Clean Energy for All

Human-driven climate change is scientific fact and Wisconsin is already suffering because of it. We are committed to moving our state and country toward 100 percent clean energy by 2050.

With a focus on climate justice, our work is based in community. We work with organizations, community leaders, elected officials, activists, and voters to bring the following goals to life:

• Build authentic relationships with people impacted by climate change and ensure policy solutions benefit them.
• Help local communities pass and begin implementing clean energy policies.
• Ensure that the Wisconsin Congressional Delegation does its part to pass bold and equitable climate legislation.
• Ensure climate action policies at the state level have a focus on environmental and racial justice.
• Work with elected climate champions at all levels of government for clean energy and climate action, and give them opportunities to advance their climate agendas.

Reduced corn harvests, unprecedented flooding, disrupted wildlife migration, toxic algae blooms in our lakes, degradation of water quality in the Great Lakes, even increased mosquito hatches – climate change is already having serious detrimental effects in Wisconsin.

Unfortunately, Wisconsin relies almost entirely on fossil fuels, particularly coal, for its electricity. Since it has no reserves of fossil fuels, Wisconsin imports millions of dollars of coal and other fossil fuels from places like Wyoming and Illinois each year.

Meanwhile, many of our Midwestern neighbors have invested in clean energy. Wisconsin ranks behind states like Kansas, Nebraska, and South and North Dakota in the creation of renewable energy jobs.

Wisconsinites care deeply about their state's natural resources and combatting climate change. According to a recent survey, nearly 8 in 10 Wisconsinites believe in climate change, and 6 in 10 believe we must do everything we can to avoid the worst impacts. For more information you can access the poll here.

There is so much opportunity at the local level to advance the development of clean energy in a time when progress in higher levels of government might be slower. We don't need to wait for the state and federal government to do something about clean energy. We can make change now in our local communities

Currently nearly 1 in 3 Americans are represented by governments who have made clean energy commitments. In Wisconsin, communities like Eau Claire and Green Bay have proven that they can lead the clean energy charge. Wisconsin Conservation Voters has worked with our members, partner groups, local elected officials, and businesses to pass resolutions committing to 100 percent clean energy by 2050 and help communities find their next steps with resources like the Wisconsin Clean Energy Toolkit.

Check out the work happening on the local level.

Gov. Tony Evers and his administration have demonstrated a commitment to clean energy. The Evers' Administration goal put Wisconsin on a path toward 100 percent clean energy by 2050, and communities across the state are leading the charge by taking steps locally to embrace clean energy policy and goals.

In 2019, Gov. Evers formed the Office for Sustainability and Clean Energy and appointed Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes to chair the Governor's Task Force on Climate Change. The task force brought a diverse coalition of Wisconsin stakeholders to chart a path to clean energy and climate justice. In April 2022, Gov. Evers released his Clean Energy Plan. The Clean Energy Plan constitutes the strongest roadmap to climate justice and clean energy in Wisconsin history and charts a path toward 100 percent clean energy by 2050.

In November 2022, we re-elected Gov. Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul and protected the governor's veto in the legislature. The ramifications of this victory are enormous, and mean that we can continue to move our state forward to reduce our dependence on polluting fossil fuels, invest in safe drinking water protections, and make sure we rebuild an equitable
democracy.

Wisconsin Conservation Voters is working to build on the momentum the governor has set into motion by championing climate action and legislation at the federal, state, and local level.

Learn more about the progress being made at the state level.

Along with RENEW Wisconsin and Sierra Club of Wisconsin, we launched the Wisconsin Clean Energy Toolkit – a comprehensive guide for local communities on how to embrace clean energy goals and policy. The toolkit provides a roadmap for local communities of all sizes toward adopting meaningful clean energy policy where it counts most, at home.

With the growing concern over climate change, many local communities are hungry to develop clean energy plans. But, they often struggle with how to begin, both from a technical perspective and how to engage their communities. We created the toolkit to give those communities the resources and information they need to make a strong commitment to clean energy.

You can learn more about the toolkit here.