Category Archives: stimulating intercourse

City Council Turns Down CWLP Ratehike – Doesn’t even get one vote to get out of committee

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I am not as funny as Ray Lytle but the Springfield City Council was on a roll with CWLP last night when they tried to ask for a WHOPPING 9.3% increase in the rates they charge their electric customers. First they blamed the spot market, then they blamed the EPA’s new regulations, then they blamed the increase in the price of coal and finally they blamed the bond markets. They never explained why they borrowed 6,000,000 $$$ from the water fund.

http://www.sj-r.com/top-stories/x715338997/Council-rebuffs-CWLP-rate-hike-seeks-alternatives?zc_p=0

 

Council rebuffs CWLP rate hike, seeks alternatives

Posted Jan 31, 2012 @ 11:00 PM
Last update Feb 01, 2012 @ 05:52 AM

Springfield aldermen Tuesday rejected the idea of a 9.5 percent electric rate increase and directed City Water, Light and Power officials to come up with alternative plans.

Eric Hobbie, the utility’s chief engineer, told reporters after the meeting that the possibilities are limited and might mean “substantial changes to the way we do business.” He declined to elaborate on what those changes could be.

CWLP officials and Mayor Mike Houston have said a rate increase is needed to give CWLP a sufficient revenue cushion to repay its bonds and maintain the utility’s bond rating.

The immediate rate hike would raise $19.1 million annually, Additional, smaller rate hikes also are being sought in future years.

However, no city council member even moved Tuesday to put the matter on next week’s city council debate agenda.

Several aldermen said they are concerned about hiking electric rates.

“We can’t do that to the citizens today,” Ward 1 Ald. Frank Edwards said. “We need to find some different means, some different alternative. … There’s a lot of people really hurting out there.”

Ward 3 Ald. Doris Turner agreed.

“I just cannot in clear conscience vote for a 10 percent increase,” she said. “I just think that is just too much to put on the ratepayers.”

“There’s got to be a better way,” Ward 4 Ald. Frank Lesko said.

Utility officials say CWLP’s revenue problems began in the fall of 2008, when the economy collapsed and energy prices dropped. Prices for power CWLP sells on the wholesale market have continued to decline ever since, and the utility’s wholesale revenues are $20.5 million below budget, officials say.

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Really funny guys. Go there and read the rest. More tomorrow.

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New Roofs Are Getting Greener Too – Here is a place you can learn about that

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I know, this is my alma mater. I also know that it may be a teensy weensy bit expensive. But this looks like a real good educational opportunity and today I had to write about roofs anyway so:

http://epdweb.engr.wisc.edu/Courses/Course.lasso?myCourseChoice=M987

Course Summary:

Latest Roofing Technologies and Their Applications

Course #M987
April 30-May 1, 2012
Pyle Center*,  702 Langdon Street, Madison, Wisconsin
Course Fee: $995		 Enroll Now

Benefits

Attend and benefit as you:

  • Learn how “green” roof systems work
  • Find out how much they cost
  • Understand the intricacies associated with their design, installation, and maintenance
  • Evaluate the benefits, but also the potential for failure
  • Determine when these systems are right for your facilities

This course has been approved by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) for 13 GBCI CE hours for LEED® AP maintenance. See additional EPD courses approved for GBCI CE hours.

Topics

  • Advantages and disadvantages of “green” roofing technologies
  • Special design requirements—new construction and existing buildings
  • Codes governing design and installation
  • Special installation requirements
  • How to resolve potential conflict between different trades involved in the project
  • Dealing with warranty issues
  • Maintenance you will need to provide to ensure continuous, effective operations
  • Steps you should take to estimate your project’s first and life-cycle costs
  • LEED, Green Globe, other recognition programs

Audience

  • Owners
  • Architects
  • Engineers
  • Designers
  • Contractors

Earn PDH, LU, CEU

By participating in this course, you will earn 13 Professional Development Hours (PDH), 13 AIA Learning Units (LU) and 1.3 Continuing Education Units (CEU). Learn more about PDH, LU, CEU and state licensing boards.

General Information

Fee Covers Notebook and other course materials, break refreshments, and certificate.

Cancellation Policy If you cannot attend, please notify us by April 23, and we will refund your fee. Cancellations received after this date and no-shows are subject to a $150 administrative fee. You may enroll a substitute at any time before the course starts.

Accommodations We have reserved a block of guest rooms (rates starting at $89, including continental breakfast, parking and private airport taxi (a $30 value)) at Campus Inn, 601 Langdon Street, Madison, WI. Reserve a room online at Campus Inn or call 800-589-6285 or 608-257-4391. Room requests after April 9 will be subject to availability. Other fees and restrictions may apply.

