Minutes
from
WPUI
Executive
Board
Meeting
Monday,
December
14,
2009
Mechanical
Engineering,
Room
2180
Next
meeting
scheduled
for
the
morning
of
June
28,
2010,
Madison
Wisconsin
0900
Call
to
Order
Cara
Lee
Mahany
Braithwait
called
the
meeting
to
order
•
•
Board
Attendees:
David
Benforado
(Municipal
Electric
Utilities
of
Wisconsin),
P.J.
Distefano
(Deloitte),
David
Donovan
(Xcel
Energy),
Les
Durski
(We
Energies),
John
Garvin
(ATC),
John
Imes
(Wisconsin
Environmental
Initiative),
Dave
Jenkins
(Office
of
Energy
Independence),
Sam
Mahany
Braithwait
(Wisconsin
Public
Utility
Institute),
Marcie
Malszycki
(Office
of
State
Representative
Phil
Montgomery),
Paul
Meier
(Energy
Institute,
UW
Madison),
Terry
Nicolai
(Alliant
Energy),
Cheryl
Parrino
(Parrino
Strategic
Consulting
Group),
R.J.
Pirlot
(Wisconsin
Manufacturers
&
Commerce),
Merlin
Rhab1
(Wisconsin
Public
Service
Corporation),
Jordan
Hemaidan1
(Michael
Best
&
Friedrich
LLP),
Brian
Rude
(Dairyland
Power
Cooperative),
Peter
Taglia
(Clean
Wisconsin),
Nathan
Zolik
(Public
Service
Commission
of
WI),
Charlie
Higley
(CUB)
Also
in
Attendance:
Corey
Singletary
(WPUI
/
UW
Energy
Hub),
Scott
Williams
(WPUI
/
UW
Energy
Institute)
UW
College
of
Engineering
Associate
Dean
for
Research
Dean
Jerry
Kulcinski
gave
a
short
report
on
the
Great
Lakes
Bioenergy
Research
Center,
VESTAS
(Center
for
Renewable
Electric
Energy
Systems),
GLASER
(Big10‐ANL
partnership)
a
new
initiative
that
is
being
organized
for
energy
related
research,
and
the
UW
Energy
Institute
building
June
Minutes
John
Imes
moved
to
approve
the
minutes.
The
Motion
was
seconded
by
R.J.
Pirlot.
There
was
no
discussion.
The
motion
was
approved
by
unanimous
vote.
Charter
Revisions
P.J.
Distefano
moved
to
approve
the
revisions.
The
Motion
was
seconded
by
Brian
Rude.
Discussion
of
Charter
revisions
led
by
David
Benforado
and
Cara
Lee
Mahany
Braithwait.
Ms
Braithwait
asked
for
clarification
on
constituted
a
membership
quorum
and
suggested
that
the
voting
be
done
via
an
online
1
Via
phone
survey
that
allowed
for
only
one
vote
per
computer.
Regarding
the
quorum
the
board
suggested
the
following
•
Quorum
of
Institute
Members
–
Quorum
shall
consist
of
all
members.
Votes
shall
be
tallied
following
three
good
faith
efforts
to
electronically
contact
members.
Revised
Charter
approved
for
recommendation
to
WPUI
membership
by
unanimous
vote
New
Board
Members
Introductions
of
new
executive
board
members
Peter
Taglia
and
David
Jenkins.
Cara
Lee
Mahany
Braithwait
and
David
Benforado
called
for
nominations
to
fill
board
vacancy
left
by
Joe
Metner.
During
the
meeting
the
following
we
suggested
organizations/affiliations:
•
•
•
Vestas
(Cara
Lee
Mahany
Braithwait)
DTE
(David
Donovan)
Member
of
biomass
community
(Peter
Taglia)
The
nominations
committee
will
consider
other
names
and
send
suggestions
to
the
board
for
review
and
instructions
for
next
steps.
Budget
Cara
Lee
Mahany
Braithwait
gave
an
overview
of
the
budget.
We
finished
the
year
with
approximately
a
little
over
$1000
in
reserve.
