Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Audio: Evansville Schools: Open Enrollment: 11/9/2009
Audio: Evansville School School Board discusses plan for Open Enrollment; Enrollment projection: 11/9/2009
MP3 File
MP3 File
Monday, November 09, 2009
Audio; Evansville Schools: Assessment of Disabled students
Audio: Evansville School Board; Nov 9, 2009: Presentation of How Evansville Schools assesses disabled students and the challenges that these students in the Evansville School District present.
MP3 File
MP3 File
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Blogs; School Beat: "Chasin Calls for full audit"
In response to the news that there was a theft in the IT dept at the Evansville Schools of about $100,000, there is a growing call for a full, and independent audit of the School District.
The independent audit could focus on purchasing over the past 10 years in all departments, not just IT, and specifically on document backup of expenses reimbursed, as well as inventory control. A focused audit by a experienced audit firm, and not just the cheapest friendly accountant available, is required to regain the confidence of the community.
Click on the post for the comments of "Chasin."
The independent audit could focus on purchasing over the past 10 years in all departments, not just IT, and specifically on document backup of expenses reimbursed, as well as inventory control. A focused audit by a experienced audit firm, and not just the cheapest friendly accountant available, is required to regain the confidence of the community.
Click on the post for the comments of "Chasin."
Grand Opening: Allen Creek Gallery; Mathias James Pottery
Video: Tour of the New Allen Creek Gallery, Home of Mathias James Pottery, as well as introduction to Brady Lueck, Fine Art Sculptor. His work is displayed in the gallery and also at www.sculpturalsteel.com
Download File
Download File
Evansville Finance Committee Discusses Purchasing--no action taken
The Evansville Finance Committee met last week and had a brief discussion on purchasing policy, but took no official action, and nothing is being carried forward to the common council meeting next Tuesday.
In light of the weak purchasing controls that blindsided the Evansville School District recently, a prudent independent review of the current purchasing procedures for the City of Evansville is in order.
In light of the weak purchasing controls that blindsided the Evansville School District recently, a prudent independent review of the current purchasing procedures for the City of Evansville is in order.
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Mailbag; Rep. Brett Davis Writes; Re Educational Reform---opportunity missed last week
80th Assembly District Update - November 6, 2009
Assembly Misses Key Opportunity
to Pass Education Reforms
Last night the State Assembly acted on legislation designed to make changes to Wisconsin's education system. The bills were intended to make our state eligible for federal "Race to the Top" funding. However, the measures that passed are a far cry from the meaningful reform that is needed.
One key provision that is required to make Wisconsin eligible for the Race to the Top grants is removing the prohibition on evaluating teachers based on student test scores. There was a bill, Senate Bill (SB) 372, which was approved last night that addresses this issue by removing the firewall between student test scores and teacher evaluations. However, the problem is that SB 372 built 425 more firewalls in its place.
The legislation fell short of the reforms needed because it simply retains the status quo due to two provisions in the bill. First, the language that was approved forced teacher evaluation plans to be a mandatory subject of collective bargaining in all 425 school districts in Wisconsin. This will result in either very watered-down evaluation plans or no plan being implemented at all. Therefore, I authored an amendment that would remove the collective bargaining provision and simply leave it to school boards to implement an evaluation plan. Unfortunately, this amendment failed.
The other harmful provision in the bill prevents the teacher evaluations from being used to hold poor teachers accountable through possible discharge or disciplinary measures. In fact, this provision is seen by the Wisconsin Association of School Boards as weakening Wisconsin's application for the federal grant program. It makes little sense to allow for the evaluation of teachers, but not give school boards the opportunity to remove the bad teachers in our schools.
Some argue that teachers should not be fired due to a few of their students testing poorly on the standardized WKCE exam. I agree, and the legislation specifically states that school boards must come up with multiple criteria in addition the standardized exams. In fact, I led an amendment that would have changed the language of the bill to state that a teacher could not be fired solely based on the test results.
Overall, I believe we missed a perfect opportunity to pass meaningful education reform, especially with the President visiting our state and talking about the need for changes to our education system. The legislation that passed last night had bipartisan opposition because they did very little to reform our current system. Wisconsin needs to enact multiple measures to ensure our schools remain strong and competitive.
Earlier this week I announced my vision for both reforming our education system and creating a sustainable school finance system. This is done by modernizing our student assessment system and giving school districts the tools they need to budget responsibly and lower property taxes. I will outline this package of reforms in more detail in future updates.
Assembly Misses Key Opportunity
to Pass Education Reforms
Last night the State Assembly acted on legislation designed to make changes to Wisconsin's education system. The bills were intended to make our state eligible for federal "Race to the Top" funding. However, the measures that passed are a far cry from the meaningful reform that is needed.
One key provision that is required to make Wisconsin eligible for the Race to the Top grants is removing the prohibition on evaluating teachers based on student test scores. There was a bill, Senate Bill (SB) 372, which was approved last night that addresses this issue by removing the firewall between student test scores and teacher evaluations. However, the problem is that SB 372 built 425 more firewalls in its place.
The legislation fell short of the reforms needed because it simply retains the status quo due to two provisions in the bill. First, the language that was approved forced teacher evaluation plans to be a mandatory subject of collective bargaining in all 425 school districts in Wisconsin. This will result in either very watered-down evaluation plans or no plan being implemented at all. Therefore, I authored an amendment that would remove the collective bargaining provision and simply leave it to school boards to implement an evaluation plan. Unfortunately, this amendment failed.
The other harmful provision in the bill prevents the teacher evaluations from being used to hold poor teachers accountable through possible discharge or disciplinary measures. In fact, this provision is seen by the Wisconsin Association of School Boards as weakening Wisconsin's application for the federal grant program. It makes little sense to allow for the evaluation of teachers, but not give school boards the opportunity to remove the bad teachers in our schools.
Some argue that teachers should not be fired due to a few of their students testing poorly on the standardized WKCE exam. I agree, and the legislation specifically states that school boards must come up with multiple criteria in addition the standardized exams. In fact, I led an amendment that would have changed the language of the bill to state that a teacher could not be fired solely based on the test results.
Overall, I believe we missed a perfect opportunity to pass meaningful education reform, especially with the President visiting our state and talking about the need for changes to our education system. The legislation that passed last night had bipartisan opposition because they did very little to reform our current system. Wisconsin needs to enact multiple measures to ensure our schools remain strong and competitive.
Earlier this week I announced my vision for both reforming our education system and creating a sustainable school finance system. This is done by modernizing our student assessment system and giving school districts the tools they need to budget responsibly and lower property taxes. I will outline this package of reforms in more detail in future updates.
Gazette; The Potters Journey---Allen Creek Gallery open Today on East Main
Click on the post for the story by Gina Duwe in the Gazette.
Friday, November 06, 2009
Grand Opening of Allen Creek Gallery---Nov 7th
Click on the post for the info. This is the weekend of the Grand Opening of the Allen Creek Gallery, a must see at 137 East Main Street.
St. Paul Parish Hosts Fair Trade Sale November 14, 2009
St. Paul Parish Hosts Fair Trade Sale Nov. 14
Submitted by Nancy Hurley
Wouldn’t it be wonderful this Christmas to find beautiful, handcrafted gifts at prices you could afford? Wouldn’t it be even more wonderful if your purchases could help artisans and farmers worldwide support themselves and their families? That’s the idea behind fair trade, and you can be a part of it. On Saturday, November 14, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. St. Paul Catholic Church in Evansville will host a fair trade sale that’s open to the public.
