But the legislation goes beyond simply creating an improved environment. The bill, dubbed the Wisconsin Energy Employment Act, also is designed to create jobs through the deployment and manufacturing of these innovative technologies.

For example, a facility near Green Bay utilizing the energy sources now included in the bill will employ 30 full-time employees in addition to the jobs created through the construction of the waste-to-energy facility. A plasma gasification facility in Milwaukee will generate electric and thermal energy while generating approximately 50 full-time jobs for Wisconsin workers. Up to 150 jobs will be created for the construction of the facility.

And Orion’s own Apollo solar light pipe is expected to create up to 2.8 million hours of work for contractors hired to install the technology.

This legislation will have far-reaching effects by improving the environment and creating jobs, which will directly impact the struggling economy.

Senate Bill 450 moves the existing 10 percent RPS requirement up from 2015 to 2013, and then goes on to require a 20 percent RPS by 2020 and 25 percent by 2025.

The Renewable Portfolio Standard is the portion of the bill that puts the jobs creation aspect of the legislation into motion. If one simply takes a look around at the number of “green collar” jobs created to date and the number of companies that exist because Wisconsin and other states have already adopted renewable standards, you can see and understand just why this is.

Here in Manitowoc, for example, a major segment of the Manitowoc Cranes market is the area of sales where their lift cranes are dedicated to the erection of wind generation. Manitowoc Cranes employs about 600 workers at all levels. Tower Tech is another even more obvious example of the market response to RPS regulation. Tower Tech builds wind generation towers for large scale wind generation. The company is new on the scene in Manitowoc having been established about six years ago. They are “order rich” and currently employ about 170 workers from shop floor to corporate leadership.

Our own company has benefited from RPSs established by state governments across the nation as energy efficiency reduces the total capacity requirements of utilities and, therefore, Orion products are incented by Wisconsin’s Focus On Energy and other similar programs. Orion currently has about 250 workers that design, produce and sell our products in our Manitowoc location and we also provide countless hours for sales and installation of our products to “vendor partners” nationwide.

Senate Bill 450 is 174 pages long and includes many, many complex ideas and negotiated areas of agreement. I participated in a WisconsinEye interview with three of the four Floor Managers of the Bill on Jan. 5 and what they all could agree on is that something will make it to the Governor’s desk regarding climate change and the potential to take advantage of an environmental problem to stimulate jobs growth.

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WisconsinEYE is a non-profit, private public affairs cable network that covers state government and other issues of interest, including panels, town halls, and programs about state history.

The video features Crawford, Roy Thilly, co-chair of the Governor’s Task Force on Global Warming, state Rep. Jim Soletski, Rep. Spencer Black, and Sen. Mark Miller, talking about the bill and why it’s important to pass Gov. Jim Doyle’s proposed legislation.

Last week’s Orion updates talked mainly about the jobs creation aspects of SB273 and AB401, and the fact that this legislation is now included in the draft Climate Change Bill.

Of course, we talked about jobs for good reason:  14,500 more Wisconsinites found themselves out of work and unemployed in November and we know that passage of Orion’s “direct use renewable” legislation has the potential to create 1.4 million person-hours of work.  That’s a lot of unemployed getting off “the roles” and earning paychecks, particularly in the hard-hit construction field.

Orion agrees that the best “social program” for a family is a good paying job and we’re certainly working to do our part to get ALL of Wisconsin back to work.

At this critical time in our state’s history, with unemployment on the  rise, jobs creation is crucial to our common futures, but we need to view  this legislation with an environmental eye as well.  This past Spring the EPA announced that it believes that carbon dioxide and five additional greenhouse gases are dangerous to human health.

Experts word-wide are identifying the relationship between carbon dioxide emissions and increased instances of cancer, respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, allergies, and malnutrition.  In most cases, our children are most vulnerable.

Passage of the legislation that would include Orion’s Apollo® Solar Light Pipe in Wisconsin’s Renewable Portfolio Standard would not only create 1.4 million person-hours of work for our unemployed citizens, but it would also reduce our state’s carbon dioxide emissions by 146,000 tons each year.  SB273 and AB401 speak directly to two of our state’s most urgent needs:  jobs and citizen health.

Thanks.  Stay warm!

