Interview: Sen. Mark Miller
You played a key role in passage of a strong Great Lakes Compact to preserve and protect our treasured resource. Why is the Compact an important bill?
The Great Lakes Compact provides the best opportunity for the eight Great Lakes states and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec to cooperatively manage this incredible resource, which is integral to the economy and quality of life for the Great Lakes region. Except for a few limited exceptions, the compact prohibits diversion of the waters of the Great Lakes outside of the region. Even those limited diversions require that the water be returned and that it be returned in as good or better condition than when it was withdrawn. The compact has been approved by all eight Great Lakes states and now must be ratified by congress for it to have the force of federal law.
Should Wisconsin adopt a plan to address global warming and use more homegrown, renewable energy?
Wisconsin should definitely take action to reduce our contribution to global warming. Effective action requires action at the national and global level as well as state, local, household, and individual level. Homegrown renewable energy is essential, but only part of the answer. We also need to become much more efficient in our energy generation and consumption. This includes energy conservation included as part of building codes and land use planning. We need to transition to non-carbon emitting or substantially reduced carbon emission technology for transportation.
Is there a choice we need to make between economic growth and environmental protections?
Gaylord Nelson famously said, "The economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the environment." Protecting the environment provides the basis for long-term economic strength. If we ignore the environment, which provides all the resources necessary for life, we put our modern economy at risk. If we protect the environment, we can have both a clean environment and a sustainable economy. If we destroy the environment, we will have neither.
What are your environmental priorities for the next legislative session?
Wisconsin should embark on a rigorous program to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. I'd like to expand water conservation programs beyond the Great Lakes basin to the rest of the state. In the recently completed legislative session we came very close to banning use of lawn fertilizers containing phosphorous. We also came close to passing my bill that requires electronic manufacturers to recycle a portion of the electronic equipment they sell in Wisconsin. Both bills died in the Assembly after passing the Senate. I am optimistic that both of these bills will pass in the next session.
Citizens often ask how they can get involved with environmental conservation. As a legislator, what advice would you give them?
Strong public support for the Great Lakes Compact allowed us to pass an environmentally strong bill in Wisconsin. Citizens acting collectively through environmental interest groups help to make the political case for environmental legislation. Anti-environment forces have a powerful voice in the legislature. It takes the collective effort from a lot of citizens to overcome that voice. It is important to remember that protecting the environment cannot be done exclusively through government action. Individuals and households must also assume responsibility for their actions so that protecting the environment becomes an integral part of our culture and everyday lives.