You’ll find gorgeous jewelry, scarves, baskets, pottery, table linens, Christmas ornaments, Nativities from around the world, and children’s books and toys along with food products like chocolate, soup mixes, coffee, and tea. By eliminating the middleman fair trade organizations can offer these items at a surprisingly reasonable cost while still providing craftsmen and farmers in developing countries a fair price for their work.
The Fair Trade Sale is being organized by the St. Paul Council of Catholic Women in cooperation with SERRV, a nonprofit organization dedicated to eradicating poverty by providing opportunities and support to artisans and farmers around the world. The group hopes to make the sale an annual event.
During the sale the St. Paul Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) will sell soup made from fair trade mixes, cornbread, beverages, and homemade baked goods. CYO includes youth from the parish in grades eight through twelve. Proceeds from the CYO sale, as well as ten percent of the proceeds from the Fair Trade Sale, will be used to mail holiday care packages to local soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Admission to the event is free, but participants are asked to donate either $1 or one of the following items for local Thanksgiving baskets for area residents in need: cranberry sauce, jello, cake mix, frosting, or stuffing. About 150 Thanksgiving baskets will be distributed by the Evansville Ecumenical Care Closet later this month.
For more information on the Fair Trade Sale, or to place a soldier’s name on our list to receive a holiday care package, please contact Nancy Hurley at 882-4327 or NJH223@GMAIL.COM.
###
Submitted by Nancy Hurley
Wouldn’t it be wonderful this Christmas to find beautiful, handcrafted gifts at prices you could afford? Wouldn’t it be even more wonderful if your purchases could help artisans and farmers worldwide support themselves and their families? That’s the idea behind fair trade, and you can be a part of it. On Saturday, November 14, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. St. Paul Catholic Church in Evansville will host a fair trade sale that’s open to the public.
You’ll find gorgeous jewelry, scarves, baskets, pottery, table linens, Christmas ornaments, Nativities from around the world, and children’s books and toys along with food products like chocolate, soup mixes, coffee, and tea. By eliminating the middleman fair trade organizations can offer these items at a surprisingly reasonable cost while still providing craftsmen and farmers in developing countries a fair price for their work.
The Fair Trade Sale is being organized by the St. Paul Council of Catholic Women in cooperation with SERRV, a nonprofit organization dedicated to eradicating poverty by providing opportunities and support to artisans and farmers around the world. The group hopes to make the sale an annual event.
During the sale the St. Paul Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) will sell soup made from fair trade mixes, cornbread, beverages, and homemade baked goods. CYO includes youth from the parish in grades eight through twelve. Proceeds from the CYO sale, as well as ten percent of the proceeds from the Fair Trade Sale, will be used to mail holiday care packages to local soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Admission to the event is free, but participants are asked to donate either $1 or one of the following items for local Thanksgiving baskets for area residents in need: cranberry sauce, jello, cake mix, frosting, or stuffing. About 150 Thanksgiving baskets will be distributed by the Evansville Ecumenical Care Closet later this month.
For more information on the Fair Trade Sale, or to place a soldier’s name on our list to receive a holiday care package, please contact Nancy Hurley at 882-4327 or NJH223@GMAIL.COM.
###
WSJ: Wind Corner: Public Hearing for Glacier Hills draws crowd, divided views
Click on the post for the scoop from the Wisconsin State Journal.
Thursday, November 05, 2009
OpEd; Absentee policy in focus; CDC advises employers to adopt non-punative policies
The CDC, Center for Disease Control, has advised and recommended employers nationwide to avoid punative absentee policies that could endanger public health and harm families.
Some employers have failed to inform employees that there are any exceptions to their strict "occurence" based systems.
If you have an instance where your employer has avoided following the CDC guidelines, send the Evansville Observer a note about this and we will post. The marketplace needs to know. Email fre2observe@yahoo.com
Some employers have failed to inform employees that there are any exceptions to their strict "occurence" based systems.
If you have an instance where your employer has avoided following the CDC guidelines, send the Evansville Observer a note about this and we will post. The marketplace needs to know. Email fre2observe@yahoo.com
StarTribune; State of Minn short of cash---delays corporate refunds and sales tax refunds
Click on the post for the latest.
There has been a rumor also that shortage of revenue in Wisconsin might prompt a revision of state aids and that the state might revise their payments and cities would have to scramble to "adjust" their budgets.
Would city employees take furloughs rather than cut funds for creek walls and fish? Stay tuned.
There has been a rumor also that shortage of revenue in Wisconsin might prompt a revision of state aids and that the state might revise their payments and cities would have to scramble to "adjust" their budgets.
Would city employees take furloughs rather than cut funds for creek walls and fish? Stay tuned.
EMS Can Drive This Saturday, November 7th
EMS Aluminum Can Drive
Saturday, November 7.
Please have cans at the curb by 8:00 am or deliver to EMS Garage 31 S. Madison St.
For rural or business pick-up, please call 882-2269 and leave message.
Proceeds go to new equipment for ambulances.
Saturday, November 7.
Please have cans at the curb by 8:00 am or deliver to EMS Garage 31 S. Madison St.
For rural or business pick-up, please call 882-2269 and leave message.
Proceeds go to new equipment for ambulances.
Audio; Tales; "The Eternal Payback"---FICTION
Audio; Tales From Normal, Mn.: " Politicians get Religious with Eternal Accounting"--FICTION
MP3 File
MP3 File
Gazette: Former Evansville IT coordinator confesses to theft
Click on the post for the article in the Janesville Gazette.
I hope to report more on this after the Evansville School Board meeting. This case raises lots of questions about internal control, purchasing, inventory control, as well as auditing, or depth thereof and timeliness. Stay tuned.
I hope to report more on this after the Evansville School Board meeting. This case raises lots of questions about internal control, purchasing, inventory control, as well as auditing, or depth thereof and timeliness. Stay tuned.
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
WSJ; Text of Pres. Obama's speech today in Madison, Wi.
Click on the post for the full text in the Wisconsin State Journal.
Mailbag: Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin to hold office hours in Evansville next Week.
Good Afternoon,
Helen Forbeck, Field Representative for Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin will be holding Office Hours on behalf of the Congresswoman in Evansville next Tuesday, November 10th. Please stop by if you have any need for help with the federal government or if you have questions or comments about legislation, federal grants or doing work with the federal government.
Tuesday, November 10th
12:15 - 1:15 PM Eager Free Public Library
39 W. Main Street
Helen Forbeck, Field Representative for Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin will be holding Office Hours on behalf of the Congresswoman in Evansville next Tuesday, November 10th. Please stop by if you have any need for help with the federal government or if you have questions or comments about legislation, federal grants or doing work with the federal government.
Tuesday, November 10th
12:15 - 1:15 PM Eager Free Public Library
39 W. Main Street
WSJ: Pres Obama Comes to Madison Today: Education Stimulus in Focus
The Wisconsin State Journal has complete coverage. Click on the post.
Monday, November 02, 2009
Mailbag; Rep. Brett Davis Writes: The Path to Responsible Budget for Wisconsin
80th Assembly District Update - October 30, 2009
Path to Fiscal Recovery is Responsible Budgeting
By Rep. Brett Davis & Rep. Leah Vukmir
In these tough economic times almost everyone has had to take a hard look at their budget. Small businesses and families sit down on a regular basis and examine ways to not spend more than they bring in. However, that same simple and responsible budgeting rationale has continued to elude those in government that craft the state budget.
