Monday, November 02, 2009

Milwaukee To Offer Free Water to Businesses

Sounds like a good idea to me. 

Milwaukee, which has a weak record in luring new industry with tax breaks or government subsidies, has a new plan up its sleeve: offer free water to new companies that create jobs.

At a time when regions from metro Atlanta to the American southwest face acute water shortages, the Milwaukee Water Works utility operates at only a third of its capacity and draws off the Great Lakes, which have a fifth of the planet’s surface supply of freshwater. That means the city, which operates the utility, can add new clients at marginal additional cost.

“This is our comparative advantage,” Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said Monday, commenting on the abundance of water. “We have to sell on our comparative advantage. We cannot sell our winter weather.”

Of course, just wait if a brewery or other business that uses a ton of water moves in.  This would be a much bigger incentive for them than your average accounting office.

(6) Comments
Posted by Owen at 1722 hrs
Economy + Politics + Politics - Wisconsin

  1. A Brewery would be perfect, especially since water is becoming expensive for beer production.  I agree, sell what you can sell.  Natural resources are the best job creators.  Since Miller Lite tastes like water, its a perfect fit.

    Posted by whattheduece on November 02, 2009 at 1730 hrs


  2. I dont think free beer itself would be enough to lure anyone to this state. Free water is great wonder what the sewer rate will be.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on November 02, 2009 at 1748 hrs


  3. Free water?
    Whose water? 
    Your water. 
    My water. 
    Our water. 

    Why the subsidy that benefits some businesses over others?
    Is the plan simply to suck the water from Lake Michigan?
    Isn’t there a lake contract with surrounding states and one country?
    Lowering taxes is simpler and more equitable.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on November 02, 2009 at 2021 hrs


  4. Intel could use this, if only the state were more competitive on taxes and electric utilities. They’ve been blocked from expanding in New Mexico due to a lack of water since you use quite a bit of water in semiconductor processing (mainly as a coolant).

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on November 02, 2009 at 2124 hrs


  5. I would have no problem with this as long as others don’t have to pay for the companies water.  In other words. if a homeowner has to subsidize a company, then I would have be against it.  Especially if it raises rates to individuals.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on November 03, 2009 at 0207 hrs


  6. supporting government handouts…interesting…

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on November 03, 2009 at 1205 hrs


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