Green thrives
Wisconsin's green tradition is strong, and recently-certified LEED buildings in the state include the Wisconsin Electrical Employee Benefits Fund (LEED Certified), RenewAire Renovation and Home Savings Bank East Washington (LEED Silver). Just over 1,000 buildings in the U.S. are LEED certified - and only nine LEED Silver buildings exist in the state of Wisconsin. This may be one of the reasons Madison is ranked in the Top 25 Green Cities list, or why Forbes magazine recently named Wisconsin as the nation's 16th greenest state.
These strong sustainability trends in our region and state have lead to strong growth in the eco-tourism market, bringing a new stream of business and tourism potential to the region. Even our international airport has received environmental awards.
Businesses in the area particularly like the state's Green Tier program, a collaborative system crafted jointly by participating businesses and the DNR to help streamline environmental requirements and encourage new environmental technologies.
Sustainable business growth is about the triple bottom line - people, planet, and profit. The green tradition in the Madison Region opens up a wealth of possibilities for development.
Focus: Bioenergy
2.14.07
Wisconsin has a chance to be not just a leader in biofuels, but a pre-eminent one. Molly Jahn, new dean of the UW-Madison's College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, cited the state's industrial, agricultural, forestry, and academic research sectors as the natural components of a bio-economy, and she believes the raw material from agriculture and forestry will help the state make the transition from corn-based ethanol to the next generation represented by cellulosic ethanol.
Wisconsin has a chance to be not just a leader in biofuels, but a pre-eminent one. Molly Jahn, new dean of the UW-Madison's College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, cited the state's industrial, agricultural, forestry, and academic research sectors as the natural components of a bio-economy, and she believes the raw material from agriculture and forestry will help the state make the transition from corn-based ethanol to the next generation represented by cellulosic ethanol.
6.26.07
The United States Department of Energy will invest up to $375 million over five years in three new Bioenergy Research Centers, including $125 million for a center led by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, to promote the development of cellulosic ethanol.
The United States Department of Energy will invest up to $375 million over five years in three new Bioenergy Research Centers, including $125 million for a center led by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, to promote the development of cellulosic ethanol.
9.15.07
The private sector's interest level in the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research
Center is extremely high and includes a diversity of interests that are engaged in the project.
Companies like Lucigen (which has spun off a biofuels company called C5-6), Miller Brewing Co., and the Flambeau River Biorefinery in Hayward were on board as part of the grant.
Dozens of others businesses and organizations have joined the effort, including Wisconsin utilities Alliant Energy and Madison Gas & Electric.
The private sector's interest level in the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research
Center is extremely high and includes a diversity of interests that are engaged in the project.
Companies like Lucigen (which has spun off a biofuels company called C5-6), Miller Brewing Co., and the Flambeau River Biorefinery in Hayward were on board as part of the grant.
Dozens of others businesses and organizations have joined the effort, including Wisconsin utilities Alliant Energy and Madison Gas & Electric.
"Greening Up the Lab"
See how a Madison biotech company EMD Chemicals, in cooperation with MG&E's Green Power Tomorrow Program, is leading the way in environmental stewardship.