For two decades our state has had a budget deficit despite the fact that Wisconsin's constitution requires the legislature to maintain a balanced budget. The problem lays in how "balanced" is defined. The Department of Administration and State Controller submit two reports each budget cycle: one based on statutory standards, and another based on Generally Accepted Accounting Practices (GAAP) as approved by the Government Accounting Standards Board.
In 2007, the budget report based on statutory standards claimed a general fund balance of $130.7 million. This report allows various budgeting gimmicks, such as lapses from segregated funds, to be used to "balance" the state's budget. The other, based on GAAP, revealed a more realistic balance of a $2.5 billion deficit. Sadly, there is no requirement for the budget to adhere to the principles of GAAP.
If our budget is compared with other states, only Wisconsin and Illinois have reported GAAP deficits in each of the past 10 years. In 2007 alone, Wisconsin joined the ranks of California, Illinois, and Maine as the only four states with GAAP deficits. In fact, Wisconsin's deficit, as a measure of personal income and population, was the largest in the country for our size.
Things are not getting any better, either. The state budget that passed earlier this year continues these harmful fiscal policies, and has once again spent its way beyond the means of the taxpayers to the tune of $2 billion.
As a state, we cannot allow this to continue. One thing is clear - state government shouldn't be exempt from common-sense budgeting techniques. Therefore, we are introducing the Truth in Budgeting Act, which will implement two major provisions to put Wisconsin back on the road to fiscal recovery.
First, the legislation will ensure balanced and honest budgeting practices. Starting in 2015-16, the bill will require the state budget to be prepared according to GAAP principles. While we would all prefer to accomplish this far sooner, we also recognize closing this large of a budget gap will take time.
The second provision focuses on budget accountability by implementing zero-based budgeting. Currently, state agencies operate on the cost to continue, which equates to the amount received last year plus additional funds based on inflation. Instead, the Truth in Budgeting Act requires agencies to prepare their budgets starting at zero, and justify each component on the basis of cost, need, and relation to statutory responsibilities. Ultimately, this will provide for increased accountability through executive and legislative review of agency funding.
By enacting these common-sense budgeting reforms, we can take a large step toward putting our state back on the right track. Balancing our state budget should be a simple concept that both sides of the aisle can get behind. We believe strongly that government needs to learn to tighten its belt, just like families and small businesses across Wisconsin, especially in times of economic downturn.
Path to Fiscal Recovery is Responsible Budgeting
By Rep. Brett Davis & Rep. Leah Vukmir
In these tough economic times almost everyone has had to take a hard look at their budget. Small businesses and families sit down on a regular basis and examine ways to not spend more than they bring in. However, that same simple and responsible budgeting rationale has continued to elude those in government that craft the state budget.
For two decades our state has had a budget deficit despite the fact that Wisconsin's constitution requires the legislature to maintain a balanced budget. The problem lays in how "balanced" is defined. The Department of Administration and State Controller submit two reports each budget cycle: one based on statutory standards, and another based on Generally Accepted Accounting Practices (GAAP) as approved by the Government Accounting Standards Board.
In 2007, the budget report based on statutory standards claimed a general fund balance of $130.7 million. This report allows various budgeting gimmicks, such as lapses from segregated funds, to be used to "balance" the state's budget. The other, based on GAAP, revealed a more realistic balance of a $2.5 billion deficit. Sadly, there is no requirement for the budget to adhere to the principles of GAAP.
If our budget is compared with other states, only Wisconsin and Illinois have reported GAAP deficits in each of the past 10 years. In 2007 alone, Wisconsin joined the ranks of California, Illinois, and Maine as the only four states with GAAP deficits. In fact, Wisconsin's deficit, as a measure of personal income and population, was the largest in the country for our size.
Things are not getting any better, either. The state budget that passed earlier this year continues these harmful fiscal policies, and has once again spent its way beyond the means of the taxpayers to the tune of $2 billion.
As a state, we cannot allow this to continue. One thing is clear - state government shouldn't be exempt from common-sense budgeting techniques. Therefore, we are introducing the Truth in Budgeting Act, which will implement two major provisions to put Wisconsin back on the road to fiscal recovery.
First, the legislation will ensure balanced and honest budgeting practices. Starting in 2015-16, the bill will require the state budget to be prepared according to GAAP principles. While we would all prefer to accomplish this far sooner, we also recognize closing this large of a budget gap will take time.
The second provision focuses on budget accountability by implementing zero-based budgeting. Currently, state agencies operate on the cost to continue, which equates to the amount received last year plus additional funds based on inflation. Instead, the Truth in Budgeting Act requires agencies to prepare their budgets starting at zero, and justify each component on the basis of cost, need, and relation to statutory responsibilities. Ultimately, this will provide for increased accountability through executive and legislative review of agency funding.
By enacting these common-sense budgeting reforms, we can take a large step toward putting our state back on the right track. Balancing our state budget should be a simple concept that both sides of the aisle can get behind. We believe strongly that government needs to learn to tighten its belt, just like families and small businesses across Wisconsin, especially in times of economic downturn.
StarTribune; Empty Desks; Empty Offices; Businesses Prepare
Workers working by computer from home. Businesses that are overcentralized in operations and who refuse to allow telecomputing would be SOL. How prepared is your business?
Click on the post for the article in the Star Tribunes.
Click on the post for the article in the Star Tribunes.
Yahoo: Retirement; Turning the Traditional Risk Pyramid on its side
Click on the post for the latest.
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Mailbag: I and E Club November Meeting: Cindy Writes
Hello Everyone:
Please join us as the Evansville Area I & E Club enters into it's second year! We are growing in numbers and success stories!
Next Meeting - Wednesday, November 11, 6:30 pm
This month’s speaker will be Gary Sedlacek, of the Biz Coach LLC. Gary is a small business consultant. He has a wealth of business experience and offers “hands-on” consulting for small businesses. Mr. Sedlacek will talk about the different business formation options, how to avoid problems, and give an overview of the consulting services he provides for new and existing small businesses.
Come share resources, exchange ideas, and be mentored. The club welcomes not just inventors and entrepreneurs, but also established businesses, new businesses, and investors. Everyone, of all ages is welcome! Keep in mind that invention is more than just creating new gizmos, it is innovation too. It can be creating a new service, process, concept, mind-set, message, or strategy which is better than the existing alternatives. You never know who you might meet and what you might learn!
Refreshments for the November meeting will be sponsored by Hammer Builders LLC.
I have attached an announcement to print, post and distribute. Please bring a friend or colleague. We will see you Wed, Nov 11!
Best Regards,
Cindy Hammer
Secretary, Evansville Area I & E Club
Cindy Hammer
Hammer Builders LLC
http://www.HammerBuilder.com
608-774-6382 608-774-6382
Please join us as the Evansville Area I & E Club enters into it's second year! We are growing in numbers and success stories!
Next Meeting - Wednesday, November 11, 6:30 pm
This month’s speaker will be Gary Sedlacek, of the Biz Coach LLC. Gary is a small business consultant. He has a wealth of business experience and offers “hands-on” consulting for small businesses. Mr. Sedlacek will talk about the different business formation options, how to avoid problems, and give an overview of the consulting services he provides for new and existing small businesses.
Come share resources, exchange ideas, and be mentored. The club welcomes not just inventors and entrepreneurs, but also established businesses, new businesses, and investors. Everyone, of all ages is welcome! Keep in mind that invention is more than just creating new gizmos, it is innovation too. It can be creating a new service, process, concept, mind-set, message, or strategy which is better than the existing alternatives. You never know who you might meet and what you might learn!
