Global warming action in Wisconsin Senate
State Senate committee approves new climate bill
After accepting testimony at a public hearing where Senate Bill 81, the Wisconsin Safe Climate Act, received significant public support, the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources voted Oct. 31 in favor of the bill, which would reduce global warming emissions in Wisconsin to 1990 levels by 2020.
“This vote is an important step toward global warming solutions,” said Dan Kohler, director of Wisconsin Environment. “We are already seeing global warming’s impacts, from the extreme rainfall and flooding we experienced this summer, to the low lake levels in Lake Michigan and Lake Superior, to the prospect of another winter without ice cover on the lakes. In the absence of federal action, it is critical the state Legislature act to address the problem.”
According to data from the Department of Energy, Wisconsin’s carbon emissions increased 25 percent between 1990 and 2004. Were Wisconsin its own country, it would have ranked 37th in the world for emissions during 2004, ahead of nations such as Austria and Portugal.
“Reducing carbon emissions is not only the right thing to do for the environment and public health and safety; it is the right thing to do for the economy,” stated Jon Geenen, director of United Steelworkers, District 2. “Transitioning to new cleaner energy will clearly result in the development of new technology and new markets, but equally important, will generate high-quality, family-sustaining jobs.”
With leadership from Gov. Jim Doyle and bipartisan support in the Legislature, Wisconsin took an important step in 2006 by adopting a policy requiring that 10 percent of our energy come from renewable sources by 2015.
Wisconsin Environment thanks Sens. Bob Wirch (Kenosha), Bob Jauch (Ashland) and Mark Miller (Monona) for voting for the Wisconsin Safe Climate Act. We look forward to working with all members of the Legislature and the governor’s office for global warming solutions.
Wisconsin Environment’s Dan Kohler thanking Gov. Doyle for his action on global warming.
