CNOW for March 13, 2023

This week's conservation notices:

• Oppose LRB 1109: Creating Unnecessary Hurdles for Wind Energy
• Support LRB 1728: Establishing an Economic Justice Bill of Rights
• Support SB 58: Expanding Access to the Well Compensation Grant Program
• Support AB 61 & SB 52: Preventing Salt Pollution
• Oppose AJR 6: Eliminating the Governor’s Ability to Spend Federal Dollars

Wisconsin Conservation Voters urges you to oppose LRB 1109, which is circulating for co-sponsorship.

Wind turbines are a safe, reliable, and proven technology to meet our state’s energy needs. Wind energy produces no pollution that can increase smog, soot, or climate emissions. LRB 1109 would allow local governments to impose more restrictive restrictions on wind energy based on unproven concerns that have largely been debunked.

Wisconsin Conservation Voters urges you to support LRB 1728, which is circulating for co-sponsorship.

Every Wisconsinite should have equitable access to the resources they need to drink safe drinking water, breathe clean air, put food on the table, make a housing payment, get the healthcare they need, live free from oppression, and find time for rest and leisure. LRB 1728 proposes an Economic Justice Bill of Rights which would affirm Wisconsin’s commitment to these rights.

Wisconsin Conservation Voters urges you to support SB 58, which is before the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Tourism on Wednesday.

Every Wisconsinite deserves to know the water coming out of their taps is safe to drink. Nitrate contamination is the most common groundwater contaminant in Wisconsin and can lead to health effects including cancer, birth defects, and even infant death. SB 58 supports Wisconsinites facing nitrate contamination by making small but necessary improvements to eligibility requirements under the state’s Well Compensation Grant Program. These changes will allow more people to access funds that protect their well water from the dangers of nitrate contamination.

Wisconsin Conservation Voters urges you to support AB 61 & SB 52, which are before the Assembly Committee on Regulatory Licensing Reform and the Senate Committee on Natural Resources on Wednesday.

We need to protect our freshwater ecosystems. Each winter, excess road salt accumulates in our freshwater and damages those ecosystems – largely resulting from overapplication intended to avoid liability for damages associated with snow and ice hazards. AB 61 & SB 52 would create a voluntary de-icer certification program that trains commercial applicators in best management practices for snow and ice removal and, in turn, limit their liability for potential damages.

Wisconsin Conservation Voters urges you to oppose AJR 6, which is before the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means on Thursday.

Wisconsin communities depend on the quick deployment of federal dollars to protect their drinking water, fund clean energy projects, and respond to extreme weather emergencies. AJR 6 would eliminate the governor’s ability to quickly distribute this federal funding.

Conservation Notices of the Week (CNOW) announces the pro-conservation positions on issues before the senate, assembly and/or governor in the week ahead to state legislators. Others wishing to follow activities in the state legislature also receive CNOW, including legislative staff, conservation voters, and media. All of these issues are tracked on the Vote Tracker. Issues in the CNOW may appear in the Conservation Scorecard.