Refreshments for the November meeting will be sponsored by Hammer Builders LLC.
I have attached an announcement to print, post and distribute. Please bring a friend or colleague. We will see you Wed, Nov 11!
Best Regards,
Cindy Hammer
Secretary, Evansville Area I & E Club
Cindy Hammer
Hammer Builders LLC
http://www.HammerBuilder.com
608-774-6382 608-774-6382
Minutes; Northwind 100: Wasau School District; October 2008
IV. RECOMMENDATION FOR WIND TURBINE PROJECT
Administration provided an overview of the wind turbine project. The proposed project calls for installation of a Northwind 100 kW wind turbine and a 15 kW wind turbine on the southeast corner of the Wausau East High School campus adjacent to the Zastrow Wetland Education Area. The Northwind turbine, rated at 100 kW, has a rotor diameter of 20 meters and a total height of approximately 157 feet. The 15 kW turbine has a rotor diameter of 17 meters and a total height of 152 feet.
The cost of the project is approximately $574,566. Funding sources for the project are the Walter Alexander Foundation ($400,000), Focus on Energy grants ($129,000), and District funds ($50,000). Outside financial sources are expected for the solar panels ($24,000). Other financial sources may become available for the project.
Estimated annual revenues were discussed. The annual energy output of the two turbines is 120,602 kW with an estimated annual revenue of $16,542. The Wausau School District will receive a return on their investment ($50,000) in approximately four years.
Administration provided an overview of the wind turbine project. The proposed project calls for installation of a Northwind 100 kW wind turbine and a 15 kW wind turbine on the southeast corner of the Wausau East High School campus adjacent to the Zastrow Wetland Education Area. The Northwind turbine, rated at 100 kW, has a rotor diameter of 20 meters and a total height of approximately 157 feet. The 15 kW turbine has a rotor diameter of 17 meters and a total height of 152 feet.
The cost of the project is approximately $574,566. Funding sources for the project are the Walter Alexander Foundation ($400,000), Focus on Energy grants ($129,000), and District funds ($50,000). Outside financial sources are expected for the solar panels ($24,000). Other financial sources may become available for the project.
Estimated annual revenues were discussed. The annual energy output of the two turbines is 120,602 kW with an estimated annual revenue of $16,542. The Wausau School District will receive a return on their investment ($50,000) in approximately four years.
Gazette; Rock Co has Highest Unemployment in Wis: ECHO needs your help
Click on the post for the latest.
Breaking news: Duluth Trading: Made in the USA Jeans
Some folk have been searcing for an American made jean----a search that is pretty difficult to succeed in until now----Duluth Trading has rolled out its USA version of the 5 pocket ballroom jean.
Click on the post for the info. Ya. They are made for dancing.
Click on the post for the info. Ya. They are made for dancing.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Markets: Demographics: Where have all the boomers gone?
Click on the post for an interesting analysis of the "consumer" over the next ten years.
Dateline Normal, MN.: Normal faces budget crisis--boldly builds Ice Arena"---FICTION
Click on the post for the latest.
Gazette; Tragedy on Hwy 14
Click on the post for the story in the Janesville Gazette. Our prayers are with Mrs. Flaherty for a full recovery.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
WSJ: Edgewater Developer responds to neighborhood concerns---downsizes project
Click on the post for the latest.
Video: Wind Turbine Overview
Video: Common Council: 10/12/2009; Dave Sauer, Evansville City Engineer reviews the essential of the Northwind 100 wind turbine to be installed at Waste Water Treatment Plant. His notes are on the Observer for review. The public hearing held for the waste water treatment plant did not address any safety or economic payback concerns of the wind turbine. Not one Evansville Citizen attended the Common Council meeting on Monday.
Download File
Download File
PSC: Wind Turbine hearings coming for Glacier Hills Wind Park
Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
Eric Callisto, Chairperson 610 North Whitney Way
Mark Meyer, Commissioner P.O. Box 7854
Lauren Azar, Commissioner Madison, WI 53707-7854
For Immediate Release – Monday, October 26, 2009
Contact: Teresa Weidemann-Smith, (608) 266-9600
PSC to Hold Public Hearings for Glacier Hills Wind Park
MADISON -- The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) will hold public hearings on Wisconsin Electric Power Company’s (WEPCO) application to construct The Glacier Hills Wind Park, a wind electric generation facility in the towns of Randolph and Scott in Columbia County. The public hearings will be held Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Randolph Town Hall, 109 South Madison Street in Friesland with Administrative Law Judge Michael Newmark presiding.
WEPCO, doing business as We Energies, filed an application with the PSC on June 18, 2008, for approval to construct the electric generation facility. The project consists of 90 wind turbines with a total capacity of up to 207 megawatts (MW). The turbines would be located in a project area of approximately 17,300 acres and would be connected together by underground electrical cables. The wind farm would be connected to an existing 138 kilovolt (kV) electric transmission line that traverses the project area via a new interconnection substation.
Public comments on WEPCO’s application will be included in the record the Commission will review to make a decision. Citizens are encouraged to attend the public hearings. If you cannot attend the public hearings, but would like to provide comments, you can do so on the PSC’s website through October 28. Click on the Public Comments button on the PSC’s homepage and click on the case title.
Documents associated with WEPCO’s application can be viewed on our Electronic Regulatory Filing System at http://psc.wi.gov/. Enter case number 6630-CE-302 in the boxes provided on the PSC homepage, or click on the Electronic Regulatory Filing System button.
(END)
Eric Callisto, Chairperson 610 North Whitney Way
Mark Meyer, Commissioner P.O. Box 7854
Lauren Azar, Commissioner Madison, WI 53707-7854
For Immediate Release – Monday, October 26, 2009
Contact: Teresa Weidemann-Smith, (608) 266-9600
PSC to Hold Public Hearings for Glacier Hills Wind Park
MADISON -- The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) will hold public hearings on Wisconsin Electric Power Company’s (WEPCO) application to construct The Glacier Hills Wind Park, a wind electric generation facility in the towns of Randolph and Scott in Columbia County. The public hearings will be held Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Randolph Town Hall, 109 South Madison Street in Friesland with Administrative Law Judge Michael Newmark presiding.
WEPCO, doing business as We Energies, filed an application with the PSC on June 18, 2008, for approval to construct the electric generation facility. The project consists of 90 wind turbines with a total capacity of up to 207 megawatts (MW). The turbines would be located in a project area of approximately 17,300 acres and would be connected together by underground electrical cables. The wind farm would be connected to an existing 138 kilovolt (kV) electric transmission line that traverses the project area via a new interconnection substation.
Public comments on WEPCO’s application will be included in the record the Commission will review to make a decision. Citizens are encouraged to attend the public hearings. If you cannot attend the public hearings, but would like to provide comments, you can do so on the PSC’s website through October 28. Click on the Public Comments button on the PSC’s homepage and click on the case title.
Documents associated with WEPCO’s application can be viewed on our Electronic Regulatory Filing System at http://psc.wi.gov/. Enter case number 6630-CE-302 in the boxes provided on the PSC homepage, or click on the Electronic Regulatory Filing System button.
(END)
Wind Corner Rulemaking;
The PSC proceedings on Wisconsin Electric's Glacier Hills wind project will generate much of the factual foundation for the forthcoming rulemaking on wind permitting standards. Testimony submitted by three expert witnesses hired on behalf of the applicant. These documents were filed last Tuesday. The witnesses are.
