Coalition formed to advance clean economy transition

Green Valley Dairy's solar field in Krakow, Wis. installed by Arch Electric/Arch Electric

State and local leaders joined members of the newly launched Clean Economy Coalition of Wisconsin to underscore the urgency of Wisconsin’s clean energy transition. 

Speaking yesterday at a Milwaukee event celebrating the launch of the new coalition, Gov. Tony Evers said “there’s no greater time than now” to advance the state’s goals around clean energy and sustainability. He referenced the state’s projected $7 billion surplus as well as the billions of federal dollars expected for Wisconsin from the Inflation Reduction Act. 

“We don’t have to choose between mitigating climate change and protecting our environment and good-paying jobs and economic development,” Evers said. “We can and we are doing both.” 

Mark Redsten, president and CEO of coalition member Clean Wisconsin, said the group was formed by organizations with a common goal of accelerating the state’s goal of reaching carbon-free electricity by 2050. Other members include RENEW Wisconsin, the state chapter of the Sierra Club, Wisconsin Conservation Voters, Walnut Way Conservation Corp., Action for the Climate Emergency and more. 

“The work the coalition is setting out to do isn’t just focused on protecting our built and native landscapes or enabling Wisconsin’s energy independence,” Redsten said. “It’s about creating new jobs for Wisconsin workers, protecting our citizens’ health and wellbeing, delivering investments in infrastructure and technology.” 

Meanwhile, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson highlighted the impacts of climate change on various communities in the state. Crowley argued this issue “can and should trump all political parties,” while Johnson pointed to a recent United Nations report on the “narrowing window” for humanity to act on climate change. 

The coalition has agreed on six “tenets of a clean economy” that make up its 2023 policy agenda, which will guide members’ advocacy and other efforts. These include: a healthy economy; environmental justice and infrastructure; carbon-free power; home and building repair; thriving landscapes; and next-gen transportation. 

As part of the home and building repair pillar, members aim to achieve 100 percent carbon-free new residential and commercial buildings by 2030, and a 50 percent reduction of building sector energy use by 2030. Related efforts will seek to phase out natural gas use in existing homes and businesses, reduce energy burden on low-income households and more. 

Members also say they will work toward making the transition to electric vehicles “effective, easy and equitable,” with a stated goal of more than 50 percent of new car sales being EVs by 2030. 

As part of its policy efforts, the coalition also says it’s working with the Wisconsin Local Government Climate Coalition, which represents more than a dozen communities around the state with more than 1.8 million collective residents. 

See more on the Clean Economy Coalition of Wisconsin here: https://cleaneconomywi.com/ 

See a recent story on the local government climate group: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/local-governments-band-together-on-climate-issues/ 

See Evers’ release on the coalition launching: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WIGOV/bulletins/3517f17 

–By Alex Moe