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Why We Fight for Clean Energy

also insideCompact Update pg 3Focus on Energy pg 5Wetlands pg 8

for our health for our environment for our futureWe are an effective voice in the Capitol for you and the environment because we get down to the nitty gritty, but our work is driven by something greater. Fighting for clean energy isn’t always popular or easy, but we do it for some very important reasons: our health, our en-vironment and our future. In the past few months, we’ve had many opportunities, good and bad, to remind ourselves of what’s at stake.

The problem with coal ashCoal ash is a dangerous byproduct of burning coal that has potentially toxic health effects if it en-

ters our water. Containing over 24 known pollutants, coal ash made headlines at the end of 2011. In early November, a bluff collapse at We Energies’ Oak Creek coal plant sent coal ash spilling into Lake Michigan. Around the same time, we also learned that the owners of the S.S. Badger, a car ferry that dumps over 500 tons of coal ash into Lake Michigan on its trips between Manitowoc, Wis. and Ludington, Mich., had applied for National Landmark status of the ferry and its engine in order to circumvent the Clean Water Act and continue dumping coal ash into Lake Michigan.

Lake Michigan is a source of tourism, recreation, food and water, yet these coal ash instances are just two of the many dirty energy-fueled threats to this natural gem. Clean energy would offset the need for polluting fossil fuel-burning plants like Oak Creek, and there are several cleaner options for the S.S. Badger. Clean energy options keep harmful pollutants out of our air and water and out of our bodies.

The heart of the ValleyClean Wisconsin has been working closely with the Cleaner Valley Coalition for over a year. A coali-

tion of health advocacy groups, civil rights organizations, grassroots organizations, local service provid-ers and individuals working is to clean up the Valley coal plant in Milwaukee’s Menomonee Valley. Here, there are certainly health issues at stake. The plant is bordered by low-income communities, but the plant has no modern pollution controls; we’ve met dozens of parents whose children and family members suffer from asthma and other ill effects of coal-burning pollution.

In December, the coalition hosted a public meeting with top EPA officials, who were impressed by the packed room and powerful stories from people suffering from the effects of the plant’s air pollu-tion. Thanks to the coalition’s work highlighting the issues at Valley, the EPA secured a commitment from We Energies, which owns the plant, to reduce the plant’s SO2 pollution tenfold. That’s great

Inside: Mining Legislation Update

we believe everyone deserves clean water and clean airDefenderwinter 2012

thank you for your support!

read more starting on page 5

w w w. c l e a n w i s c o n s i n . o r g

join

us

AttACkson clean energy

By Katy Walter, Clean Energy Specialist

We’ve noticed an alarming trend over the last few months in the state Legislature: A series of unrelated bills that, taken together, constitute a serious attack on Wisconsin’s clean energy laws. Individually, none of these measures would mean the end of clean energy in Wisconsin, but taken together, they have grave consequences. The challenge we face in the Capitol is to keep the focus on the big picture.

WindWhile some of our legislators are willing to sell

out our natural resources for mining jobs, they continue to pursue policies that crush clean sec-

See “Why We Fight,” page 6

See “Attacks,” page 6

2 Winter 2012

Executive Director Mark Redsten

Development Director Becky Bains

Accounting Manager Mary Coughlan

Staff Scientist Tyson Cook

Membership Coordinator Jenny Lynes

Water Program Director Melissa Malott

Grants Manager Tracy Marks-Geib

Director of Programs & Government Relations Amber Meyer Smith

Water Resources Specialist Ezra Meyer

General Counsel Katie Nekola

Senior Policy Director Keith Reopelle

Midwest Clean Energy Coordinator Sarah Shanahan

Chief Financial Officer Roger Sneath

Clean Energy Specialist Katy Walter

Creative Director Amanda Wegner

Communications Director Sam Weis

Staff Attorney Elizabeth Wheeler

Office Administrator David Vitse

Chair Carl Sinderbrand, MadisonVice Chair Margi Kindig, MadisonTreasurer Gof Thomson, New GlarusSecretary Gary Goyke, Madison

Belle Bergner, MilwaukeePhyllis Dube, McFarlandSue Durst, VeronaShari Eggleson, WashburnLuke Fairborn, Whitefish BayScott Froehlke, MontelloPaul Linzmeyer, Green BayChuck McGinnis, MiddletonLucia Petrie, Milwaukee

Board Emeritus Kate Gordon, Washington, D.C.

The Defender is owned and published quarterly by Clean Wisconsin, 634 W. Main St., #300, Madison, WI 53703,608-251-7020.A one-year subscription membership is $35. Please direct correspondence to the address above.Volume 42, No. 1 Issue date: January 2012©2012 Clean Wisconsin. All rights reserved.ISSN # 1549-8107

It didn’t take long to realize that the Assembly Mining bill is an outright attempt to gut environ-mental protections to make it easier to build a mine in Wisconsin. Assembly Bill 426 is even worse than we expected – and it’s been revealed that it was written by and for Gogebic Tacnonite, the company wanting to dig an open pit mine in northern Wisconsin.

The bill creates special rules and exemptions for mining companies, takes science out of the decision-making process, and takes away the voice of the people. Most importantly, it contains HUGE rollbacks to environmental laws that we rely on to keep our air and water clean. Please contact your legislator today to tell him or her that you oppose this bill! See more on page 9.

Mining Bill: keep putting the pressure on!

tell Legislators to Oppose the Waterway Permit Bill

Clean Wisconsin protects Wisconsin’s clean water and air and advocates for clean energy by being an effective voice in the state legislature and by holding elected officals and polluters accountable.

Founded in 1970 as Wisconsin’s Environmental Decade, Clean Wisconsin exposes corporate polluters, makes sure existing environmental laws are enforced, and educates citizens and businesses.

On behalf of its 10,000 members, supporters and co-alition partners, Clean Wisconsin protects the special places that make Wisconsin a wonderful place to live, work and play.

tell Legislators to Oppose the Current Wetlands Bill

Printed with soy ink on unbleached, recycled paper.

634 W. Main St., #300 • Madison WI 53703Phone: 608-251-7020www.cleanwisconsin.org

Actions you can take for clean water, clean air and clean energy

TAKING ACTIONTaking Charge&

stAFF

BOARD

Help Us spread the Word in Your Area

Visit our blog at blog.cleanwisconsin.org, your one-stop shop for news, analysis and commentary

on Wisconsin’s environment.