Richard Larkin - State Certified Real Estate Appraiser. His testimony rebuts CWESt property values "study."
http://psc.wi. gov/apps/ erf_share/ view/viewdoc. aspx?docid= 121872
William Roberts - PhD in Epidemiology, Former faculty member with the Medical College of Wisconsin (Dept. of Preventative Medicine), former Oklahoma State Epidemiologist. His testimony discusses Nina Pierpont's "research" and rebuts CWESt's acoustical consultant.
http://psc.wi. gov/apps/ erf_share/ view/viewdoc. aspx?docid= 121871
Geoff Leventhall - acoustical consultant, PhD in Acoustics. His testimony discusses low frequency noise and rebuts CWESt's acoustical consultant.
http://psc.wi. gov/apps/ erf_share/ view/viewdoc. aspx?docid= 121870
Of all the documents read over the years that address wind energy impacts on human health and property values, this group of submission is the strongest IMO. The value of these documents to future wind development in North America is inestimable.
These filings will be entered into the record when the technical hearings begin on November 2nd.
Richard Larkin - State Certified Real Estate Appraiser. His testimony rebuts CWESt property values "study."
http://psc.wi. gov/apps/ erf_share/ view/viewdoc. aspx?docid= 121872
William Roberts - PhD in Epidemiology, Former faculty member with the Medical College of Wisconsin (Dept. of Preventative Medicine), former Oklahoma State Epidemiologist. His testimony discusses Nina Pierpont's "research" and rebuts CWESt's acoustical consultant.
http://psc.wi. gov/apps/ erf_share/ view/viewdoc. aspx?docid= 121871
Geoff Leventhall - acoustical consultant, PhD in Acoustics. His testimony discusses low frequency noise and rebuts CWESt's acoustical consultant.
http://psc.wi. gov/apps/ erf_share/ view/viewdoc. aspx?docid= 121870
Of all the documents read over the years that address wind energy impacts on human health and property values, this group of submission is the strongest IMO. The value of these documents to future wind development in North America is inestimable.
These filings will be entered into the record when the technical hearings begin on November 2nd.
Music Corner; Elise Larson in concert this Sunday: Free Student Recital: Morphy Hall; 3:30PM
Click on the post for the details. Elise is the EHS Grad who played in Carnegie Hall as a senior in High School and most recently played in The King and I in Evansville. This is a free student recital.
CapTimes: OpEd: Water Wars heat up
Water is on the front burner again. Click on the post for the latest.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
"Bye Bye American Pie" Part II
As Americans grapple with the health care reform currently in process, and as Americans grapple with the swine flu and the prospect of revisiting the national pandemic of 1917, when the public did not attend public functions in order to avoid exposure...the question still arises as it did in American Pie---Are you ready for some startling change?? Are you ready for some virtual school, some virtual football, some virtual public meetings, some virtual church? If not...why not?
Click on the post for the lyrics and the analysis.
Click on the post for the lyrics and the analysis.
Evansville School Board: 10/12/2009: Mr. Pierick speaks
Video: Mr. Michael Pierick, spoke about his analysis of the proposed purchase of land on 2nd Street. He concluded that this proposal would not have been included in the budget if it had gone through the process because there were other items that were more important--it was a tough budget decison but his vote was NO.
Download File
Download File
NYT: Twitter Search coming to Google?
Click on the post for an article in the NYT today on the progress of search engines.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Gazette; Edgerton Schools to vote on tax increase of 18.7% Monday
Click on the post for the story in the Gazette.
OpEd: National Emergency should mean flexible employers...or hefty fines
Many employers have used the severe downturn in the economy to take advantage of employees and use any minor "incident" in their attendence to develop a case to fire them. Even in the face of the swine flu, we see employers not making any exeptions---
Employees should do the right thing and keep their kids home from school, and keep themselves away from work if they show symptoms of the swine flu. Employers who take action against employees who protect their health or the health of their family should face severe fines.
Declaring a national health emergency is nice. Now comes the necessity to make the safety precautions happen. Employers who are hostile to health and the health care of their employees should be noted and avoided in the marketplace.
Employees should do the right thing and keep their kids home from school, and keep themselves away from work if they show symptoms of the swine flu. Employers who take action against employees who protect their health or the health of their family should face severe fines.
Declaring a national health emergency is nice. Now comes the necessity to make the safety precautions happen. Employers who are hostile to health and the health care of their employees should be noted and avoided in the marketplace.
Commuter Rail begins on November 16, 2009 from Big Lake, Mn. to Mpls---
Big milestone for Minnesota commuters on November 16th----commuters from up north can leave the car behind and ride the rail.
Click on the post for some info.
Click on the post for some info.
Public Works: 2-26-2008: New Senior Center Site Plan
Evansville City Engineer Dave Sauer reviews the submitted site plan; Notes areas of concern; States that position of facility on the creek is illogical. It appears to move the facility to the area of the flood plain rather than away from it. Has requested resubmission.
The current task force naming the senior/community has been defiant and named the facility "Creekside" and placed the facility right on the waterway. Stay tuned.
MP3 File
The current task force naming the senior/community has been defiant and named the facility "Creekside" and placed the facility right on the waterway. Stay tuned.
MP3 File
StarTribune; Sex Bias Suit against Schwan's heads to court.
Click on the post for the story in the Star Tribune.
Rep. Brett Davis wins Virtual School Award
Davis Receives Shining Star Award
Earlier this week, it was Virtual School Day at the Capitol sponsored by the Wisconsin Coalition of Virtual School Families. The families honored Rep. Davis at the event with an award for his work on virtual school legislation in the last legislative session. He was awarded the 2008 Shining Star Award.
Earlier this week, it was Virtual School Day at the Capitol sponsored by the Wisconsin Coalition of Virtual School Families. The families honored Rep. Davis at the event with an award for his work on virtual school legislation in the last legislative session. He was awarded the 2008 Shining Star Award.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Mailbag; Bear Trader writes on "Low Frequencey Sound and Wind Turbines"
Wednesday October 21, 2009
What effect does low frequency sound generated by wind turbines have on people’s living within range of the effects?
This is a difficult question to answer scientifically. The issue is intensely political in nature.
Myself, from curiosity, years ago I set up low frequency loudspeaker driven resonators in my home. There are interesting effects. I expect that at least some of the criticism aimed at wind turbines’ low frequency effects is valid. As a result of my earlier experiments I would sell real estate before it was so affected.
Aerodynamic effects caused by the blades generate wind turbine low frequency noise. The air pressure very close to the blades in the “upstream” or “upwind” direction is higher than the air pressure very close to the blades in the “downstream” or “downwind” direction. The higher pressure on the “front” of the blades combined with the lower pressure on the “back” are what causes the blades to turn. What is happening is exactly the same as an airplane’s wing; the difference in pressure is what makes the wing “lift”. In the wind turbine’s case the blade is so built as to have “lift” in the direction needed to cause the turbine to turn (even though loaded with a power generator) instead of causing flight. As the air spills over and then off of the wing, or over and off the wind turbine blade, the higher pressure air flows into the lower pressure air, causing a rapid increase in air velocity, which is what causes sound. An “eddy” of spinning air is formed, which is continuously being “pulled off” by the moving wing or turning turbine blade, forming downstream vortices. In the case of wind turbine blades (and airplane wings) every effort is taken to reduce waste energy contained in these vortices. The vortices cannot be eliminated but can be made to contain less energy, meaning that the vortices will be relatively less abruptly curved and with less rotational velocity. A decrease in rotational velocity and vortex curvature means a decrease in the frequency of sound emission. We see this in the sound spectra emitted by wind turbines.
