#FridayGiving: We Energies support will help Kids From Wisconsin showcase their talent across the state

Not only will Kids From Wisconsin travel 7,000 miles and perform for more than 120,000 people this summer, they’ll also lead performance workshops for more than 1,000 kids — many in underserved areas. That’s why we’re proud to support this wonderful organization as they strive to make our community a better place.

A donation from the We Energies Foundation will help make this year’s tour, “Live! In Living Color,” possible. Talented students aged 15-20 have a shot to become one of the show’s singer/dancers or a part of the 14-piece show band.
  

This is Kids From Wisconsin’s 52nd year of performances. Students will perform a live, two-hour Broadway-style revue in over 42 Wisconsin communities this summer. They’ll also lead workshops to help kids aged 7-14 develop an appreciation for the arts.

To learn more about auditions and this summer’s performances visit the Kids from Wisconsin website.

#FridayGiving

Since the early 1980s, We Energies has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in communities across the state.

Read more about our year-long effort to highlight some of the incredible organizations we support here.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to make sure you don’t miss any #FridayGiving posts.

Where are they now?: Knox

It’s always rewarding to see our young peregrine falcons finding their way in the world. The tracking bands we attach to each chick’s foot allow people to contact us and let us know if they’ve spotted one of our peregrines in the wild.

“Knox,” banded (b/blu) 09/W, was born at the Weston Power Plant south of Wausau. He was one of four chicks who hatched there in 2019. First-grade students at Marathon Area Elementary School had the opportunity to name Knox and the other chicks.

Knox and his siblings, Frosty, Talon and Stark. 

After flying the coop, Knox was captured at the Linwood Springs Research Station near Stevens Point in October. The researchers there collect data about the raptor population in the area and then release each bird safely back into the wild.

Hopefully the next time someone is able to ID Knox, it will be at a nest site of his own.

Peregrine falcon program

We Energies and our sister utility, Wisconsin Public Service (WPS), are proud to be part of a statewide effort to restore the peregrine falcon population. Since our first successful nest box in the late ‘90s, 402 peregrine falcons have hatched at our facilities.

The program is another way We Energies and WPS demonstrate environmental stewardship. From helping endangered animals and restoring natural habitats, to building new solar facilities and reducing carbon emissions, we are committed to a cleaner future.

#FridayGiving: We Energies supports Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Clinical Cancer Center

A cancer diagnosis can be a life-altering reality for families across Wisconsin. The doctors and staff at Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Clinical Cancer Center at Froedtert Hospital are working hard every day to reduce the cancer burden for patients, and we are proud to support that mission. 

The We Energies Foundation’s recent financial gift will support the center’s ability to test new treatments with patients through clinical trials and provide continuing education for its staff and faculty. 

“The We Energies Foundation is committed to enhancing the well-being of the communities we serve,” says Beth Straka, vice president of the We Energies Foundation and senior vice president of corporate communications and investor relations at WEC Energy Group. “It’s truly an honor to contribute to the Froedtert & MCW Clinical Cancer Center. The physical and emotional well-being of everyone in our communities is a measure of the health of those communities, and we hope this gift will make a difference.” 

The We Energies Foundation has supported programs at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin since the early 1980s. It’s part of our commitment to create healthier and stronger communities.

#FridayGiving

Since the early 1980s, We Energies has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in communities across the state.

Read more about our year-long effort to highlight some of the incredible organizations we support here.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to make sure you don't miss any #FridayGiving posts.

Where are they now?: Gunner

When our peregrine falcons fly the nest each spring, we never know if we’ll see them again. Peregrine means “wanderer,” and as you’d expect from the name, some fledglings fly hundreds of miles away.

So when we do get an update on one of our power plant peregrines, it’s pretty exciting.

Take, for example, Gunner. Gunner was born in 2018 at the Oak Creek Power Plant.

Gunner (right) with his brother, Kluski.

This fall, he was photographed in Montrose Harbor in Chicago. Spotters were able to identify him using the letter and number on the band on his foot. (This is why we attach the bands to our chicks each spring.)

Gunner was spotted with an unnamed female and an unbanded juvenile peregrine, but we’re not sure if it is one of their young. Regardless, it’s exciting to see Gunner thriving just south of the border a year and a half later.

Peregrine falcon program
We Energies and our sister utility, Wisconsin Public Service (WPS), are proud to be part of a statewide effort to restore the peregrine falcon population. Since our first successful nest box in the late ‘90s, 402 peregrine falcons have hatched at our facilities.

The program is another way We Energies and WPS demonstrate environmental stewardship. From helping endangered animals and restoring natural habitats, to building new solar facilities and reducing carbon emissions, we are committed to a cleaner future.

We Energies’ Solar Now program hits shining milestone

The innovative We Energies renewable energy program Solar Now has hit a new milestone. Solar Now projects are now feeding 5 megawatts into the energy grid, enough to power more than 1,000 homes with clean, renewable energy.

Working with partners across the state, We Energies has completed projects with the School District of New Berlin, Washington County, Northland Pines School, University Lake School and the School District of Random Lake.

