State officials say Wisconsin is making progress toward its clean energy goals, pointing to projected utility emissions reductions, new renewable resources and other steps.
The Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy yesterday released a progress report, about a year after Gov. Tony Evers created the state’s Clean Energy Plan in April 2022. Among other objectives, the state aims to reach 100 percent carbon-free electricity consumption by 2050, reduce fossil fuel pollution and expand the clean energy workforce.
To achieve these goals, OSCE Director Maria Redmond says the state is working to accelerate deployment of clean energy technologies, improve energy efficiency efforts, “modernize” buildings and industries and drive innovation in the transportation space.
“We also continue to prioritize health equity, environmental justice, and equitable economic development, fast-track workforce development and just transition, and accelerate government-led efforts,” she said in the report.
The 27-page report covers a wide array of activities, ranging from actions by the Public Service Commission supporting renewables and new energy storage projects to electric vehicle infrastructure development.
Utilities in Wisconsin project they will reduce emissions from electricity generation by 58 percent by 2028, marking “significant progress” from the 40 percent reduction from baseline seen in 2020, report authors wrote.
They note the “key driving factor” for that estimate is the planned decommissioning of three of the state’s seven utility-scale coal facilities. Once that’s complete, the share of Wisconsin’s electricity generation from coal will drop from about 33 percent to 20 percent, the report shows. That gap will be filled in part by planned solar energy developments and more battery storage.
The report highlights efforts to reduce energy consumption by state agencies and on UW System campuses, including new solar projects being developed at UW-Parkside, UW-Stout and UW-Stevens Point.
And it includes an overview of efforts by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority to encourage more sustainable building practices around the state.
See the full report: https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/WIGOV/2023/05/16/file_attachments/2500046/Clean%20Energy%20Plan%202023%20Progress%20Report.pdf
See more: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WIGOV/bulletins/35a33b3