Wetlands are an important part of the landscape: They provide flood protection, water purifi-cation, and habitat for much of Wisconsin’s wildlife. The current wetlands regulatory reform bills, AB 463 and SB 368, threaten our wetlands and all the benefits they offer.

While there is some language we agree with in this bill, the crux of its content would signifi-cantly roll back current wetland protections if passed. We are disappointed that the authors did not make the changes we requested. The time to contact your legislators and ask them to oppose this bill is NOW!

While we were thankful that the huge outcry of opposition to the original bill led to significant changes, Clean Wisconsin remains opposed to the amended bill.

Even with the changes, the DNR’s ability for meaningful review of water permits is cut and that is not something we can support. Wisconsin’s waterways should be protected for the enjoyment of all citizens, not just those who seek to develop them. Please contact your legislators and tell them to oppose Assembly Bill 421 and Senate Bill 326 (formerly Special Session Bill 24) as amended.

Is there an environmental issue in Wisconsin that you want others to know about? In 2011, Clean Wisconsin began teaming up with members around the state to host small, intimate events for their friends and neighbors on the issues they are most concerned with in their area. The events are a great opportunity to introduce the work of Clean Wisconsin on the issue of the member’s choice.

This October, Madison-area members Glenn Reinl and Sara Krebsbach hosted an event where neighbors came to hear a speaker and participate in informal discussion about what is being done to protect Dane County’s lakes. Thank you to Glenn and Sara for opening your home and hosting a great first event!

If this is something you are interested in, please contact development director Becky Bains at 608-251-7020 ext. 17.

The Clean Wisconsin auction is scheduled for July 2012!Sign up for Action Network to receive updates. Have an auction item you’d like to donate? Contact Jenny Lynes at jlynes@cleanwisconsin.org

or 608-251-7020, ext. 18.

save the date

www.cleanwisconsin.org 3

from theExecutive Director

With recall elections, seemingly endless special legislative sessions, and fast-paced attempts to roll back environmental protections, we’re living in very tumultuous political times in Wisconsin. Clean Wisconsin’s job as your environmental voice is more important than ever, and I am happy to report that our organization is well equipped to protect Wisconsin’s clean air and water, even in these turbulent times.

There’s no way to sugarcoat it: The last year has been a challenging one. With an onslaught of attempts to roll back water quality standards, eliminate the state’s recycling program, effectively ban renewable wind energy, weaken mining legislation and more, it can be difficult to even keep track of the threats to Wisconsin’s environment. Luckily, with your help we have built an organization that excels at identifying these threats and effectively fighting against them.

Thanks to our strong legal and science departments, we are able to quickly and thoroughly analyze legislative proposals and alert legislators, the media, and the public about the environmental consequences of those proposals. Coupled with our strong presence in the Capitol and effective communications department, this ensures that no attempt to roll back environmental protections goes unnoticed. Once a spotlight is placed on these environmental rollbacks, we have learned that we can count on you, our committed members, to take action and contact our leaders. With your support, we helped save Wisconsin’s recycling program, defeat rules to effectively ban wind energy in the state, and block attempts to roll back water quality standards in 2011.

In 2012, we will continue the fight to protect Wisconsin from environmentally destructive mining; work to advance energy efficiency and clean energy policies; and continue our important work cleaning up inland waters and protecting the Great Lakes.

In more than four decades of environmental advocacy, we have learned that protecting Wisconsin’s environment requires both immediate actions and a long-term perspective. With this recognition, we have built an organization that is able to react quickly if needed, but one that never forgets the importance of strong relationships with legislators on both sides of the political aisle, or of solid scientific and legal expertise to underpin our work and give our organization the credibility it needs to be an effective voice for Wisconsin’s environment.

Thank you for making all of this important work possible through your continued support.

Mark RedstenExecutive Director

Planned Giving for a clean Wisconsin

April 1970, the birthdate of Earth Day, is a significant month for those who love the Earth. It has even more significance to those who love Clean Wisconsin. In April 1970, Doug La Follette had the foresight to create an organization dedicated to protecting Wisconsin. More than 40 years later and with the same foresight, Doug helped create Clean Wisconsin’s endowment fund with a $100,000 gift. Thank you, Doug La Follette, for your vision and dedication; Wisconsin would not be the place we love without you.

While our work isn’t always popular or easy, Clean Wisconsin protects Wisconsin’s water and air and is driven by our mission to protect the special places that make Wisconsin such a wonderful place. By including Clean Wisconsin in your estate planning or making a significant contribution to our endowment fund today, your gift will span generations, ensuring a clean Wisconsin long after your lifetime.

Whether you think of yourself as rich, poor or somewhere in between, your gift makes a difference; even a small amount has a big impact over time. Gift planning can take many forms, such as including Clean Wisconsin in your will or a beneficiary of your IRA. Contact your financial advisor or Becky Bains at 608-251-7020 ext. 17 or bbains@cleanwisconsin.org for more information.

the Great Lakes Compact’s First Big test

Evaluating Waukesha’s diversion requestBy Ezra Meyer, Water Resources Specialist

The first big test of the Great Lakes Compact is underway. Later this winter, the Wisconsin DNR plans to release its draft decision on Waukesha’s application to divert water from Lake Michigan.

This is the first proposal to divert water outside the Great Lakes Basin since the historic passage of the Great Lakes Compact in 2008. Waukesha’s application will set a precedent for future diversion applications, which is why it’s so important that we evaluate and participate in this process.

To be approved under the Compact, Waukesha must demonstrate:

• It has a valid need for Great Lakes water by proving that other available water supply alternatives are inadequate or unreasonable. The Compact requires that this analysis include commonsense water conservation and efficiency measures.

• It has implemented required water conservation and efficiency measures and that the amount of water the city proposes to divert from Lake Michigan accounts for the water savings those measures will yield.

• That Waukesha returns virtually all the water it would remove from Lake Michigan. Specifically, the city must show it would maximize the amount of Great Lakes water it would return to the Basin and minimize the amount of water it would return that originates outside the Basin.

• That the treated water the city would return to the Great Lakes Basin would meet applicable water quality standards for nutrients and other harmful chemicals and pollutants.

