— GOP lawmakers are circulating legislation that would establish new fuel blend requirements for gas stations and create a related grant program under DATCP.
In a recent cosponsorship memo, Sen. Joan Ballweg of Markesan and Rep. Todd Novak of Dodgeville touted the bill as a way to support Wisconsin farmers and biofuels producers.
It would require new retail or wholesale fueling facilities built on vacant land to ensure gas storage and dispensing equipment can handle a gasoline-ethanol fuel blend containing at least 25 percent ethanol by volume, according to a Legislative Reference Bureau analysis. Plus, equipment for storing or dispensing petroleum-based diesel fuel would have to accommodate a fuel blend containing at least 20 percent biodiesel by volume.
Plus, DATCP would be required to provide grants of up to $1,000 for each new dispenser or the increased cost to retrofit dispensers to meet the new requirement, whichever is less. The total amount would be capped at $15,000 per facility. DATCP would also be required to offer grants to existing fuel stations to support the storage or dispensing of these ethanol and biodiesel fuel blends, covering up to 50 percent of the project cost.
Gas stations that have gotten federal dollars for the same purpose would be excluded from the grant program, LRB notes in the memo.
“Wisconsin farmers will benefit, since ethanol provides additional value to their crop,” the lawmakers wrote in the memo. “According to the Renewable Fuels Association, a typical ethanol plant adds about 40% to every bushel of corn processed. Ultimately, Wisconsin consumers will also benefit by seeing cheaper prices at the pump when using ethanol-blended gas.”
The cosponsorship deadline is 5 p.m. Friday.
— The latest episode of “WisBusiness.com: The Show,” features Buckley Brinkman, executive director of Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing and Productivity.
Brinkman talks about WCMP’s work in the state and an emerging survey of small and mid-sized manufacturers, now in its third year.
“World markets keep moving forward and technology keeps advancing … We help the smaller manufacturers really stay abreast of that and stay competitive in their markets,” he said.
According to Brinkman, creating the center’s latest manufacturing report involved more than 400 20-minute interviews with senior manufacturing executives from across the state.
“We’ve taken that data, and we’re going to focus groups next week, where we’ll have five of those across the state — Madison, Milwaukee, Green Bay and Menominee as well as a virtual one — where we’ll take some of the data and try to figure out what exactly is behind the numbers,” he said.
The show also previews upcoming events hosted by the Wisconsin Technology Council.
Watch the show here: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/wisbusiness-the-show-with-buckley-brinkman-wisconsin-center-for-manufacturing-and-productivity/
Find more episodes here: https://wisconsintechnologycouncil.com/newsroom/wisbusiness-the-show/
— Five states that enacted “right-to-work” laws in the past decade saw slower growth in hourly earnings and greater declines in union membership than states without such laws, according to a new study.
The report, from the Illinois Economic Policy Institute and the University of Illinois’ Project for Middle Class Renewal, was released yesterday. One section focuses on states that established right-to-work laws between 2012 and 2017, including Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Kentucky.
According to a memo from the Wisconsin Legislative Council, the state’s right-to-work law took effect in 2015. It bars private sector employers from entering agreements with labor groups requiring employees in a collective bargaining unit to be a member of a labor organization as a condition of employment, among other provisions.
Report authors found that right-to-work states included in the analysis saw hourly earnings grow about 5 percent slower between 2011 and 2022 than the 24 states without such laws. Average hourly earnings rose 55 percent over that period for those 24 states, compared to 49.6 percent for the five right-to-work states. Wisconsin’s rate was 48 percent.
Meanwhile, the report also shows union membership rates for the five study states declined 3.9 percent over the same period, compared to 1.6 percent for the 24 states. Of the smaller group, Wisconsin had the largest drop in this figure over the past 10 years, with a 6.3 percent decline, the report shows.
Frank Manzo IV, an economist with the ILEPI and study co-author, argues the data show right-to-work laws have “eroded job quality by weakening the institutions that help workers negotiate the terms and conditions of employment.”