Course Location This course will be held at Pyle Center, 702 Langdon Street, Madison, WI. 608-262-1122

More Lodging in Madison

Parking Transportation Weather

Visitors’ Bureau*

Course information is subject to change.

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Go there and read. More next week.

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Aral Sea Shrinks To A River – More damage from the Soviet Union

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You can read either article below. The facts stay pretty much the same but  each has one of my favorite pictures of the horrible damage. The overhead shot is the most compelling:

http://www.global-adventures.us/2010/04/05/aral-sea-shocking-disaster/

Then there is the “boats and camels” shot:

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/07/16/the_world_s_worst_ongoing_disasters?page=0,3

The World’s Ongoing Ecological Disasters

While it’s probably still too soon to celebrate, BP appears to finally be getting the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico under control. But many of the world’s greatest environmental catastrophes continue, with no end in sight.

BY JOSHUA E. KEATING | JULY 16, 2010

UZBEKISTAN/KAZAKHSTAN

Disaster: The shrinking of the Aral Sea

Going since: The 1960s

Damage done: Straddling the border of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, the Aral Sea was once the world’s fourth-largest inland water body and home to at least 20 species of fish and a thriving coastal economy in the surrounding towns. In the early 1960s, the Soviet government built more than 45 dams and 20,000 miles of canals in an effort to create a cotton industry on the desert plains of Uzbekistan, depriving the sea of its main sources.

Over the next three decades, the sea shrank to two-fifths its original size, turning fishing villages into barren desert outposts. Thanks to the high salt content in the remaining water, all 20 fish species are now extinct. Drinking water supplies in the area are dangerously low and the ground contains dangerous pesticides from the cotton farms. When the wind sweeps across the now-dry sea bed, it spreads up to 75 million tons of toxic dust and salt across Central Asia every year.

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Go there and read. More tomorrow.

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Rossi”s Cold Fusion Process Backed Up – Is the University of Illinois professor legit

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This article claims that Professor George Miley’s work backs up everything that Rossi is doing in cold fusion in Italy. I still have huge doubts. At least Miley’s work is open to the public. Go and see both reports.

http://www.fcnp.com/commentary/national/10516-the-peak-oil-crisis-transitioning-to-cold-fusion.html

The Peak Oil Crisis: Transitioning to Cold Fusion Print E-mail
By Tom Whipple
Wednesday, November 16 2011 02:45:44 PM

dot dot dot as they say

Now so much energy coming from such a small and inexpensive device, in violation of what are thought to be the principles of physics, seems too good to be true. As this phenomenon had not been independently repeated and verified by other laboratories, many pronounced it a fraud, a few the greatest breakthrough of the age, and the rest of us remained agnostic while awaiting further developments.

They were not long in coming. Last week it was learned that George Miley, a Professor Emeritus of nuclear engineering at the University of Illinois who has been conducting experiments similar to those in Italy for many years, has been observing anomalous amounts of heat emanating from test equipment similar to that being used in Bologna. Miley has been experimenting with palladium-zirconium alloys, but says his experiments are producing so much heat that could only be coming from fusion of atomic nuclei. Unlike the Italian experiments which are aimed at developing a proprietary commercial product, the Illinois experiments are being conducting under the auspices of a state university with details of the experiments being made known as soon as possible. At a university the aim of scientific research is to win a Nobel Prize, or at least academic prestige, not to make money.

While a second report does not adequately confirm that heat-producing, low-energy nuclear reactions are a real phenomenon, it is does seem to reduce the likelihood of fraud on the part of a single man or organization. Furthermore it increases the possibility that we could be witnessing the early stages of what could be one of the greatest scientific discoveries in human history – production of unlimited amounts of cheap, pollution-free energy.

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http://nextbigfuture.com/2011/10/dr-george-miley-replicates-patterson.html

October 22, 2011

Dr. George Miley Replicates Patterson, Names Rossi

Ecat site – Long-time cold fusion researcher Dr. George Miley, affiliate professor at the University of Illinois, has recently released a report documenting his successful replication of the work of cold fusion pioneer James Patterson. Dr. Miley feels that the work of Mr. Patterson and Andrea Rossi have many similarities and has offered a theory that is felt to cover both. Dr. Miley recently spoke at the World Green Energy Synopsium in Philadelphia, PA from October 19-21, 2011. A Microsoft Power Point presentation was released on October 3 documenting his work and experimental results. I have included a slide show of this presentation below. Please note that such presentations usually serve as a guide to an accompanying lecture, of which I do not have access to at the present time. I will post it if and when it becomes available

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More tomorrow.