All
program
offerings
over
the
past
year
have
covered
direct
expenses
plus
a
small
margin.
EUB
continues
to
be
our
prime
fund
raising
program
but
increased
attendance
from
government
organizations
reduces
the
margin
earned
on
the
program.
Board
members
agreed
that
this
was
our
mission
and
to
continue
to
offer
government
rates
with
a
small
increase
for
out
of
state
government
attendees.
Cara
Lee
Mahany
Braithwait
led
a
discussion
of
the
membership
drive
and
fees.
•
•
•
David
Benforado
raised
the
idea
of
adjusting
the
membership
fee
schedule
after
2010
P.J.
Distefano
noted
that
approaching
law
firms
regarding
membership
at
the
present
time
is
very
appropriate
vis‐à‐vis
timing
of
issues.
Distefano
offered
to
help
recruit
law
firms.
Suggested
organizations:
Focus
on
Energy
(Nate
Zolik),
WECC
(David
Benforado),
Johnson
Controls
(Peter
Taglia),
Price
Waterhouse
(Merlin
Rhab),
State
financial
awards
recipients
e.g.:
Kohler
(Imes),
Oil
companies‐local
distributors
(David
Jenkins)
PSE
(Brian
Rude)
Programming
Reports
Scott
Williams
gave
a
description
of
the
EPA
case
study
project
conducted
this
year.
Paul
Meier
gave
a
brief
overview
of
the
continued
work
on
the
MyPower
simulation
software.
Cara
Lee
Mahany
Braithwait
gave
an
overview
of
WPUI
programs
in
2009.
Corey
Singletary
gave
a
brief
presentation
on
the
activities
of
the
UW
Energy
Hub
student
organization
in
2009
Programming
2010
Cara
Lee
Mahany
Braithwait
opened
the
floor
to
suggestions
for
2010
programming:
•
•
•
•
•
Microhydro
(technology/policy)
suggested
by
Brian
Rude
Hydrofracturing/Natural
Gas
Recovery
cost/benefit
analysis
(technology)
suggested
by
Paul
Meier
Call
to
maintain
focus
more
on
Wisconsin
Issues
made
by
Wisconsin
Public
Service
Corporation
Finance/Capital
investment
&
State
DFI
(procedural/awareness)
suggested
by
P.J.
Distefano,
David
Jenkins
Copenhagen
recap
brownbag
suggested
by
David
Benforado
Cara
Lee
Mahany
Braithwait
led
a
discussion
of
other
suggested
topics:
•
•
•
•
Discussion
on
WPUI
role
regarding
the
Governors
Global
Task
Force
bill
o Question
was
raised
of
the
appropriateness,
question
of
audience
use
of
MMAC
model
for
program
format‐No
decision
made
An
alternative
to
advance
planning/Statewide
planning
options
o Nathan
Zolik
‐Assume
a
federal
regime.
What
are
the
options
for
proceeding
to
meet
those
federal
guidelines?
o John
Garvin‐
Volunteered
ATC’s
director
of
planning
o Peter
Taglia‐
Excess
capacity
and
unique
investors
o David
Donovan‐
How
does
excess
capacity
factor
into
wholesale
markets?
o Volunteers
to
help:
Zolik,
Higley,
Taglia,
Donovan,
Garvin
Program
on
Smart
Grid
in
Green
Bay
area
o Support
expressed
o Perhaps
tie
together
with
another
program
held
in
the
area
such
as
pricing
o Continue
working
with
WPS
on
this
program.
Legislative
outreach—how
to
improve
this
communications
link?
o Perception
of
lobbying
o Target
at
interested
legislators
and
staff
o No
action
on
this
item
at
this
time
Next
Meeting:
It
was
discussed
that
our
on‐site
meetings
should
be
held
in
a
more
“weather”
friendly
month.
Thus,
going
forward
we
will
have
our
winter
meeting
as
a
phone
call
and
our
onsite
will
be
held
in
June.
Our
next
meeting
is
scheduled
for
the
morning
of
June
28,
2010,
in
Madison.
1205
Adjourn