• How its return flow plans would preserve the physical, biological and chemical integrity of these waters. Waukesha’s preferred alternative for meeting the Great Lakes Compact’s return flow requirements is to return treated water to Lake Michigan via Underwood Creek, which flows into the Menomonee River, running through Wauwatosa and Milwaukee and into the lake at Milwaukee’s Harbor.

• That the city’s return flow proposal has been compared against alternatives.

• Its proposed diversion will not endanger the integrity of the Great Lakes Basin ecosystem or result in any significant adverse environmental impacts or cumulative impacts to its quantity or quality.

Wisconsinites and our allies around the Great Lakes region made sure that the Compact set a high bar for diversion requests like Waukesha’s. Waukesha, the DNR, and all of us as concerned citizens have our work cut out for us in ensuring that this public decision-making process is done properly to ensure the protection of our Great Lakes.

Clean Wisconsin will continue to evaluate Waukesha’s proposal against the requirements of the Great Lakes Compact. We will share that analysis with you as the process proceeds, and we will notify you of opportunities to share your thoughts and concerns about Waukesha’s proposal through the DNR’s public comment opportunities. Your next chance will come yet this winter, so stay tuned.

4 Winter 2012

Our environmental priorities, at work in the CapitolBy Amber Meyer Smith, Director of Programs and Government Relations

LEGIsLAtIvE UPDAtEClean WisConsin’s

• Watch live and recorded legislative floor sessions, committee hearings and interviews at wisconsineye.org

• Sign up to receive notifications about action on bills you care about at http://notify.legis.state.wi.us

• Learn more about your legislators by entering your address or using the interactive map at http://legis.wisconsin.gov/w3asp/waml/waml.aspx

• Most importantly, join our Action Network! Find it online at www.cleanwisconsin.org.• Bookmark the Clean Wisconsin blog at blog.cleanwisconsin.org.

Stay informed on what’s

happening in our state

government

Now that we’re in the prime heating season, homeowners are looking for ways to maximize their energy use and money in their pockets. In this edi-tion of Under the Lens, we examine one common practice and how it may not be as effective as you think: closing vents in unused rooms.

Back in the day when homes were heated by wood or — gasp! — coal, closing off rooms was almost al-ways a smart move. The heat for the house came from one centrally-located stove, and the goal was to keep as much of the heat as possible concentrated in specific areas. Today’s modern systems are different; while the heat is still generated in one spot (your furnace), it’s piped directly through your ducts to each room. Since there is usually only one system, or “zone,” in the house, blocking vents in one room

impacts how the entire system works.So what’s the problem with closing off vents?

Since your heating system is designed to operate at a certain level, shutting down some pathways increas-es the air pressure in the ducts. This leads to more hot air being wasted, as it escapes through leaks in the system. As more vents are closed, the pressure gets higher and even more heat is wasted. (It’s also worth noting that if you close off a large number of vents and the pressure gets too high, your furnace can start to overheat – causing a safety concern, and potentially damaging your equipment.)

What that means is that instead of saving on your heating bills, you could actually be using the same – if not more – energy than before. This may seem counterintuitive, even false, but research out of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory backs it up.

Here are energy-saving best practices for winter:1. Install (and use) a programmable thermostat.

When asleep or away from home, turning back your thermostat 10°–15° for eight hours can

save up to 10% a year on heating and cooling bills.

2. Replace your furnace’s air filter. A dirty filter restricts air flow, which forces your furnace to work harder and use more energy.

3. Have a professional fix leaks and insulate your duct system. According to the U.S. Depart-ment of Energy, typical systems lose 25-40% of the energy put out by a central furnace, heat pump, or air conditioner.

4. Open curtains on south-facing windows dur-ing the day to allow sunlight to heat your home, and close them at night to keep the heat in.

5. Turn down your water heater’s temperatue. Water heating can account for 14%-25% of the energy consumed in your home.

6. Speaking of hot water, insulate accessible hot water pipes, especially those close to your wa-ter heater. For tips, visit energysavers.gov and search “insulate hot water pipes.”

The two-year legislative session ends in March this year, so now is crunch time in the Capitol. All the major bills that we have been watching for are here and being acted on quickly in the Senate and Assembly, so our government rela-tions team is working day and night to analyze legislation and help educate decision-makers and members on the envi-ronmental impacts. At the forefront of debate are bills to loosen regulations for mining, tie the hands of the DNR in issu-ing water permits, and alter protections for wetlands. Clean Wisconsin continues to fight against rollbacks and push for

legislation that moves the ball forward for environmental protection.

EnviRonMEntAl RollBACKS

Mining Assembly Bill 426 represents one of the biggest environmental rollbacks we’ve ever seen. While the Senate has pledged to take a much more measured approach, we must keep pressure on both houses to kill this bill. As of this writing, a committee vote has been scheduled for January 24 and action by the full Assembly could happen January 26. MoRE on PAgE 9.

WEtlAnDS Introduced at the beginning of January, Assembly Bill 463 and Senate Bill 368 significantly change the way permits are is-sued for building in wetlands. We are disappointed that changes weren’t made to improve the wetland protection component of this bill. Clean Wisconsin opposes this bill, even as amended.

WAtERWAy PERMitS Many of you have taken action on Assembly Bill 421/Senate Bill 326 (formerly Special Session Bill 24) which makes getting a permit to place structures in waterways much easier. The opposition to the original bill was so strong that the authors have significantly amended the bill. While we still feel that they place too many restrictions on a thorough DNR review of applications and remain opposed to the bill, we are thankful for the positive changes that have been made. The bills are awaiting approval in both houses.

WhAt WE’RE Doing to BE PRoACtivE

FoCuS on EnERgy Despite the loss of funding to the popular energy-saving program Focus on Energy in this session’s budget, we are working to get some of that funding restored. With a recent audit confirming the program’s effectiveness in saving ratepayers $2.30 for every $1 invested, a bill is currently circulating on this issue. MoRE on PAgE 5.

MERCuRy RECyCling Bills are being drafted to provide incentives for people to recycle their compact fluorescent lightbulbs and old thermostats that contain mercury. It doesn’t take much mercury to pollute a body of water, so we need to find ways to make it easy for people to recycle these products.