The markets of China and Japan are not just dynamic, they are huge. Did you know that China is Wisconsin’s #3 global trading partner and that Japan is #5? Particularly in China electrical energy demand is soaring and as a result, the need for advanced energy efficiency solutions has never been greater. To conduct business in the Pacific Rim, one can’t just go in guns blazing and expect to achieve success. Establishing and building a relationship is paramount. Yoshiaki Fujimori, President of GE Japan may have summed it up best, “A strategic alliance with a local firm is a good way to innovate in Japan.”

Like all good relationships, a foundation of trust and respect is essential for conducting Pacific Rim business. How to get started? Recognize and show respect for the unique and individual culture of the countryman with whom you are meeting. Awareness of and respect of another’s culture can make or break the deal. Remember, perceptions are powerful opinion makers especially when conducting international business. I am referring to simple demonstrations of respect here.

Of course, you have business cards. Always have business cards with you. In Japan, for example, a business card is essential for making a proper introduction. A business card is an extension of self … treat it with respect. Present your card with both hands, information facing the receiver. Receive a card with both hands and take a moment to study it. How you treat the business card of your new associate is perceived to be the way you will treat that business relationship. Never write on an associate’s business card or put it in your wallet/back pocket in their presence. Simple enough, right?

Another simple measure you can take is to have your name printed on your business cards in the language of your associate. The cards I travelled with announced my name in both Japanese and Chinese in addition to English. It is a simple, yet meaningful show of respect.

I always make sure to familiarize myself with some perfunctory greetings of the country I travel to as well. Try to speak some of the language, even if the only thing you can say is “hello” and “thank you”. Making an effort opens doors by showing respect for the language and culture, and therefore, your business associate.

Traveling with the Governor provided high level entrée in Beijing as well such as dinner at the Ambassador’s residence in addition to activities at the State Guest House.

Global groundwork demands an investment of time and travel, but is a crucial and worthwhile strategy for cultivating successful international business relationships.

Consider how rewarding to be asked, “How can I help you do business with my company?” and to hear, “I will be happy to report we have a good friend in Wisconsin.”

The bills act to include “direct-use” renewable technologies such as Orion’s Apollo® Solar Light Pipe in Wisconsin’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS).  Inclusion in the RPS will create new manufacturing jobs at Orion Energy Systems’ world headquarters in Manitowoc (WI) as well as across the state in the construction trades – the employment sector hardest hit in America’s economic downturn.

The companion bills, which have had public hearings in both the Assembly and the Senate this past September, have been included in the draft of the Climate Change legislation LRB -3883/1 that is slated to be introduced early in 2010.

Orion endorses both the independent legislation as well as the Climate Change legislation as jobs creation mechanisms.  This inclusion of “direct-use renewables” in Wisconsin’s Renewable Portfolio Standard will definitely put our state’s unemployed back to work.

Orion Energy Systems strongly encourages the passage of legislation that includes “direct-use renewables” in our state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard before the end of the 2010 winter/spring floor period, and the sooner the better.

Our legislature needs to act to put Wisconsin’s unemployed back to work!

Both China and India have made announcements over the past several days, but neither country has said anything that has changed the political dynamics on Capitol Hill.

Without confidence that China and India are serious about reducing greenhouse gas emissions, senators will continue to demand that any Climate Change bill passed in Congress include “border adjustments” or tariffs to ensure compliance with emission reduction targets.

While a number of protectionist members of Congress have gotten behind this idea, President Barack Obama has publicly stated his opposition to taxing imports in the name of climate change. When energy legislation moves forward, this will become one of the biggest — if not the biggest — point of contention. Depending on how this is resolved, that may dictate the fate of near-term climate and energy policy in the U.S.

On Monday, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson announced that greenhouse gas emissions are a risk to public health and welfare, clearing the way for the agency to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. The “endangerment finding” also might give Obama an additional political muscle in international climate talks in Copenhagen, which are scheduled through Dec. 18.

Even if Copenhagen is declared a wild success, Congress is unlikely to tackle climate and energy legislation until February or March, at the earliest.

In the meantime, let’s hope for positive dialogue in Copenhagen — and beyond — that will lead to a sustainable environment that includes the utilization of energy efficiencies, direct renewable energy and other viable solutions.

Visit the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change site.