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Cold Fusion In Italy – Is Rossi a scam artist

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I subscribe to New Energy Times and I have talked to people about fusion before. I even met a gentleman on a train whose dad is working on the joint Spanish-French very hot plasma fusion project and we talked quite a bit about it. I have always had huge doubts about either cold or hot fusion because the cold versions have been obvious frauds and the hot versions are extremely expensive and dangerous. Still this is interesting and time will tell.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/markgibbs/2011/10/30/believing-in-cold-fusion-and-the-e-cat/

Mark Gibbs

Mark Gibbs, Contributor

Tech|
10/30/2011 @ 3:18PM |55,722 views

Believing in Cold Fusion and the E-Cat

As I discussed in that posting, an inventor by the name of Andrea Rossi has developed what he claims to be a simple system for generating what would be, essentially, endless and incredibly cheap energy.

On October 28th the biggest test of Rossi’s system, which is called the E-Cat, was conducted in Italy and some results were made public which I’ll discuss in a moment.

Before that I do, let me give you a quick refresh: The E-Cat, which is short for “Energy Catalyzer”, is claimed to produce a “Low Energy Nuclear Reaction” or LENR. LENR is another name for “cold fusion” or CF (LENR is considered a more acceptable term than CF which was discredited after two world-class researchers, Martin Fleischmann and Stanley Pons, announced that they had a working cold fusion system but which, alas, no one could duplicate).

Allow me to digress for a moment to ask all of you who sent me messages in tones ranging from polite through to downright rude asserting that cold fusion has actually been successfully duplicated: If an experiment that demonstrates cold fusion has really been replicated in the real world by real scientists then why would the scientific community ignore something so profound? Everyone agrees that cold fusion would be a game changer and in itself would be a hugely important scientific discovery so why would anyone in the scientific community ignore an important,  successful, and replicable experiment?

Rossi’s E-Cat is claimed to use a secret catalyst to react hydrogen with nickel and, in the process, transmute the nickel into copper producing considerable heat. Whether this reaction works or not and if it does, exactly how it works, has been enormously contentious and the subject of numerous learned and amateur debates

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I skipped his humorous lead and you can go to the site to read the rest. Point is no one knows right now but remember Ponzi was from Italy too. More tomorrow.

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This Piece On Weartherproofing Is Pretty Good – But I am skipping all of the types of caulk

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Look  just buy good caulk. That is it. Nothing lasts for 25 years so do not believe that. Usually caulk lasts for six or seven years. That’s it. So do not pay 6 $$$ per tube. But, if you pay 3 or 4 $$$ you are in the right range. If you can get that exact same type of caulk on sale all the better.

http://alsnetbiz.com/homeimprovement/info10.html
The average house–even when well-insulated–contains cracks and gaps between building materials that add up to a hole about 14 “square (Fig. 1). In the winter, those gaps may make the house drafty and chilly. All year long, a leaky house not only wastes energy, but can lead to water damage and provide a path for insects. Inside this document you will find information about: 
  • Weatherproofing Basics
  • Types of Caulking
  • Using Caulking
  • Types of Weatherstripping
  • Installing Weatherstripping

WEATHERPROOFING BASICS

  • In all the discussion of insulation and R-values, don’t forget that poor weatherproofing is often a more important source of discomfort, as well as high heating and cooling bills. 

  • Some air leakage can be prevented during construction by using housewrap or getting a tight fit between framing members, for example. Once the house is built, however, the remaining gaps must be sealed. Gaps around doors and window sashes should be weatherstripped, and gaps between permanent building materials sealed with caulking.


FIG. 1 – Where caulking should be applied, from the Sunset book, Insulation and Weatherstripping, © Sunset Publishing Corp.

TYPES OF WEATHERSTRIPPING

  • The greatest source of air leakage in most homes occurs around doors, windows, and access hatches, such as the ceiling opening from the living area into an unheated attic (Fig. 4). Weatherstripping can be a delicate job because those openings need to be fitted loosely enough that the door or window operates freely, yet tightly enough that air leakage is stopped. 

  • The type of weatherstripping you’ll use depends on the location and the type of opening. Three types of weatherstripping are common: 

  • Compression–Compression weatherstripping (Fig. 5) is used to seal swinging doors and window sashes. It consists of a molded strip (it may be wood, aluminum or rigid vinyl) with a flexible vinyl bulb along one side. As a rule, compression weatherstripping is the most durable type available. 