REnEWABlE EnERgy We continue to work for the introduction of a bill that would make it easier to use more renewable energy systems in Wisconsin, like manure digesters and solar panels, by making sure utilities are buying the energy they produce at a fair rate.

Legislation will be moving fast in the next three months. Sign up for our Action Network & follow Clean Wisconsin on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news on legislative actions.

talking science with tyson Cook, Staff Scientist

Under the Lens Vent Smart

{ }

www.cleanwisconsin.org 5

Focus on Energy, the statewide energy efficiency program that helps residents and businesses lower energy bills, has been a political football the past year.

In December 2010, the PSC and Legislature authorized a funding increase of $340 million over four years for the program. But in the spring of 2011, Governor Scott Walker and legislative leaders significantly cut funding to Focus on Energy. A legislative audit released in December demonstrates that the benefits of Focus on Energy more than double the costs of the program. Since its inception 12 years ago, over 2 million Wisconsin residents and businesses have participated in the program, which is one of the most successful of its kind in the nation, and legislators should act quickly to restore lost funding in order to maximize the cost-saving potential of the program.

For every $1 invested in the program, Wisconsin residents and businesses save over $2 on their energy bills, according to the audit by the bipartisan Legislative Audit Bureau. This helped save over $264 million on energy bills in 2010 alone. Since its inception, Focus on Energy has helped residents and businesses save over $2 billion.

That’s a lot of money and reason enough to increase investment in the program, but it’s not the only benefit: Focus on Energy is an economic driver for the state. By reducing the need for coal-fired power plants, Focus on Energy helps improve

air quality and protect the health of our families. In fact, reduced power plant emissions resulted in over $17 million in environmental benefits in 2010, according to the audit. Additionally, Wisconsin currently spends $12.5 billion every year on imported electricity and dirty, out-of-state fossil fuels. Much of that money is spent on coal, oil and natural gas to generate electricity and heat our homes. Investing in energy efficiency is the No. 1 way we can reduce that amount and keep money circulating within our own economy.

Finally, the audit acknowledges that Focus on Energy helps spur job creation and increase business sales. An earlier study estimated that the funding cut from the program would create 7,000 to 9,000 new jobs in Wisconsin.

By voting to significantly cut funding for Focus on Energy last spring, legislators turned their backs on an opportunity to lower energy bills, reduce pollution, and spur job creation. With the

recent legislative audit in hand, they now have the opportunity to remedy this mistake.

This week, legislators began circulating a bill that would restore the PSC’s ability to reinstate funding to Focus on Energy. This bill is the first step on the path toward lower energy bills, and it deserves the support of our leaders.

By working to restore funding cut from Focus on Energy, our elected leaders can help residents and businesses save money, improve the quality of our environment and create more jobs. That’s something that deserves support from legislators on both sides of the aisle.

Clean Wisconsin, and its partners, including many businesses that have grown and added jobs because of the Focus program, is actively working on this important issue. If you have questions or are interested in helping with this effort please contact Keith Reopelle at 608-251-7020 ext. 11 or Katy Walter at 608-251-7020 ext. 28.

Focused FindingsDecember Focus on Energy audit proves program’s value

By Keith Reopelle, Senior Policy Director

Wisconsin has become a national leader in researching the local impacts of global climate change and helping the state prepare for those impacts. That leadership position took a major blow on January 12, when the Public Service Commission substantially cut funds for the Economic and Environmental Research and Development (EERD) Fund.

The EERD fund supports important research on a broad range of economic and environmental topics, including the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI), a collaborative effort between the UW-Madison Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and the DNR. WICCI studies and helps the state prepare for coming climatic changes and explores how those changes will affect our landscape and industries.

Clean Wisconsin played a major and critical role in creating this fund. While we worked closely with former Governor Tommy Thompson, the Thompson-appointed PSC, and Republican legislative leaders, this legislation enjoyed strong bipartisan support.

EERD and WICCI research has given Wisconsin a leg up on answering practical and important questions about what a warmer climate means for our state. What soil conservation practices

will be required to prevent a doubling of soil erosion rates Wisconsin farmers are likely to experience? What is the most cost-effective way to keep harbors and shipping lanes open under lower water levels? How should the DNR adapt management practices to compensate for, or reduce the loss of, more than 80 percent of the state’s stream habitat for walleye, brown trout and brook trout?

Whether it is climate change or the more immediate economic challenges the state faces, there are many more questions than answers. WICCI has identified 25 key areas of ongoing research and focus areas related to climate change alone; and it would be easy to come up with at least as many areas of critical research to address barriers to economic development in the state.

In our view, it is a terrible time to eliminate what was already an incredibly small R&D budget for to study the economic and environmental impacts of an industry as important as electric energy. We will work with the PSC and urge them to reconsider this decision as well as explore other options to replace this funding. If you are interested in helping, please contact Keith Reopelle, 608-251-7020 ext. 11.

FALLING BACk

Funding cut a major blow to state economic, environmental research

By Keith Reopelle, Senior Policy Director

By restoring funding cut from Focus on Energy, elected

leaders can help residents and businesses save money, improve the quality of our environment, and create more jobs. That’s

something that deserves support from legislators on both sides of

the aisle.

6 Winter 2012

Clean Wisconsin Builds Consensus

On greenhouse gas rules for power plantsBy Elizabeth Wheeler, Staff Attorney

Now that the EPA has found that global warming pollution endangers public health and welfare, it is required under law to regulate greenhouse gases from both mobile sources (cars and trucks) and stationary sources (power plants and industrial facilities). With your help, Clean Wisconsin has been building a strong consensus in the Midwest about how power plant regulations should be shaped to best benefit our region.

The EPA is expected to issue draft regulations under the Clean Air Act that will require power plants to meet performance-based standards for global warming pollutants this winter. Clean Wisconsin has been working to ensure that the rules set clear stan-dards to significantly reduce global warming pollution in a flexible, cost-effective and equitable manner.

In the spring of 2011, Clean Wiscon-sin worked with 47 other nonprofit organizations around the Midwest to ask the EPA to include the following principles in this program:

• Require clear standards that achieve substantial pollution reductions;

• Give the industry the flexibility to meet the required reductions in a cost-effective manner;

• Work with existing voluntary programs such as the Midwest Green-house Gas Reduction Accord, Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (the Northeast region) and the Western Climate Initiative;

• Design the program to ensure that children, the elderly, low-income and minority populations are protected from detrimental environ-mental impacts of global warming, as well as direct and indirect in-creases in energy costs to the greatest extent possible.