So this is where the low frequency sound is coming from. Those who have heard tornadoes note the great intensity of their low frequency sound; same thing is happening here on a much smaller scale.
I suspect many folks are not comfortable with decibels, abbreviated dB. Human hearing has a great range of sensitivity to sound pressure. The least sound pressure detectable by most young ears is 0.00002 newtons per square meter (called a “pascal”). This is 0.000000029 pounds per square inch. It is defined as zero dB sound pressure level. This is a pressure. The power of a sound is proportional the square of the pressure.
The decibel is a logarithmic function. A 10 dB increase means an increase in sound pressure of ten times. Another 10 dB increase means another increase of ten times in sound pressure (and 100 times sound power). One can see that a 20 dB increase is an increase of 10 times 10 times, or an increase of 100 times in sound pressure, and 10,000 times in sound power. Similarly an increase of 30 dB means a sound pressure increase of 1000 times. A sound pressure of 100 dB is then 10x10x10x10x10x10x10x10x10x10, or 10,000,000,000 times. In terms of pounds per square inch, this is 290 pounds per square inch. A loud rock concert (or ear buds maxed out) can measure 110 dB. This is a sound pressure level of 1.5 tons per square inch. Hearing damage ensues. Many car audio installs can hit 120 dB (15 tons per square inch). Shock waves start at 180 dB and work up.
Back to wind turbines, finally!
From the graph I sent you earlier, the representative wind turbine producing a 55 dB(A) noise sound pressure level would produce very low frequency sound of about 100 dB.
This means that the sound pressure caused by very low frequency sound is 45 dB more intense than what is measured using the dB(A) curve. This is the same thing as saying that the sound pressure at very low frequencies is about 40,000 times greater, and therefore 1,600,000,000 more sound power, than what the decibel meter reads when using the dB(A) scale. This means that there is a lot, a lot, of very low frequency sound emitted.
All of this assumes that the measurements were taken correctly so as to allow correction of the measurements to the standard point source at one meter. I am very skeptical about that.
What are the effects of this much very low frequency sound on neighboring human beings? Well, this is a matter of intense political debate; with the pro wind energy people saying such sound is “inaudible”, amongst other things. Certainly I found, in my decades ago experiments, that twenty cycles per second (“Hertz”, hz) at about 80 dB couldn’t be “heard” very well with the ears but had a strong effect on me. Instead of “hearing” with my ears I was “hearing” with my whole body; I remember a deep shaking in the gut and spiders crawling on my skin.
Very low frequency sound goes through house walls like they weren’t there. Even eight inches of concrete isn’t much of a barrier (1 or 2 dB).
Low frequency sound propagation is just now being studied seriously (mostly in Europe, anyone trying this in the USA would never get funding). One thing is well known is that during atmospheric temperature inversions, that is, during times when the air temperature is higher as you go upwards, low frequency sound will be bent, refracted, back toward the ground instead of escaping into the higher atmosphere. In our area we have frequent temperature inversions at night during the winter there is little wind. The ground fog we are so used to is a sign of temperature inversion as the fog is caused by lower air temperatures near the ground than higher up. During these times the homeowner should experience higher very low frequency sound levels and the effects would be noticed over greater distances and a wider area.
Am thinking about buying the tools to do a bit of measurement work in this field. Should be possible to get started with $10,000 maybe.
What effect does low frequency sound generated by wind turbines have on people’s living within range of the effects?
This is a difficult question to answer scientifically. The issue is intensely political in nature.
Myself, from curiosity, years ago I set up low frequency loudspeaker driven resonators in my home. There are interesting effects. I expect that at least some of the criticism aimed at wind turbines’ low frequency effects is valid. As a result of my earlier experiments I would sell real estate before it was so affected.
Aerodynamic effects caused by the blades generate wind turbine low frequency noise. The air pressure very close to the blades in the “upstream” or “upwind” direction is higher than the air pressure very close to the blades in the “downstream” or “downwind” direction. The higher pressure on the “front” of the blades combined with the lower pressure on the “back” are what causes the blades to turn. What is happening is exactly the same as an airplane’s wing; the difference in pressure is what makes the wing “lift”. In the wind turbine’s case the blade is so built as to have “lift” in the direction needed to cause the turbine to turn (even though loaded with a power generator) instead of causing flight. As the air spills over and then off of the wing, or over and off the wind turbine blade, the higher pressure air flows into the lower pressure air, causing a rapid increase in air velocity, which is what causes sound. An “eddy” of spinning air is formed, which is continuously being “pulled off” by the moving wing or turning turbine blade, forming downstream vortices. In the case of wind turbine blades (and airplane wings) every effort is taken to reduce waste energy contained in these vortices. The vortices cannot be eliminated but can be made to contain less energy, meaning that the vortices will be relatively less abruptly curved and with less rotational velocity. A decrease in rotational velocity and vortex curvature means a decrease in the frequency of sound emission. We see this in the sound spectra emitted by wind turbines.
So this is where the low frequency sound is coming from. Those who have heard tornadoes note the great intensity of their low frequency sound; same thing is happening here on a much smaller scale.
I suspect many folks are not comfortable with decibels, abbreviated dB. Human hearing has a great range of sensitivity to sound pressure. The least sound pressure detectable by most young ears is 0.00002 newtons per square meter (called a “pascal”). This is 0.000000029 pounds per square inch. It is defined as zero dB sound pressure level. This is a pressure. The power of a sound is proportional the square of the pressure.
The decibel is a logarithmic function. A 10 dB increase means an increase in sound pressure of ten times. Another 10 dB increase means another increase of ten times in sound pressure (and 100 times sound power). One can see that a 20 dB increase is an increase of 10 times 10 times, or an increase of 100 times in sound pressure, and 10,000 times in sound power. Similarly an increase of 30 dB means a sound pressure increase of 1000 times. A sound pressure of 100 dB is then 10x10x10x10x10x10x10x10x10x10, or 10,000,000,000 times. In terms of pounds per square inch, this is 290 pounds per square inch. A loud rock concert (or ear buds maxed out) can measure 110 dB. This is a sound pressure level of 1.5 tons per square inch. Hearing damage ensues. Many car audio installs can hit 120 dB (15 tons per square inch). Shock waves start at 180 dB and work up.
Back to wind turbines, finally!
From the graph I sent you earlier, the representative wind turbine producing a 55 dB(A) noise sound pressure level would produce very low frequency sound of about 100 dB.
This means that the sound pressure caused by very low frequency sound is 45 dB more intense than what is measured using the dB(A) curve. This is the same thing as saying that the sound pressure at very low frequencies is about 40,000 times greater, and therefore 1,600,000,000 more sound power, than what the decibel meter reads when using the dB(A) scale. This means that there is a lot, a lot, of very low frequency sound emitted.
All of this assumes that the measurements were taken correctly so as to allow correction of the measurements to the standard point source at one meter. I am very skeptical about that.
What are the effects of this much very low frequency sound on neighboring human beings? Well, this is a matter of intense political debate; with the pro wind energy people saying such sound is “inaudible”, amongst other things. Certainly I found, in my decades ago experiments, that twenty cycles per second (“Hertz”, hz) at about 80 dB couldn’t be “heard” very well with the ears but had a strong effect on me. Instead of “hearing” with my ears I was “hearing” with my whole body; I remember a deep shaking in the gut and spiders crawling on my skin.
