Wisconsin Environment Director Dan Kohler (right) with State Sen. Mark Miller.
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On February 15, Wisconsin Environment staff joined with Rep. Spencer Black and Sen. Mark Miller to announce legislation that provides a comprehensive, science-based plan to address global warming pollution in Wisconsin.
“Wisconsin is uniquely positioned to put its technological know-how and natural advantages to work to aggressively reduce global warming emissions and create a new energy future,” said Dan Kohler, Wisconsin Environment state director.
Human activities over the last century—primarily burning fossil fuels—have changed the composition of the atmosphere in ways that threaten to dramatically alter the climate in the years to come. Power plants, cars, and light trucks are the largest sources of carbon dioxide, the primary global warming pollutant. Carbon dioxide emissions from Wisconsin facilities alone increased by 78 percent between 1960 and 2001.
A Union of Concerned Scientists and Ecological Society of America report predicts drastic changes to Wisconsin’s weather and climate, with serious consequences for Wisconsin’s environment and economy.
Fortunately, existing technology could substantially reduce global warming pollution by making power plants and factories more efficient, making cars go farther on a gallon of gasoline, and shifting to clean, renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass.
A recent Wisconsin Environment report estimates that the United States can cut its global warming emissions by nearly 20 percent in the next 15 years through an aggressive strategy to promote energy-efficiency technologies and renewable energy.
“Whether it’s making cars that use fuel grown right here in Wisconsin, using wind turbines and solar panels to supply electricity, or using energy-efficient products and buildings, by addressing global warming emissions we can reduce our dependence on foreign oil, create new, good jobs, protect consumers, and protect our environment,” said Kohler.
Last year, Wisconsin Environment helped convince the state to require utilities to produce 10 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2015. And just recently, Gov. Doyle announced significant investments in renewable energy and fuels as well as the creation of a global warming taskforce. |