In addition to our work with the EPA, Clean Wisconsin has been work-ing with other stakeholders, including other environmental, faith, health, business and agricultural groups, to build a consensus about what the glob-al warming pollution rule should look like in order to achieve the greatest benefits for our common interests. This work includes bringing the regulat-ed utilities to the table to share ideas and gain support for a strong program that will deliver environmental results necessary while meeting our region’s electricity demands.

We won’t know what the EPA rule will look like for a few months, but if it includes the principles we have been advocating for, we believe that regu-lating this pollution can and will result in a net economic benefit, address the needs of all stakeholders, and begin to abate global warming.

Attacks, continued from cover

Photo: Flickr.com/ CarlynAnnCrispell

tor jobs. That includes wind, a working industry in Wisconsin. In early 2011, legislators put statewide permitting standards for wind farms on hold, throwing the wind industry into a state of uncertainty that stopped a num-ber of projects, and caused hundreds of people in the construction industry to lose their jobs. In a recent Capital Times article, a representative from Michaels Corporation, a Wisconsin-based company, said the company is building projects in states as far away as Alaska but is more than ready to bid on projects closer to home. Hopefully, Michaels will get its wish; if legislators don’t enact new rules by April, the statewide standards Clean Wisconsin helped develop go back into effect.

Focus on EnergyWisconsin has been a leader in delivering energy savings to homeowners,

businesses and their pocketbooks, thanks to our successful statewide pro-gram, Focus on Energy. Studies show that we’ve only scratched the surface, but during this last spring’s budget debate, $320 million was cut from the program, despite the fact that it is not state-funded and had nothing to do with balancing the budget. This cut has real impacts on jobs and energy bills as hundreds of small businesses work with Focus on Energy, keeping money in local communities.

Interestingly, recent audit results clearly show that increasing investments in Focus on Energy will lower energy bills and help homeowners and busi-nesses save money. (See page 5.) We hope our leaders take advantage of this opportunity and are working with our allies to make it a reality.

Importing Canadian energyIn 2006, Clean Wisconsin helped pass a Renewable Electricity Standard

(RES), which states Wisconsin must get 10 percent of its energy from re-newable sources by 2015. While most Wisconsin utilities are on track to meet this requirement, a new law was passed last July that allows hydro-electricity imported from Canada to count toward the standard. Instead of expanding renewable energy in Wisconsin, this law exports jobs to Canada.

Wisconsin’s current RES allows utilities to build extra renewable energy projects now and bank the credits for four years. This provision gives utili-ties the flexibility to meet the law, but also helps encourage new renewable energy development by preventing a large number of credits from being held for future years. AB 146 is moving in the Legislature, which would allow utilities to bank credits for eight years, making it likely that few new large projects will be built in the future. The distinction between four and eight years may not seem significant, but eight years substantially waters down the standard, putting Wisconsin far out of line from any other Mid-western state and disadvantaging us in the regional marketplace.

Clean energy’s economic benefits cannot be understated. Our legislators’ actions are shortsighted, entrench our reliance on expensive, out-of-state fossil fuels, and ensure that other states reap the economic benefits. We ap-plaud those legislators who have stood up to these attacks and this spring, we’re defending our existing commitments to clean energy and working on policies that give clean technologies a fighting chance.

Clean Wisconsin is fighting on all fronts to make the case for

clean energy.

for Milwaukee, which regularly receives failing grades from the American Lung Association for air quality, and is great news for those with breathing problems, as SO2 is a top cause of asthma.

Strengthening our foundationIt’s not always easy to see the connection between flipping on a light

switch and changes in our climate, but burning coal and other fossil fuels to produce energy is by far the greatest source of climate change pollution.

Climate is the foundation of our lives: Wisconsinites rely on a climate that lets us enjoy ice fishing and cross-country skiing in the winter and trout fishing and swimming in the summer. Our farmers rely on certain growing conditions and weather patterns. But changes in our climate pose chal-lenges to our way of life and make tackling our largest sources of pollution an important endeavor. Will our children have clean air and clean water? Will we have natural resources for energy? Will our farms be able to support crops? To answer “yes” to these questions, we need to reduce our need for coal-fueled energy through energy ef-ficiency and clean energy investments.

This could be good news for our economy. Despite the sagging economy, wind and solar are two of the top 10 fastest-growing industries in the United States. By maximizing clean en-ergy, we can reduce the amount of money sent out of state for fossil fuels and use it to create clean energy jobs here. Wisconsin has a rich and growing sector of busi-nesses focused on clean energy, and there is enormous potential to produce energy from our agricultural and food waste.

Clean Wisconsin fights on all fronts to make the case for clean energy. We’re engaging clean energy businesses to educate decision-makers, being a voice at the Public Service Commission, advocating for utilities to clean up their act, and filing legal challenges when all other measures have failed.

Our energy issues will not change overnight. In the end, making the switch from dirty fossil fuel energy to clean, renewable energy means a fu-ture with energy security, cleaner air for us and our children to breathe, and cleaner water for us all to drink, fish in and swim in. We fight for clean energy for our health, environment and future, whatever it may bring.

Why We Fight, continued from cover

Fighting for clean energy isn’t always popular or easy, but we do it for some

very important reasons: our health, our environment and

our future.

www.cleanwisconsin.org 7

Up on a high ridge of land tucked away in St. Croix County, Dave’s Brew Farm is using sustainable methods to carry on a Wisconsin tradition.

The owner, David Anderson, spent nearly a full year planning the energy infrastructure for the brew farm, which is powered exclusively by wind.

Meet JakeAnderson makes energy efficiency and conservation a priority in his busi-

ness; the brewery generates its own electricity via a 20-kilowatt wind tur-bine, nicknamed “Jake” after its Jacob 3120 model number.

“Renewable energy sources minimize our impact on the environment,” he says. “We’re trying to be good stewards of the planet — that’s the way I approached it.”

The local geography was a significant consideration during construction, because Anderson needed to ensure the land would provide ample wind resources for Jake’s needs.