See the full report: https://illinoisepi.files.wordpress.com/2023/08/ilepi-pmcr-impact-of-rtw-on-workers-2023-final.pdf
See more on Wisconsin’s “right-to-work” law here: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lc/information_memos/2015/im_2015_04
— Exact Sciences’ Arizona laboratory has been selected by the National Cancer Institute to participate in a precision medicine initiative, the Madison company recently announced.
The NCI, part of the National Institutes of Health, is leading the ComboMATCH initiative alongside the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group and other participants in the National Clinical Trials Network. The effort aims to test new combinations of cancer drugs informed by the latest patient sequencing techniques, according to a release.
As part of the ComboMATCH effort, Exact Sciences will use its new OncoExTra genetic test to analyze tumor cells and blood samples from participating patients. The goal is to “uncover the specific abnormalities in a patient’s tumor” that would be most effective to treat, the release shows.
Dr. Rick Baehner, chief medical officer of precision oncology at Exact Sciences, says the OncoExTra sequencing test will “provide the most informed picture” of an individual patient’s tumor biology. This information can help clinicians match patients with a specific therapy or clinical trial.
“We are eager to work with trial investigators and are proud the NCI chose Exact Sciences for this important initiative,” Baehner said in a statement. “Our company is dedicated to providing comprehensive tumor information for patients in clinical trials like ComboMATCH, and to enabling the delivery of personalized cancer care.”
See more on the Exact Sciences test here: https://precisiononcology.exactsciences.com/
See more details in the release: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/exact-sciences-lab-and-oncoextra-test-selected-by-national-cancer-institute-for-combomatch-clinical-trials-301912803.html
<br><b><i>Top headlines from the Health Care Report…</b></i>
— A Madison-based health data startup called Veda has announced a new partnership with OutCare Health, an organization focused on LGBTQ+ health equity.
<i>For more of the most relevant news on COVID-19, reports on groundbreaking health research in Wisconsin, links to top stories and more, sign up today for the free daily Health Care Report from WisPolitics.com and WisBusiness.com.</i>
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#TOP STORIES#
# New Madison Justice Team aims to help transition from jail, prison
# Wisconsin now has more ketamine clinics to treat depression
# Republicans seek constitutional amendment requiring two-thirds vote to raise taxes
#TOPICS#
# AGRIBUSINESS
– Wisconsin’s hemp renaissance: Research and growth
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=819&yr=2023
– Something Special from Wisconsin brands shine at State Fair
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=820&yr=2023
# CONSTRUCTION
– Top bidders: The biggest recent winning bids around the state
# ECONOMY
– The 608 is running out of numbers. But the 3 digits’ brand is likely here to stay.
# EDUCATION
– UW-Madison pier collapse is second in less than 20 years
# ENTERTAINMENT & THE ARTS
– Jimmy Buffett was once a Cheesehead in Paradise in Middleton
# ENVIRONMENT
– Advocates push for safer recreational vehicle usage ahead of hunting season
– Multiple heat records broken in Wisconsin; fall temps are on the way
# HEALTH CARE
– Patients can schedule procedures after cyberattack on HSHS, Prevea Health
– Rising vaccine exemption rate among Wisconsin students raises concern
# MANAGEMENT
– Marcus Hotels & Resorts names real estate pro as its first chief investment officer
# MANUFACTURING
– Family-owned Milwaukee-area manufacturer fetches $303M in sale to East Coast firm
# REAL ESTATE
– Illinois developer worked with Wisconsin contractor to build 258-unit Wauwatosa apartment complex
# SMALL BUSINESS
– A Neenah pub has closed after 25 years: The Buzz
# SPORTS
– Packers, UW-Green Bay will launch an online course this month on team’s history
# TOURISM
– Milwaukee County Zoo’s renovation of its rhino exhibit tops $22 million
# PRESS RELEASES
<i>See these and other press releases:
https://www.wisbusiness.com/press-releases/ </i>
Dept. of Natural Resources: 2023 bear hunting season opens Sept. 6
Edvest: 529 celebrates college savings month with helpful tips
