Clean Economy Coalition of Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Public Service Commission recently approved the Vista Sands solar farm in Portage County, WI, projected to be the most powerful solar farm in the state and among the most powerful in the country. CECW partner organization Clean Wisconsin, who submitted testimony to the PSC about the many benefits of the project, commented on how Vista Sands will improve environmental health and provide clean energy to the state.

It's the first day of the CECW Annual Coalition Meeting, a chance for members of our organization to reflect on the past year and discuss climate-forward outreach and initiatives for 2025. It's great to see our wonderful leaders and decision-makers gathering together to collaborate in person!

We Energies plans to build a new natural gas-fired plant in Paris, WI, which is projected to produce up to about 590,000 tons in greenhouse gas emissions annually. While the plant still requires approval by the PSC, CECW partner organization Healthy Climate Wisconsin cited concerns about the public health impact of the proposed plant.

Energy independence is often used as a talking point to promote a greater reliance on fossil fuels, but green energy can also be used to achieve energy independence. CECW partner organization Clean Wisconsin's Jacob Ahrens-Balwit recently published an op-ed in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about how green energy and legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act work to help Wisconsin meet its energy needs without relying on global markets.

A new report by CECW partner organization Union of Concerned Scientists has found that wetlands save Wisconsin and the upper Midwest almost $23 billion per year that would otherwise be spent combating flooding. Flooding is expected to get more frequent and severe in Wisconsin due to climate change, making wetlands even more important for the health and economy of our state.

Tax rebates from the Inflation Reduction Act are still available to Wisconsin homeowners looking to lower energy costs and make energy efficiency improvements to their homes. Kevin Kane, chief economist with CECW partner organization Green Homeowners United, discussed how much money Wisconsinites can receive via rebates with Wisconsin Public Radio.

Wisconsin homeowners across the state are using Inflation Reduction Act dollars to make their homes energy efficient. Our partner, Green Homeowners United assists homeowners who qualify for Inflation Reduction Act rebates by installing insulation, heat pumps and more in qualified homes. "We have been advocating for making sure this program works for people in the two years since it passed," says Kevin Kane, Green Homeowners United co-founder. "Right after the law passed, I read the thing upside and down as far as what impact it had on homes. And we’ve played the role of advocate for consumers, advisor to public policy experts, working with workforce agencies to try to figure out what is to be expected as this really rolls out." Read this article from WUWM 89.7 FM - Milwaukee's NPR to learn more about opportunities available to you from the IRA!

CECW partners RENEW Wisconsin and Clean Wisconsin discuss the changes on the horizon for policies that support climate action in Wisconsin, including the Inflation Reduction Act, under President-elect Donald Trump. This landmark law has already helped Wisconsin make major strides in renewable energy, creating nearly $1 billion in clean energy projects and over 1,900 new jobs. Plus, it’s made Wisconsin the first state to offer rebates up to $10,000 to help residents improve their home energy efficiency. This CapTimes article details what's at stake:

Wisconsin energy experts say President-elect Donald Trump will slow reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change and the shift to renewable energy, but not stop it entirely. CECW partner organizations Clean Wisconsin, Climate Power and Ingeteam discussed how the Inflation Reduction Act has led to major private and governmental investments in clean energy and labor in Wisconsin since 2022.

Last week, the Wisconsin Public Service Commission, the state agency that regulates public utilities, voted to approve rate increases in 2025 and 2026 for We Energies, costing the average customer about $17 more for electricity and $4 to $9 more for gas per month by 2026. CECW partner organization Sierra Club commented on the rate increase in a Wisconsin State Journal article detailing the impact of the rate increases: