UWEC Chancellor search: Public listening sessions on Tuesday
   The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents has begun the search process to replace former University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Chancellor James Schmidt, who left this past summer.
   The Search and Screen Committee will hold two listening sessions on Tuesday, Nov. 11, to gather input from faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members. These sessions are an important opportunity for attendees to share perspectives about UW-Eau Claire’s strengths, needs and priorities, as well as the qualities and experience they believe are most important in the next chancellor.
   Each listening session is designed as an open forum, where participants will have the opportunity to share feedback with members of the search committee. Feedback from these sessions will be collected and utilized by the search committee and search firm as they conduct their recruitment efforts.
Event details:
  Limited guest parking will be available in Visitor Lots A and B, adjacent to and across from the Flesch Family Welcome Center at 127 Roosevelt Ave. Those who wish to attend in person should plan to allow ample time for parking.
  Virtual attendance may be the most convenient option for community members. Virtual attendees will be given an opportunity to provide feedback during the sessions. 
UWEC Chancellor search listening sessions
 • Tuesday, Nov 11, Ojibwe Ballroom, Room 330, Davies Center
    - 11 a.m.-Noon, in person or Zoom Webinar link for 11 a.m. session
    - 2-3 p.m., in person or Zoom Webinar link for 2 p.m. session

Childcare tax credit bill gets Assembly Committee hearing
   A bill supported by the Eau Claire Chamber that would expand employer tax credits for childcare received a hearing in the State Assembly Committee on Children and Families this past Wednesday.
   AB 283 and its Senate companion, SB 291, would expand the state's existing refundable business development tax credit to allow for up to 15% of an employer's costs incurred to provide childcare services for employees' families, including eligibility of non-profit organizations to claim the credit. Lead sponsors of the bill are Rep. Karen Hurd (R-Withee) and Senator Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green). Area legislators who are co-sponsors include Reps. Dave Armstrong (R-Rice Lake) and Rob Kreibich (R-New Richmond) and Sens. Jesse James (R-Thorp) and Romaine Quinn (R-Birchwood).
    “This bill helps address Wisconsin’s child care crisis by bringing employers to the table as part of the solution," said Neil Kline of Family Friendly Workplaces, which supports the bill.
   "By encouraging employer involvement, and allowing flexibility in how businesses can support child care—whether through on-site centers, partnerships, or slot reservations—it helps stabilize providers, expand access for working families, and keep parents in the workforce. We can’t solve the child care shortage with one policy alone, but this bill helps create a multifaceted approach to build a stronger, more sustainable foundation for families,” said Kline.
   The Eau Claire Chamber has registered in support of the bill and provided written testimony, while Kline also noted the Chamber's support during his in person remarks.
   "When enacted, it will provide valuable and impactful flexibility to use the business development tax credit by employers to assist employees with child care services," said the Chamber's letter, while also quoting from the Chamber's position on Childcare in its Business Issues Agenda: "The availability and affordability of childcare has become an increasingly acute issue for employers, families, and childcare providers. This has inhibited the ability of families to take full advantage of employment opportunities and for employers to have full access to the potential talent pool. The Chamber supports meaningful public policy solutions to address specific workforce challenges."
   The Chamber letter concluded, "Childcare is a complex issue and this is only one part of the solution, but one that is worthwhile for the state to undertake."
   The Senate's bill, SB 291, was endorsed by the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Revenue on September 18 and goes next to the full Senate. The Assembly Committee is expected to act soon following last week's hearing.
More information:
AB 283 Bill Text and information (Wisconsin Legislature)
Eau Claire Chamber letter of support
Family Friendly Workplaces

Energy at the forefront: Generation, transmission, demand,
reliability, AI, data centers, continue to make headlines
Next Eggs & Issues to focus on energy 
   The future of energy locally, in Wisconsin, and across the country continues to generate headlines, with news making events and policy decisions related to energy generation, demand, reliability, and other issues. 
   See below for some of the many recent news stories and perspectives on energy issues. Then mark your calendar and plan to join the Chamber for our next Eggs & Issues breakfast on Friday, November 21. We'll talk about all of these issues with Brent Ridge, President and CEO of Dairyland Power Cooperative, Monica Obrycki, CEO of Eau Claire Energy Cooperative, and Karl Hoesly, President of Xcel Energy in Wisconsin and Michigan.
Event information:
Eggs & Issues: Our Energy Future
• Friday, Nov 21, 7:00-8:30 a.m., CVTC Business Education Center
   Click here for details and to register  

Energy news and perspectives...
Power generation and transmission
Wisconsin utility regulators approve 2 new clean energy projects (WPR)
Dunn Energy Cooperative celebrates completion of new 2.5 MW solar array (Leader-Telegram $)
Nuclear energy gains bipartisan steam in Wisconsin heading into a pivotal 2026 election season (Wisconsin Watch)
Bill from GOP authors would create tax break for nuclear fusion (WisBusiness)
Gov. Tony Evers calls on Trump’s energy department to preserve $1.5B in funding (WPR)
Point Beach Nuclear Plant's license renewal extends operations through 2053 (Fox 11)
Operations at Wisconsin’s only nuclear plant extended through 2050 (Wisconsin State Journal +)
Trump administration to expand coal leasing, fund coal plant upgrades (CNBC)
$700M natural gas pipeline upgrade comes online in Wisconsin (WPR)
Dairyland Power Cooperative announces acquisition of assets in Illinois to support regional grid reliability (News Release)
Opponents say Army Corps’ Line 5 approval violates the law, supporters hail the move (WPR)
New transmission infrastructure will enhance reliability, expand transmission capacity and support growing energy needs (Xcel Energy News Release)
Wisconsin legal group fights transmission line to Port Washington data center (The Center Square)
Data centers
As Wisconsin voters question data centers, tech companies tout research, community gains (WPR)
Data center operator QTS plans multi-billion dollar development in Dane County (Journal-Sentinel +)
Port Washington data center one step closer; Common Council approves tax district (58 News Milwaukee)
Janesville hosts community conversation as it considers bringing data center to town (WKOW)
Initial Data Center Insights (City of Janesville)
Conversation continues over possible Janesville data center (SpectrumNews1)

Energy food for thought...

Forward Thinking: GM/JATCO ideal for community-centered economic development (Claire Gray, Forward Janesville, Janesville Gazette +)

Why Your Electric Bill Keeps Rising (Mario Loyola, Wall Street Journal +) Don’t blame AI or Trump. The real problem is rules that make it difficult to keep up with demand.