Category: As Seen in the Defender

Wisconsin Supreme Court shines light away from decision-maker bias    While serving as PSC commissioner, Mike Huebsch secretly communicated with Dairyland Power executives as the utility sought his approval of a $700 million gas plant.

  The midterm elections have come and gone. While many political pundits predicted a “red wave” of enthusiasm among Republican voters, that prediction failed to come to fruition in many states, including Wisconsin.

When you think of Wisconsin, you think of agriculture, which means farmers (and we, as consumers) are key to address climate change.

EPA is challenging the environmental review of Nemadji Trail Energy Center. Last year, we asked you speak out to stop a federally subsidized loan sought by Dairyland Power Cooperative to help fund the Nemadji Trail Energy Center. And you responded.

The days when wind and solar energy could be dismissed as “too expensive” are in the past. Welcome to the future. The numbers are clear – harvesting energy from the sun and wind is cheaper than generating energy from coal and gas.

Given the pressing need to quickly decarbonize our energy sources, we need to consider all types of carbon-free energy—including lesser-known sources like hydrogen fuel cells. Hydrogen fuel cells combine pure hydrogen gas with oxygen to produce energy.

In a controversial June decision, the Wisconsin State Supreme Court voted 4-3 to allow Scott Walker-appointee Fred Prehn to remain on the Natural Resources Board long after the end of his term, effectively cementing a Republican majority on the environmental policy-setting board.

Green infrastructure practices like building bioswales around parking lots and streets to capture polluted storm runoff, using permeable pavers in parking areas, and installing rain gardens, cisterns, rain barrels and green roofs help reduce the risk of flooding and keep our waterways healthy.

We often say that Clean Wisconsin’s advocacy is grounded in science, but what does that mean in practice? We’ve found that upholding this commitment requires investment in trained professionals who can bridge the big gap between science and policy—a science program.

Buildings use a lot of energy, especially in Wisconsin. Cold winters, old homes, and outdated appliances cause our buildings to be incredibly energy intensive. In fact, over half of our state’s total energy use is going to the building sector.