“[It] doesn’t do any good to put up a wind generator unless you have the resources for it,” he says, speaking in terms of the site’s wind availability factor. “We’ve been able to capitalize on the location of the Brew Farm.”

In addition to the turbine, the plan included details for the brewery’s geothermal heating system, which is buried deep underground. The two technologies, wind and geothermal, work well together to keep utility costs down; Dave’s Brew Farm only spent $320 on power last year. Anderson expects an eight- to 10-year payback from the turbine alone.

“We’re producing our own electricity, and the geothermal is electric pow-ered. It’s a fuel source where you’re not burning anything exclusively for producing our own electricity,” he says. “There’s a compressor that either heats up water for heating or cools it off for air conditioning.”

The sustainable Brew Farm went fully operational Feb. 12, 2009, an achievement which Anderson credits to a number of federal grants and support from the statewide program Focus on Energy. In total, it cost be-tween $500,000 and $600,000 to make Dave’s Brew Farm a reality.

Beer dreams

Anderson says a personal fascination with wind turbines was his moti-vation for the project, something he gained during his past international travels.

“When developing the brewery, I traveled to Europe quite a bit, Belgium and other big beer places a few times a year,” he says. “I saw how many wind farms they have there and loved the way it decreased the need for burning fossil fuels.”

Although the homegrown offerings concocted in Dave’s self-proclaimed “LaBrewatory” are innovative, maybe even unique, he says he is not the only start-up brewer looking to lessen his impact on the environment.

“If you dig deep into different breweries like Sierra Nevada, New Bel-gium, Stone [brewing companies], they all are implementing solar technol-ogy, biodigesters. Here in Wisconsin, Central Waters [Brewing Company] has a sizeable solar panel array they use for heating their water.”

Such practices can offer protection to the most vital aspects of the beer brewing industry: water, barley and hops.

“Breweries really need to take care of water because that’s the primary ingredient in beer, and to be able to maximize efficiency is in most brewers’ best interest,” he explains. “Things like hop and barley production; those are definitely things that can be impacted and have been impacted by cer-tain climate regions of the planet that do grow hops and barley.”

Anderson feels that these aspects of climate change are the ones that can

affect consumers of beer most directly. “If they don’t have a stable climate, yields will be affected,” he says. “And

prices will go up, which nobody likes to see.”

Truly localDave’s Brew Farm takes the term “homegrown” to a new level; Anderson

harvests some of his own ingredients for the beer and locally sources a few others.

Drinkers find that the taste of the beer turns out to be as unique as its origins. And they can sip happily knowing their is emission-free brew.

“I do a number of my own beers with wildflowers and some of the herbs and vegetables, fruits that grow around here. [People] like the whole pack-age,” he says. “I don’t get a whole lot of hop production … I do brew some fresh hop beers in the fall, but that’s pretty much it.”

At Dave’s Brew Farm, the sight of Jake generally garners positive respons-es and curiosity from weekend visitors. Whether or not they consider them-selves environmentalists, the beer enthusiasts often come away from the experience with a newfound interest in the technology.

“It’s kind of like a big billboard … Definitely an easy way to talk to people about renewables,” Anderson says. “I think it’s beautiful to see.”

Welcome to the LaBrewatoryAt Dave’s Brew Farm, clean energy & energy efficiency are key ingredients

By Sarah Witman, Communications intern

Clean Wisconsin works with clean energy businesses to illustrate how new clean energy sources can save money,

reduce pollution, and ensure that our climate allows Wisconsin to continue to be a home for industry.

Dave’s Brew Farm is just one example of how being a steward of the environment can benefit a business’s bottom line.

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By Amber Meyer Smith, Director of Programs & government Relations

7th Senate District, Milwaukee

office phone: 608-266-7505Sen.Larson@legis.wisconsin.gov

In his first year in office, State Sen. Chris Lar-son (D-Milwaukee) has placed an important em-phasis on environmental stewardship. Coming from the Milwaukee County Board where he served on the Energy and Environment Com-mittee and fought for parks and transit funding, Larson has a keen interest in state policies that protect our air and water and promote clean en-ergy as a key component of economic growth.

Larson is a Clean Wisconsin member and sits on the Senate’s Natural Resources Committee, where he has been a leading voice in question-ing many of the environmental rollbacks we have seen this session. “Wisconsin has a long tradition of protecting our natural resources, as they are not just a part of our landscape, but a part of who we are as stewards of this great state,” Larson says. “We should be working to pass legislation that protects the health of our families, communities and businesses rather than undoing what safeguards Wisconsin’s pre-cious lands and valuable natural resources for today and tomorrow.”

After seeing recycling funds gutted in the state budget this year, Larson immediately authored the Recycling Fund Restoration Act to reverse

those ill-conceived cuts. “The recent reduction in funding for recy-

cling programs in the state amounts to an en-dorsement of overflowing and unsustainable landfills,” says Larson. “This bill will encourage responsible long-term management of waste in Wisconsin, and the benefits from this effort will be felt for generations.”

Larson has also authored legislation that en-courages providing children with outdoor ex-periences to combat ‘Nature Deficit Disorder;’ legislation to update laws on lead acid battery recycling; and has been a leader in promoting mass transit to help reduce fossil fuel pollution.

Larson will continue to look for opportuni-ties to promote clean energy for Wisconsin. He wholeheartedly believes we need to find ways to stop sending $12.5 billion out of state for our energy needs and instead keep that money in our own economy.

Clean Wisconsin looks forward to working with Larson to advance policies that enhance our natural resources and that strategically place Wisconsin to take advantage of the economic opportunities that a healthy environment pres-ents.

SenatorChris Larson

Clean Wisconsin has intervened in the controversial CapX2020 trans-mission line proceeding, scheduled to go to hearing early in March. This case deals with a 40- to 50-mile stretch of high-voltage transmission line which would cross the Mississippi River near Alma and run southward to a proposed new substation at Holmen, near La Crosse. This segment of trans-mission line would connect the Minnesota CapX2020 project with ATC’s anticipated La Crosse to Madison line, known as Badger Coulee.