  • V-Type Strips–V-shaped weatherstripping (Figs. 6 & 7) is fitted against the side of the door or window jamb so it presses against the edge of the door or sash and forms a seal. V-stripping may be vinyl or bronze. 

  • Foam–Foam weatherstripping (Fig. 8) is used to seal either swinging or sliding doors or windows. It comes in various sizes with an adhesive backing on one side. It is fastened to the edge of a door or window stop, or to the bottom of a sliding window sash. 

  • Thresholds and Door Bottoms–A threshold fills the gap between the floor and the bottom of a door. It may have a built-in vinyl bulb. If not, it must be used in combination with a door bottom (Fig. 9), mounted on the lower edge of the door.

 

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So if you want to read about all that caulk or look at the pretty pictures about how to install weather stripping. Please go to the sight and look. More tomorrow.

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Sierra Dall And Her Municipal Webinar – This is thoroughly worthwhile

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OK her work’s connection to this blog might seem tenuous at first glance. When not talking about the residential housing market, I am usually attacking the hydrocarbons industry or rapers of the environment. (By the way the Maconda well is leaking again) But she is a really nice lady who actually talks to me on the phone every once in awhile. If you think about it, if your municipality could get you cheap renewable energy wouldn’t you take it.

http://www.EnergyForefront.com/infowebinar

 

Hi,
Would you please put the following Free Webinar on your calendar, in your newsletter or pass it on to interested parties?
Thanks
Sierra Dall.

 

Municipal Financing Options for Renewable Energy
PLUS : How Fowler CO financed its energy projects with NO upfront costs
Date & Time
September 13, 2011 at Noon Eastern
Join us to hear three presenters discuss various methods by which municipalities could finance renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, either for the municipality or for their citizens & businesses. This webinar is hosted by Energy Forefront and sponsored by the firms listed below. 

Topics include:

  • Multiple Methods that Cities/Towns Could Use to Finance Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Projects including federal tax benefits, aggregation, securitization of smaller projects, 501c3 non-profit corporations & more presented by Baird Brown, Attorney at Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
  • How Various Cities & Towns Structured their Energy Financing presemted by Vincent DeVito, Attorney at Bowditch & Dewey LLP
  • Financing Municipal Renewable Energy Projects with No Upfront Costs: Wayne Snider describes how he procured financing for wind solar, biomass and several other Fowler Colorado projects . . . without any upfront costs for Fowler.
TO LEARN MORE or REGISTER
Click this link or copy and paste it into your browser

NO COST TO ATTEND

Thanks to Our Sponsors-
CleaResult, American Energy Assets, Bob Parkins Renewable Energy Consulting, Arbogast Energy Auditing, Distributed Energy Financial Group, Steffes Corporation – SkyBuilt Power – Bella Energy – Solar Tracking Tree

Who we are
Energy Forefront is a connecting point where cities, towns, counties, universities, facilities, consultants and industry professionals can meet via online events and find the latest resources on energy efficiency, renewable energy and green economic development.

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Go there and read. More next week.

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Outdoor Living And Their Learning Center Asked For A Link

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So here it is with the history of the hammock. Actually Melissa Anne was supposed to get me a guest post in Word. It did not come but my deadline did. Maybe some other time I guess.

http://www.outdoorliving.com/learning-center/cat/hammocks/post/the-history-of-hammocks/

Hammocks are one of life’s simple pleasures, but there are a lot of different types out there that can make choosing just one a hard decision. We’ve got all the info you need to know, from the major styles to materials to how to hang them, so you can get the most out of your hammock experience.

  • Hammocks have been around for hundreds of years. Read on to find out why they’re love by people all over!

 

Relaxation, a summer afternoon, ice cold lemonade – just some of the things that come to mind when you think of a hammock. An iconic image of backyard leisure, hammocks have been around for close to 1,000 years. Their exact location of origin is not clear, but European explorer Christopher Columbus encountered natives resting in them when he landed in what is now the Bahamas, introducing them to Europe when he later returned. Many Central and South American cultures were using hammocks at the time as well, such as the Mayans and the Venezuelans. Thanks to their functional design, they’ve been used throughout history by armies and navies needing a way to sleep safely without worry of insect bites in the jungle or being tossed from bed aboard a rocking ship. They finally went mainstream after World War II with the baby boomer families, becoming a popular choice for backyard recreation and leisure. Hammocks have come a long way from their original designs hundreds of years ago when they were made of bark from the hamack tree, but the dedication to quality and handcrafted workmanship still prevails. Today, consumers can choose from many different styles of hammocks, made from materials like cotton, polyester, and nylon. Whether you’re looking for a new way to get some rest and relaxation or another outlet for spending your leisure time, hammocks are an easy way to add a peaceful, relaxing accent to the inside of your home or your outdoor living space.