Very low frequency sound goes through house walls like they weren’t there. Even eight inches of concrete isn’t much of a barrier (1 or 2 dB).
Low frequency sound propagation is just now being studied seriously (mostly in Europe, anyone trying this in the USA would never get funding). One thing is well known is that during atmospheric temperature inversions, that is, during times when the air temperature is higher as you go upwards, low frequency sound will be bent, refracted, back toward the ground instead of escaping into the higher atmosphere. In our area we have frequent temperature inversions at night during the winter there is little wind. The ground fog we are so used to is a sign of temperature inversion as the fog is caused by lower air temperatures near the ground than higher up. During these times the homeowner should experience higher very low frequency sound levels and the effects would be noticed over greater distances and a wider area.
Am thinking about buying the tools to do a bit of measurement work in this field. Should be possible to get started with $10,000 maybe.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Video: Wisconsin State Journal: H1N1 Flu Clinics begin in Madison Schools: Evansville?
Swine flu targets kids. Click on the post to see the video story from the Wisconsin State Journal.
Libertyville wind turbine was 120 feet; Evansville is 150.
Click on the post. The Story of Libertyville is instructive.
Gazette; Janesville schools absenteeim climbs over 10%
Click on the post for the story in the Gazette.
Mediafly: Onion Radio News ---COMEDY
Click on the post for the audio version of the Onion. Click "View Episodes" to see all the episodes available free.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Dateline Normal, Mn.: "Christmas Sales Plunge in Normal, MN.: Swine Flu: ---FICTION
Click on the post for the latest.
Gazette; Bill introduced to protect consumers from overdraft abuse
Click on the post for the latest.
Jim Brooks New Evansville Community Partnership Coordinator
October 19, 2009
The Evansville Community Partnership is pleased to announce that Jim Brooks has been hired as our new Community Coordinator. Jim stepped in an as interim when our former coordinator, Robin Grignon relocated to Necedah. Robin did a great job of expanding the events offered by ECP to fulfill its mission to give all members of the community an opportunity to participate in the cooperative creation of an economically and socially sound, vibrant future for our community and its people. Jim’s background with non-profits through the Stateline Literacy Council, his many local contacts through the Evansville Community Theater, his computer and logistic talents as well as his marketing skills will make him a great match for ECP .
The Evansville Community Partnership is pleased to announce that Jim Brooks has been hired as our new Community Coordinator. Jim stepped in an as interim when our former coordinator, Robin Grignon relocated to Necedah. Robin did a great job of expanding the events offered by ECP to fulfill its mission to give all members of the community an opportunity to participate in the cooperative creation of an economically and socially sound, vibrant future for our community and its people. Jim’s background with non-profits through the Stateline Literacy Council, his many local contacts through the Evansville Community Theater, his computer and logistic talents as well as his marketing skills will make him a great match for ECP .
Mailbag; Evansville School District Writes:
The Board of Education Wants Your Input!
What is your vision for the Evansville Community School District in 5 years? 10 years? 20 years? The Evansville Community School District Board of Education is interested in your input. Please submit your ideas by November 10 via e-mail to vision@evansville.k12.wi.us or, if you prefer traditional mail:
Vision/Board of Education
ECSD District Office
340 Fair Street
Evansville, WI 53536
If you would also be interested in serving on a focus group regarding this topic, please let us know!
What is your vision for the Evansville Community School District in 5 years? 10 years? 20 years? The Evansville Community School District Board of Education is interested in your input. Please submit your ideas by November 10 via e-mail to vision@evansville.k12.wi.us or, if you prefer traditional mail:
Vision/Board of Education
ECSD District Office
340 Fair Street
Evansville, WI 53536
If you would also be interested in serving on a focus group regarding this topic, please let us know!
Mailbag: Bear Trader Writes: On Low Frequency Sound and YOU
Monday, October 19, 2009
Have done some very preliminary work on the wind turbine issue. This is meant as a report. I express no opinions, as I have none.
I do see one glaring scientific error in how sound pressure levels generated by wind turbines are measured. Below is a chart showing the response curve in dB of acoustic weighting curves used in measuring sound pressure levels. The “A” curve is the standard used in the USA, and certainly is the weighting curve used when rating wind turbine “noise”. This curve is incorrect in this application.
First the curves, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-weighting
Note the rapid roll off in the response at low frequencies. Since many suspect (as do I) that the biggest wind turbine noise acceptance problem lies in low frequency noise the dB(A) scale is not an appropriate measure of wind turbine sound acceptability.
Below is a spectral representation of sound pressure levels of a wind turbine (as no information in source of how the sound spectrum was measured the spectrum as limited usefulness but is all I can find. Equipment to measure this sort of thing costs thousands of dollars.)
This graphic comes from a “pro” wind turbine site: http://www.ceere.org/rerl/publications/whitepapers/Wind_Turbine_Acoustic_Noise_Rev2006.pdf
Notice that the noise coming from this turbine is preponderantly of low frequency. The highest sound pressure levels, as you can see, are in the range of 4 to 8 hz (cycles per second) – deep “infrasound”. A sound pressure meter using “A” weighting largely rejects the “loudest” frequencies.
See the attached excel file for details.
See the spreadsheet for explanation of X axis numbering. They are third octave bands starting about 2 hz and running to 8000 hz. The bottom line is that the actual sound pressure level using the complete bandwidth is about twice as high as would be indicated by a meter calibrated in dB(A). These spectrum graphs don’t equate meter readings – in fact they are more accurate and representative – but it means that if this tower in particular would be rated about 56 dB(A) then the “actual” sound pressure level would be greater than 100 dB, and that the great majority of the sound would be generated at low and very low frequency.
Interesting, eh?
Found some good sites: http://www.acousticecology.org/srwind.html
Rock County site: http://betterplan.squarespace.com/
Have done some very preliminary work on the wind turbine issue. This is meant as a report. I express no opinions, as I have none.
I do see one glaring scientific error in how sound pressure levels generated by wind turbines are measured. Below is a chart showing the response curve in dB of acoustic weighting curves used in measuring sound pressure levels. The “A” curve is the standard used in the USA, and certainly is the weighting curve used when rating wind turbine “noise”. This curve is incorrect in this application.
First the curves, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-weighting
Note the rapid roll off in the response at low frequencies. Since many suspect (as do I) that the biggest wind turbine noise acceptance problem lies in low frequency noise the dB(A) scale is not an appropriate measure of wind turbine sound acceptability.
Below is a spectral representation of sound pressure levels of a wind turbine (as no information in source of how the sound spectrum was measured the spectrum as limited usefulness but is all I can find. Equipment to measure this sort of thing costs thousands of dollars.)
This graphic comes from a “pro” wind turbine site: http://www.ceere.org/rerl/publications/whitepapers/Wind_Turbine_Acoustic_Noise_Rev2006.pdf
Notice that the noise coming from this turbine is preponderantly of low frequency. The highest sound pressure levels, as you can see, are in the range of 4 to 8 hz (cycles per second) – deep “infrasound”. A sound pressure meter using “A” weighting largely rejects the “loudest” frequencies.
See the attached excel file for details.
See the spreadsheet for explanation of X axis numbering. They are third octave bands starting about 2 hz and running to 8000 hz. The bottom line is that the actual sound pressure level using the complete bandwidth is about twice as high as would be indicated by a meter calibrated in dB(A). These spectrum graphs don’t equate meter readings – in fact they are more accurate and representative – but it means that if this tower in particular would be rated about 56 dB(A) then the “actual” sound pressure level would be greater than 100 dB, and that the great majority of the sound would be generated at low and very low frequency.