Under the Solar Now program, We Energies partners with large business, nonprofit and government customers to host solar panels. The company leases the space for the panels on roofs and unused land. The clean energy that is produced serves all customers.

“We are excited to be part of this innovative program,” said Mike Trimberger, district administrator —School District of Random Lake. “Even though we are a relatively small school district, we know that working with We Energies allows us to make a big impact to benefit our students and the environment.”

Solar Now is a pilot program approved by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. We Energies has hired SunVest, a Wisconsin-based company, to be the general contractor for these projects.

Solar Now is part of the company’s plan to create a cleaner energy future that is safe, reliable and affordable. Working with industry partners, environmental groups and state leaders, We Energies and its parent company WEC Energy Group are working to reduce carbon dioxide emissions 40% below 2005 levels by 2030 and 80% by 2050.

#FridayGiving: Be our valentine, Boys & Girls Clubs

Roses are red, violets are blue, we ❤ Boys & Girls Clubs … and you should too! We Energies is proud to support Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee — the largest youth-serving agency in the city.

Funding from the We Energies Foundation gives Milwaukee kids a safe place, a warm meal and help with homework after school. More than that, we are helping Club members become leaders who inspire their peers and the community.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee have more than 40 sites and serve 5,000 kids every day. In addition to academic support, kids get guidance from role models and programming tailored to meet their needs.

To learn more about the tremendous impact Boys & Girls Clubs are having on our community, visit their website.

#FridayGiving
Since the early 1980s, We Energies has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in communities across the state.

Read more about our year-long effort to highlight some of the incredible organizations we support here.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to make sure you don’t miss any #FridayGiving posts.

Control your energy costs in the bitter cold

The wind chills may be scary, but your energy bill doesn’t have to be. Here are some simple steps you can take to save money while keeping your family warm.

•  Dial it down: Lower your thermostat when you’re asleep or away. Even a few degrees can make a big difference.
• Seal cracks and gaps: Don’t let cold air creep in through poorly sealed windows or doors. Use caulk or weatherstripping to stay comfortable.
•  Replace your furnace filter: Dirty filters reduce airflow and make your furnace use more energy. Replace it monthly during the heating season, or buy a high-efficiency filter than can last several months.
• Let the sunshine in: Open your shades, blinds and drapes during the day to let in the warmth of the sun.
  

You don’t have to sacrifice your comfort to lower your energy bill. For more energy-saving tips, visit our website.

Don’t celebrate your Valentine’s Day in the dark

Balloons make for a great Valentine’s Day gift, but if you’re not careful, they can leave you and thousands of others in the dark.

Helium-filled metallic or Mylar balloons can act as a conductor, creating a short circuit in a power line. Over 7,000 of our customers lost power in 2019 due to balloons coming into contact with our power lines and other equipment.

Not only can balloons knock out the power, the short circuit from the balloon can also cause power lines to fall to the ground, creating a dangerous situation. 

Celebrate safely this Valentine’s Day with these simple do’s and don’ts 

Do: Dim the lights to set a romantic mood.

Don’t: Cause a power blackout with a Mylar balloon. 

Do: Make sure balloons are tied securely to a weight.

Don’t: Release balloons outdoors. 

Do: Keep balloons away from power lines.

Don’t: Attempt to retrieve a balloon that has become entangled in a power line. 

Do: Stay at least 25 feet away from any downed power line.

Don’t: Assume a downed line is safe or de-energized. 

If you come across a downed wire or spot a Mylar balloon stuck in our equipment, give us a call at 800-662-4797.

We’re not so good on the romance tips, but for more energy safety tips visit we-energies.com.

#FridayGiving: We Energies supports Junior Achievement’s mission to prepare students to be future leaders

It’s never too early for kids to start thinking about their future. Junior Achievement of Wisconsin prepares students to be future leaders by introducing them to possible careers and teaching them about financial literacy. We are supporting this important mission through board leadership, financial contributions and volunteer work with students to help them dream big.

We Energies Foundation and Wisconsin Public Service Foundation are proud financial supporters of the new Community First Career Exploration and Financial Literacy Education Center, a partnership of Junior Achievement (JA) and Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC). The new interactive facility will teach financial literacy and offer career awareness opportunities to thousands of middle and high school students throughout northeast Wisconsin.

The new space housed at the Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton features 12 storefronts that align with FVTC Career Exploration programs such as construction; culinary and hospitality; and business, management and finance. We Energies and WPS are the sponsor of the utility storefront.

Students are offered day-long opportunities to become business leaders, consumers, workers and citizens in a simulated learning environment called JA BizTown and JA Finance Park. They learn about personal finance and budgeting, and work to create a balanced monthly budget while making decisions regarding housing, utilities, food, transportation, insurance, savings, entertainment expenses and much more. Through these programs, students build a foundation for solid financial decisions throughout their lives.

We Energies Foundation also partnered with the Junior Achievement Kohl’s Education Center in Milwaukee, which provides similar business, financial and entrepreneurship education to students in the metro Milwaukee area.

#FridayGiving

Since the early 1980s, We Energies has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in communities across the state.

Read more about our year-long effort to highlight some of the incredible organizations we support here.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to make sure you don’t miss any #FridayGiving posts.