The CapX project has gained much opposition in the La Crosse area, and the Badger Coulee line is expected to be equally controversial. These transmission lines have been named “multi-value projects” because they are said to offer regional benefits; in fact, some environmental groups support these projects because they believe that they will enable more wind power to be transported from the Great Plains.

Regardless, it is clear that this section of the project requires very careful consideration as there are many high-quality wetlands and other environ-

mentally sensitive natural resources in the proposed area. There are nine alternative routes proposed, some of which would be built through interna-tionally significant bird migration corridors and wetlands. One alternative route, along the Great River Road, is opposed by the Wisconsin Depart-ment of Transportation. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has already vetoed one alternative river crossing and requested that an underground al-ternative be investigated. The DNR has suggested routing that avoids cross-ing the Black River bottomlands and the Van Loon State Wildlife Area.

Other intervenors will examine whether the project is needed, and wheth-er its projected cost is reasonable.

Clean Wisconsin is working closely with expert consultants and the Wis-consin Wetlands Association to identify areas of environmental concern. We will keep you updated as these important cases unfold. If you would like more information, contact Katie Nekola at 608-251-7020 ext. 14.

Watching our WetlandsClean Wisconsin intervenes in CapX2020 transmission project

By Katie nekola, general Counsel

Badger Coulee Transmission Line Options & Natural Resources in the Project AreaMap: Public Service Commission of Wisconsin

www.cleanwisconsin.org 9

When the Assembly Jobs Committee intro-duced a new iron mining bill, AB 426, in De-cember, Clean Wisconsin’s government rela-tions, legal and science departments sprang to action to do an in-depth analysis of the new bill.

What we found is scary. The 183-page bill is filled with dangerous provi-sions that roll back environ-mental protections, silence the public, and eliminate ac-countability for mining cor-porations. See the “Facts” section below.

With the in-depth analysis of the bill in hand, Clean Wisconsin’s government re-lations department and communications team quickly went to work educating legislators and the media about the terrible environmental con-sequences this bill would have. Our staff mem-bers spent long hours meeting with legislators in the Capitol, calling reporters and meeting with editors.

Our message began to resonate. "It's almost as if children replaced Republican legislators and dared each other to see just how outrageous they could make this bill." That’s how the Milwau-kee Journal Sentinel Editorial Board character-ized the mining bill in an editorial the day after

Clean Wisconsin staff met with one of its members to share our analysis.

At a public hearing held in West Allis on December 14, opponents of the bill outnumbered supporters 2 to 1. At a second hearing in Hurley, even supporters of the mine expressed concerns

about provisions of AB 426.Clean Wisconsin has had many successes in

the campaign to stop the Assembly Mining Bill, but the fight is far from over. Successfully defeat-ing this legislation will require many more weeks of passionate work opposing this bill and the continued support of you, our members.

Silences the voice of the public• Removescitizens’righttosueforillegalenvironmentaldamagebyamine.• Removesallcontestedcasehearings,whichprovidetheonlyopportunitytochallengedataand

questionminingofficialsontherecord.• Onlyonerequiredpublichearingfortheentireminingproject,currentlawrequiresaminimumof

three.• Directshalfofallminingtaxrevenuestothestate,ratherthantolocalgovernmentsfortheirinvest-

mentsinlocalinfrastructure.

Rolls back commonsense environmental protections• Allowsminingcorporationstodumptoxicminewasteintosensitivewetlandsandfloodplains.• Allowsminingcorporationstocontaminatethegroundwaterofneighboringproperties.• Allowsminingcorporationstodrawdownwaterlevelsfromrivers,lakes,streamsandgroundwater

withoutconsequence.• TheGogebicTaconiteminingprojectcoulduseasmuchas41milliongallonsofwatereachday,

morethanthedailywateruseoftheentirecityofMadison.• AllowsDNRtoprovideanexemptionforaminingcorporationfromanyrequirementsitseesfit.

Eliminates accountability & scientific decisions for mine permits• RequiresDNRtoissueapermitforamine’swaterwithdrawalsevenifacompanycan’tprotect

thepublic,waterfrontownersandtheenvironmentfromdamage,iftheDNRdeterminesthatthepublicbenefitsofamine“exceedanyinjurytopublicrights.”

• Insteadofrequiringminestocomplywithallrulesonair,groundwater,surfacewater,andsolidandhazardouswastemanagement;thebillmerelyrequiresthecompanytobe“committed”tocomplyingwiththoselaws.

• Changesthestandardforprotectingpublichealth,safetyandwelfarefromtheprotective“willnot”causeharmtothesubjective“isnotlikely”tocauseharm.

• RequirestheDNRtoallowminingwastetobeplacedinareasevenwhereitishasdeterminedthatthereisa“reasonableprobabilitythatthewastewillresultinaviolationofsurfacewaterorground-waterqualitystandards.”

See all the facts atwww.cleanwisconsin.org/miningfacts

This bill includes a legislative finding that states it is

“probable that mining these deposits will result in adverse

impacts” to our natural resources, and those impacts are

“presumed to be necessary.”

Iron Mining Bill: Facts on AB 426

Shortly after it was unveiled in December, Clean Wisconsin discovered that the Assembly Mining Bill (AB 426) would likely create a con-flict with the Great Lakes Compact, a historic agreement between eight Great Lakes States and two Canadian Provinces to protect the water in the Great Lakes.

Under the Compact, the DNR is not allowed to issue a permit if the agency finds there would be significant environmental harm. AB 426 says DNR would have to issue a water withdrawal permit if the “public benefits” of a mine outweigh the environmental harm.

Gogebic Taconite’s proposed iron mine would use as much as 41 million gal-lons of water each day according to estimates – more than the daily water use for the entire city of Madison. The use of such large quantities of water could lower water levels in nearby lakes, as well as rivers and streams that flow into Lake Superior.

Mining & the Great Lakes Compact

Thank you for your continued support.

As of this writing, a committee vote has been

scheduled for January 24 and action by the full Assembly could happen

January 26.

Watch Facebook, Twitter and our Action Network to lend your voice to the fight to stop

this dangerous bill.

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Mining Bill, take 2AB 426 laden with problem provisions

Our message began to resonate.