Interesting, eh?
Found some good sites: http://www.acousticecology.org/srwind.html
Rock County site: http://betterplan.squarespace.com/
Mailbag: Jim Writes; Wind: Memories of the .com era
This whole wind energy think reminds me of the .com days. Companies sprouted up overnight. They paid $10.00 for something sold it for $6.00 and offered free shipping. There was so much money coming in the back door from investors to cover the lost sales nobody cared. The same thing is happening with wind turbines, Tax incentives and grant money are so plentiful nobody cares how much a turbine actually costs. No one cares that there will never be a return on the initial investment. When the money dries up, and it will, these gold rush turbines will be standing all over the place rusting with no money to repair or decommission and take them down.
Check this out, another Wisconsin wind farm is flipped. Of course this will not have any effect on our electric rates.
http://greenstockscentral.com/fpl-group-subsidiary-fpl-to-buy-babcock-brown-wind-farms-2259.html
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mkx/?n=windfarm
Jim
Check this out, another Wisconsin wind farm is flipped. Of course this will not have any effect on our electric rates.
http://greenstockscentral.com/fpl-group-subsidiary-fpl-to-buy-babcock-brown-wind-farms-2259.html
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mkx/?n=windfarm
Jim
Sunday, October 18, 2009
The Change:
The year 2008 and before:
options
deals
financing
armani suits
white collar crime
sleaze
enron
deceit
slick
investment professionals with the slick prospectus
corrupt financing of elections
-----------------------------------------------
2009 and forward
cash
no deals
simple living
hard work
honesty
family
smiles
simple denim
denim with fleece not sleaze
hope
paid up mortgages
corrupt financing of elections
----------------------------
O.K. It appears there are some stuck back in the old regime.
options
deals
financing
armani suits
white collar crime
sleaze
enron
deceit
slick
investment professionals with the slick prospectus
corrupt financing of elections
-----------------------------------------------
2009 and forward
cash
no deals
simple living
hard work
honesty
family
smiles
simple denim
denim with fleece not sleaze
hope
paid up mortgages
corrupt financing of elections
----------------------------
O.K. It appears there are some stuck back in the old regime.
Where is the quietest point of a wind turbine?
Right at the base of the turbine. Click on the post for the info. This is why all the statistics by the manufacturers just give the decibal level at the base. Nice huh?
Video: Wind Turbine Overview
Video: Common Council: 10/12/2009; Dave Sauer, Evansville City Engineer reviews the essential of the Northwind 100 wind turbine to be installed at Waste Water Treatment Plant. His notes are on the Observer for review. The public hearing held for the waste water treatment plant did not address any safety or economic payback concerns of the wind turbine. Not one Evansville Citizen attended the Common Council meeting on Monday.
Download File
Download File
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Dateline Normal, MN.: "The Eternal Payback"-----Politicians get religious in recession--FICTION
Click on the post for the latest.
2009/2010 5 Yr Cap Exp Budget; $150,000 for Creek Walls; $600,000 for Westside Park: Doubleclick to enlarge
Doubleclick to enlarge
Friday, October 16, 2009
Dateline Normal, Mn: "Up a Crick...Down the River Estates" Opens---FICTION
Click on the post for the latest.
Evansville Wind Turbine Documents
(Ed.note: This is a public document distributed at the Evansville Common Council meeting of 10/12/2009 as a part of the packet distributed to all attending--- and fully public to all.)
Doubleclick to enlarge
Doubleclick to enlarge
Mailbag; Jim Writes: The Evansville Wind Turbine: The Analysis:
Estimated power production for the Evansville wind turbine based on the Maine Northwind 100 turbine actual production, both are class 2 wind areas.
A Northwind 100 turbine can produce 24oo kw of electricity in one day at 100% capacity factor.
This is day # 289 this year.
289 days at 2400kw = 693,600kw at 100% capacity factor
The Maine turbine has produced 50,391 kw in 289 days or 174 kw per day on average.
The Maine turbine is producing power at a capacity factor of 07%.
If the Evansville turbine is able to produce a similar amount of power it would produce 63,510 kw in one year.
At $0.10 per kw the Evansville turbine will produce $6,351.00 of electricity in one year. I doubt that Evansville pays $0.10 per kw so this figure could be high.
Now you would have to deduct the cost of the maintenance agreement, the insurance policy, and any interest payments if the money is being borrowed from the $6351.00.
Even if there were no deducts from the $6351.00 it would take 75 years to pay back the $480,000 initial cost of the turbine that has a service life of only 20 years. Evansville is getting some grant money for this turbine and I don’t know what their out of pocket investment will be but as tax payers and rate payers we are on the hook for the total $480,000.
If the turbine salesman is projecting $14,000 of electricity per year he should back it up with a guarantee, and pay the difference between what is actually produced and the estimated $14,000.
Things in Evansville must be very good if they can consider this large investment for a novelty item in these exceptionally hard economic times.
A Northwind 100 turbine can produce 24oo kw of electricity in one day at 100% capacity factor.
This is day # 289 this year.
289 days at 2400kw = 693,600kw at 100% capacity factor
The Maine turbine has produced 50,391 kw in 289 days or 174 kw per day on average.
The Maine turbine is producing power at a capacity factor of 07%.
If the Evansville turbine is able to produce a similar amount of power it would produce 63,510 kw in one year.
At $0.10 per kw the Evansville turbine will produce $6,351.00 of electricity in one year. I doubt that Evansville pays $0.10 per kw so this figure could be high.
Now you would have to deduct the cost of the maintenance agreement, the insurance policy, and any interest payments if the money is being borrowed from the $6351.00.
Even if there were no deducts from the $6351.00 it would take 75 years to pay back the $480,000 initial cost of the turbine that has a service life of only 20 years. Evansville is getting some grant money for this turbine and I don’t know what their out of pocket investment will be but as tax payers and rate payers we are on the hook for the total $480,000.
If the turbine salesman is projecting $14,000 of electricity per year he should back it up with a guarantee, and pay the difference between what is actually produced and the estimated $14,000.
Things in Evansville must be very good if they can consider this large investment for a novelty item in these exceptionally hard economic times.
Mailbag; Jim writes Analysis of MA wind turbine in prior video post----
The turbine in Maine is operating at a capacity factor of 7%. At that rate it would take 50 years to pay off something that has a service life of 20 years. That does not include the cost of the maintenance contract or the insurance premium. Conservatively this turbine will cost the taxpayers and rate payers $25,000 per year and most likely a lot more. I will send this to you again with the details. The turbine in Maine is also a class 2 wind area like Evansville. The power projections given in the video needs to be cut in half to be realistic. That’s why I asked if anyone was offering any production guarantees.
We are checking on the noise from this turbine. Where they have it sited now it’s less that 1200’ from the elderly housing on the corner.
Jim
We are checking on the noise from this turbine. Where they have it sited now it’s less that 1200’ from the elderly housing on the corner.
Jim
Oregon, Wi cuts capital expenditures for 2010; Will anyone follow?
Click on the post for the article in the Oregon Observer.
Town of Union Wind Turbine hearings: the Archive
(Ed.note; These hearings are searchable on ITunes, www.mediafly.com, and google, and on the top left of the Evansville Observer. Click on the post for the view on Hipcast. Click the link to download selected meetings to desktop and listen. These are the hearings that were heard around the world, but not by some locally.
The Libertyville, Illinois Wind Turbine---under court ordered restriction pending jury trial
Click on the post.
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