MADISON — Wisconsin’s largest environmental advocacy organization is asking Wisconsin legislators not to kill the Clean Energy Jobs Act on the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.
“The Clean Energy Jobs Act is the most important clean energy bill we’ve seen in Wisconsin since the first Earth Day 40 years ago,” said Keith Reopelle, senior policy director at Clean Wisconsin. “Today we’re asking Wisconsin legislators to embrace the spirit of Earth Day and mark this special occasion by passing this vital legislation.”
The bill, designed to create jobs and clean our environment by increasing Wisconsin’s commitment to renewable energy and energy efficiency, is scheduled to be voted on in the Assembly on Thursday.
Despite recent studies showing that the bill would create over 15,000 jobs in the state and save homeowners and businesses billions of dollars on electricity bills, Senate leadership now appears poised to kill the bill by not bringing it to a vote on the final day of the legislative session tomorrow, April 22nd, the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.
“Killing the most important clean energy bill in the state’s history is no way to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day,” said Reopelle. “We hope that our legislators realize that to do so would be a monumental mistake.”
Earth Day is celebrated across the planet but holds deep roots in Wisconsin. Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson founded the first event which was held on April 22, 1970. The late Senator Nelson’s daughter, Tia Nelson, said her father would be calling on Wisconsin legislators to continue Wisconsin’s history of environmental leadership and pass the Clean Energy Jobs Act on the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.
“Papa would ask our legislators to support this important bill that protects the environment and promotes energy independence,” Nelson said of her father. “On the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, our legislators should be working to strengthen our commitment to renewable energy.”