"It's almost as if children replaced Republican legislators and dared each other to see

just how outrageous they could make this bill."

www.cleanwisconsin.org 11

Connecting the DotsJobs & the environment in Milwaukee County

The following is a recap of Dr. Henry S. Cole’spresentation on October 20, 2011 by Doug La Follette,

co-founder, Clean Wisconsin

Environmental and economic crises Today, we face serious economic and environmental crises; 25 million Americans are either unemployed, underemployed or have given up. Seniors have seen retirement funds shriv-el while the Congressional leaders call for cuts in Social Security and Medi-care, hundreds of thousands of public employees have been laid off, and government funding for education and aid to the poor have been slashed.

On the environmental front, mining, logging and monoculture agricul-ture destroys critical ecosystems, harms public health and devastates local economies. Thousands of species go extinct each year, and many more are threatened. Agricultural runoff in the Mississippi Valley causes a growing dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico. Globally, increased carbon emissions are heating up the atmosphere, increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events and acidifying the oceans.

Unfortunately, powerful corporate interests and their political allies have broadcast the message that job creation requires big environmental and fi-nancial rollbacks and that government has no role in shaping economic so-lutions. Though the rhetoric may persuade those desperate for jobs, the logic is wrong. Our economic future depends on investments and government incentives that spur environmentally sustainable economic development.

Milwaukee does both In Milwaukee entrepreneurs, government and communities have worked together to develop ventures and programs that provide jobs and benefit the environment. The lecture’s venue, Helios So-lar Works, located in Milwaukee’s Menomonee Valley, makes the point.

The Menomonee Valley Redevelopment Project Over the past decade, organizations here have turned a 1,300-acre industrial graveyard into a grow-ing economically and environmentally sustainable redevelopment area.

These examples from Milwaukee demonstrate that economic develop-ment, job creation and increased environmental sustainability can go hand in hand. The mutual benefits are especially pronounced when develop-ment mimics the natural traits that contribute to the vibrancy, resilience and longevity of ecosystems, including reliance on decentralized renewable energy, efficient use of resources, maximum recycling, localism, ground-up development, investment in restoration and infrastructure, diversity and a robust interplay of competition and cooperation.

All this will require a change in the current flawed paradigm which main-tains that sacrificing the environment is a prerequisite for a prosperity. With millions of jobless Americans, it’s time to invest in sustainable devel-opment and environmental restoration.

the second Doug La Follette speakers Program helped“Paint the

Cream City Green”

Thank you to all those who attended the second Doug La Follette Speakers Program.

Find future events at cleanwisconsin.org/speakers

Clean Wisconsin’s 2nd Annual Doug La Follette Speaker Series

featured Henry S. Cole, Ph.D., on October 20, 2011

at Helios Solar Works, Milwaukee

On a clear, cold night in late October, I found myself speeding up a tree-lined hill just outside Glen Ellen, California. Within minutes, I’d ar-rived at Jack London State Park.

I’d expected to see it shuttered. Jack London State Park is an icon of budget cuts gone wild, according to one of my fa-vorite political writers, Tim-othy Egan. In an editorial in June, Egan identified the recent cuts to natural and public resources as “the death of American life by a thousand cuts” while he laments “our heritage — in the natural world and in preserva-tion of the stories and people who came before us — is being erased.” While Egan was specifically talking about the park system, his words hold weight for state natural resources agencies.

Like many states, Wisconsin agencies that pro-tect natural resources are chronically lacking in staff and resources. This isn’t a new problem, but one created over the last decade. Our DNR’s water program was cut significantly in the last de-cade, leaving the program without enough staff to create water quality standards, draft and re-view permits, and monitor and enforce existing laws. The DNR has streamlined programs and processes to such a point that the EPA outlined 75 deficiencies in our water pollution permitting program in a letter last year.

What’s more is that the Department of Agri-culture, Trade, and Consumer Protection has proposed devastating cuts to local conservation programs. County conservation officials know their county’s landscape, where problems exist, the people involved, and the details of pollution

problems. Where local oversight is often most appropriate in finding solutions to water pollu-tion problems, such as whether to enforce regu-lations or provide cost-share to a cash-strapped farmer, funds are being cut to take out the grant programs that support local officials.

Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention. Facing these lacking resources, environmental and citizen groups often pick up the slack and through collaborative efforts, bring new science, information or thinking to agencies. An example of this is DNR’s phosphorus water quality stan-dard process; environmental groups worked with agency staff and the regulated community to cre-ate an innovative rule that allows permittees to find cost-effective solutions to restore water qual-ity. While this rule is attractive to the regulated community because it will save permit holders billions of dollars, it comes with serious respon-sibilities for those permit holders and the DNR

staff who will monitor it. Just like a car engine needs an adequate

amount of oil to run, so do government agencies and programs need adequate staff. Currently, our state agencies and programs are operating at significantly diminished capacity, and our envi-

ronment and public health bears the brunt of this problem. Environmental

advocates and citizen groups are taking on some of the roles of government agencies, including monitoring and enforcement, staff education, helping create regulations, and lobbying for in-creased agency funding. Because we’re able to fill some of the roles, we’re a good investment.

However, environmental and citizen groups have limited capacity, and when they spend time filling government roles, they aren’t able to spend time pushing forward. These groups played an important role in the passage of the Clean Wa-ter Act and other environmental protection laws; would this have happened if these groups were tied up filling government roles? Moreover, gov-ernment is often best suited to play the regulator, as it has regulatory power and the most efficient access to science. Government plays an impor-tant role in protecting our environment and public health, and must be adequately funded to do so.

Picking up the slackLike the phosphorus rule, collaboration is key to combatting cuts to agencies and programs

By Melissa Malott, Water Program Director

Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention.

From left: Dr. henry S. Cole and Doug la Follette chat with an emploiyee of helios Solar Works.

we believewe believeWisconsin needs safe, protective mining laws for clean air and water

Wisconsin’s Northwoods is under attack.Out-of-state businesses rewriting our mining laws is a problem. As your voice for

the environment in the Capitol, Clean Wisconsin has the expertise, relationships and political and media savvy to provide a solution.

Since the start, your support has been critical to helping Clean Wisconsin be a strong voice in this important fight. With a bad bill up for a vote,

we need your voice and support even more.

To support this work, visit www.cleanwisconsin.org/safemininglaws

join us:join us:

Looking at Bass Lake from Marengo,

Ashland CountyPhoto by Pete Rasmussen