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More swinging tomorrow.

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Cool Your House Without AC – Everyone seems to agree on the same list of 10

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Next week I am going to put up links with groups that have asked to be linked to CES. So to finish out the week, here is the last list of how to keep your house cool. New list the same as the old list, as Henry the 8th would say.

http://pennypincherpersonalfinance.blogspot.com/2011/07/10-ways-to-keep-cool-without-air.html

Sunday, July 24, 2011

10 Ways to Keep Cool Without an Air Conditioner

Anita Sands sent me this the other day.  This article is repeated all over the Internet.  I am not sure of the original place it appeared – if someone knows and tells me I’ll attribute it.  Here’s Anita’s Frugal Roo Page

10 ways to keep cool at home without A/C

Save energy this summer. It’s easy to keep your house cool without air conditioning. Employing a few basic environmentally friendly principals will help keep you cool and will help you save money.

1. Hot Air Out, Cool Air In

The most basic thing you can do to keep your house cooler without air conditioning is to keep as much sunlight out as possible and let cooler air in at night. During the day, keep windows, drapes, blinds, or shades
closed, especially on the southern and western sides of your home. If you have a porch, you can put up large plastic or bamboo shades to cut down on sunlight. Or put awnings on south/ west sides Use saplings or
tree branches that are fairly straight. Set in coffee cans of cement six feet from house. canvas or shade cloth goes from eaves to these poles with a cross beam on it. Use staple gun. Costs nearly nothing.

2. Windows

Use white or light colored window dressings to reflect light. You can also apply reflective slicks to windows to further cut down on light. At night, leave cabinets open as well, as they will store heat.

3. Be a Fan of the Fan

Moving air is cooler air. At night, place fans in windows to bring more cool air in. Ceiling fans can also make a big difference. In terms of cooling, even a one-mile-per-hour breeze will make you feel three to four degrees cooler. In terms of energy savings, if you run a ceiling fan full-blast for 12 hours, you will only spend about $10 a month in electricity. Ceiling fans have two settings, one to pull air up (for winter use), and the other to  push air down. Make sure your ceiling fan is blowing down.

4. Turn Your Fan Into an Air Conditioner

Another easy way to cool your home without air conditioning is to place a bowl of ice or a frozen milk jug With WATER! in front of one or more fans.

5. What’s Hot in Your Home?

It’s one thing to keep hot air and sunlight out; it’s another to identify the appliances in your home that generate heat. If you aren’t at home during the day, it is easier to simply shut off as many electric appliances as possible. If you spend more of your day at home, try to use heat-generating appliances only during the coolest part of the day.

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Go there and read more. It is a really informative blog for those that like to save money.

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More next week.

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Residential Energy Services – Am I pimping for a new utility

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I do not think so but you be the judge.

http://www.integrysenergy.com/electricity/ilelectricoffer.aspx?

Illinois Electric Choice

Save on electricity by choosing Integrys Energy as your electric supplier

Enrollment is Fast, Easy, and Convenient

The fact is, Integrys Energy charges less per kilowatt-hour (kWh) than you’re paying now1 with Ameren or ComEd. Same reliable electricity, just a lower rate.

Take it step further. Switch your electric supplier to Integrys Energy and we’ll lock in a low rate for 12 billing cycles (24- and 36-month rates also available). The utility rate changed in June, and will change again in October, if you enroll with Integrys you’re assured your competitive price is locked all year. Guaranteed.

Switching to Integrys Energy is Easy

In about 10 minutes, you can start saving at least 8.5% on your electricity rate1.

  1. Grab your electric bill. You will need your Account Number and Name as it appears on your bill.
  2. Choose a Rate Plan below or call 1-888-688-1848.
  3. Click the ‘Enroll’ button and complete the online enrollment form.

A Leading Supplier of Power Throughout North America

  • One of the “World’s Most Admired Energy Companies” four of the past five years by Fortune Magazine®
  • Integrys Energy Services serves retail electric customers in the United States throughout the following Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs): IESO (IMO), ISO-NE, MISO, NY ISO, PJM.
  • Integrys Energy Services offers a full complement of power products and services that vary from market to market, which may include Full Requirements, Block and Index, Index Rate, Load Response, Renewable Energy Credits, Heat Rate

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More tomorrow.

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