Madison,
WI – Wisconsin has earned a rising star for its bold leadership to increase
renewable energy and save energy, according to a report released today by
Wisconsin Environment.
The
Environment America report, “America’s
Clean Energy Stars:State Actions Leading America to a New Energy Future” praised the Doyle
Administration for leadership and the legislature for adopting bold policies to
promote clean energy that can provide a model for the entire nation. In releasing the report, Wisconsin
Environment and Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton called on Congress to follow the
lead of the states by passing a strong energy bill that increases renewable
energy, fuel economy and energy conservation.
“Wisconsin
is rising to our nation’s energy challenge by taking action to reduce energy
consumption and promote clean renewable energy and Lt. Governor Lawton deserves
tremendous credit for helping to lead the nation,” said Dan Kohler, director of
Wisconsin Environment. “While we can and
should do even more to meet our energy challenges, our leaders in Washington
should stop dragging their feet and start dancing with the clean energy stars
in the states. They can follow the road
map provided by the Wisconsin legislature, and pass a strong energy bill this
year that saves energy, saves oil and moves America forward to a new energy
future”.
In
developing the report, Environment America researchers looked at five areas of
cutting-edge clean energy policy adopted by the state governments: renewable
electricity standards, the Clean Cars Program, utility energy efficiency
programs, energy efficiency standards for appliances, and building energy
codes.
“Wisconsin
earns its national reputation with our commitment to stewardship, energy
conservation and by leading development of public policy for a new energy
future,” Lt. Governor Lawton said. “Clean energy policy creates jobs, cuts
emissions and moves our state forward to compete well in a 21st century global
economy.”
A
number of states, including Wisconsin, were spotlighted for special recognition
in the report.
· Wisconsin
is one of nine states – Arizona,
Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico and
Wisconsin – highlighted as “rising
star” clean energy states in recognition of their strong recent actions to
promote energy efficiency and the use of renewable sources of energy.
In
2006, Wisconsin adopted a policy to require that an increasing percentage of
power sold in the state by utilities come from clean renewable sources, with
the eventual requirement of generating a total of 10 percent of electricity
from clean renewable power by 2015.
"Wisconsin
has tremendous potential to generate electricity from wind power, a clean,
renewable form of energy," said Wes Slaymaker, VP of Wind Development at
EcoEnergy, LLC in Madison. "We recently announced development of a wind
farm here in Dane County and have six wind farms in various stages of
development that will provide over 400 MW of new generation in Wisconsin. These
projects represent 15% of the total renewable electricity required in this
state.”
Wisconsin’s
Focus on Energy program offers technical and financial assistance to
residential and commercial energy customers seeking to reduce energy use or
develop small-scale renewable energy installations. The state’s investment in natural gas
efficiency programs is among the highest in the nation.
"Through good design and cost effective
heating and cooling systems we were able to save nearly 40% in energy costs,
significantly reduce our impact on global warming and create a high quality
working environment for our employees," said Jim Bradley, President of
Home Savings Bank which hosted today’s event.
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Wisconsin
Environment is a statewide, non-partisan, non-profit environmental advocacy organization
and is the new home of WISPIRG’s environmental work.
CleanEnergyStars.pdf