TUE AM News: WisDOT launching pilot program with $32M in federal funding; HUD announces $5.5M for Stoughton apartment project

November 26, 2024

— The state Department of Transportation is launching a pilot program to study the carbon emissions of construction materials with $32 million in newly announced federal funds.

Gov. Tony Evers yesterday announced the grant from a U.S. Department of Transportation program, funded through the Inflation Reduction Act. The state DOT will use the funds to explore “evidence-based strategies” for assessing environmental impacts of construction materials, according to the release.

The findings of this program will lead to broader adoption of low-carbon transportation materials being used in Wisconsin, the guv’s office says. WisDOT will set sustainability benchmarks for state project contracts, with a goal of making infrastructure more environmentally sustainable.

WisDOT Secretary Kristina Boardman, who started in the role in September, says the grant will help the state achieve that goal “without sacrificing performance.”

The agency will also look into ways to verify if pilot projects have lower greenhouse gas emissions, and use the data to work toward a “full-scale” low-carbon transportation materials program in the state.

Evers says the funding will help the state “leave our kids with a brighter, healthier world” while also enabling the construction of modern infrastructure needed to be economically competitive.

“The climate crisis is happening right before our eyes, and working to limit our greenhouse gas emissions is a huge part of that fight,” he said in a statement.

Yesterday’s announcement references findings from the United Nations showing the global buildings and construction sector makes up about 37% of emissions worldwide.

It notes operational emissions from things like heating, cooling and lighting are being driven downward by sustainability efforts in the coming years. But at the same time, “embodied” carbon emissions stemming from the production and use of materials such as cement and steel have remained more stable, contributing substantially to climate impacts.

See the release and get more details on the Federal Highway Administration’s Low-Carbon Transportation Materials Grants Program.

— The Greenspire Apartments affordable housing project in Stoughton is getting $5.5 million in federal funding.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development yesterday announced funding from the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program for this and other projects. The Greenspire Apartments project, which has 92 low-income families, will use the GRRP funding to achieve special energy efficiency certification.

To get the International Living Future Institute Zero Energy Certification, the project will install new insulation to reduce energy needs, electrify building systems with ground-source heat pumps and other measures, and istall a new solar array with backup energy storage.

See the release.

— A Trempealeau County judge has allowed to proceed a lawsuit challenging new restrictions on wedding barns, according to online court records.

Judge Rian Radtke on Friday rejected the state’s efforts to dismiss portions of the lawsuit that argue the restrictions violate the rights to earn an honest living and equal protection, as well as the argument they are unconstitutional.

Radtke granted the state’s motion to dismiss one count that argued the regulations impose a tax that will make it hard for wedding barn operators to participate in an occupation of their choosing.

Radke scheduled a Jan. 15 status conference.

The wedding barn regulations are part of a larger overhaul of alcohol laws that lawmakers approved this session. The regulations, which start Jan. 1, 2026, include a requirement that wedding barns either get a liquor license or a “no sale event venue permit.” The latter would allow wedding barns six carry-in events a year that provide beer and wine, with no more than one event per month.

— Assembly Speaker Robin Vos is promising the GOP will introduce a tax cut bill, in part targeting retirement income, using the state’s now projected $4 billion surplus.

“We’re not going to spend that money on growing the size of government, because we already gave pretty large increases to make sure we kept up with inflation in the last budget,” Vos told WISN’s “UpFront,” which is produced in partnership with WisPolitics.

He added he was unsure if the language would be exactly the same as a previous bill Dem Gov. Tony Evers vetoed.

“We have to talk about it with our members,” Vos said. “I think the language that we had was pretty good. It was very progressive, the fact that it wasn’t open-ended; it was capped. I think that is something that we will certainly would look at, but again, I want to talk about it with my colleagues. We have a new state Senate. We have a lot of people to talk to.”

Vos is already drawing numerous red lines on budget requests coming from state agencies, including education and the Universities of Wisconsin.

“We’re not going to give $1 billion to the university. I can tell you that’s probably not going to happen,” Vos said. “I think it’s unlikely that we’re going to give Superintendent Underly’s request for this massive increase in education spending when we just gave the largest increase in a generation like 18 months ago. So that is nothing but a political document from her.”

See more from the show and see related WisPolitics coverage.

— Madison-based health plan Quartz is rolling out new maternal health programs, offering pregnancy support, postpartum care and more.

The health plan yesterday announced the programs, which provide educational tools for families who want to conceive, health coaching, clinical support, infant care guidance and more.

“We believe in supporting our members through every major life milestone,” said Jami Berger, chief clinical officer at Quartz. “By offering Healthy Beginnings and Healthy Futures, we aim to provide the information and care they need to ensure their families can thrive right from the start.”

Quartz says it’s working with the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness in Madison and others to offer virtual and in-person doula services to eligible health plan members. Doulas are non-medical professionals that focus on pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. The announcement notes doulas provide “culturally reflective and responsive care” while working with medical teams.

Lisa Peyton, CEO and president of the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness, stresses the “powerful role doulas play in advancing quality maternal and infant care and better birth outcomes, and this partnership will make those benefits more accessible than ever to women and families who deserve the best care we can provide.”

See the release.

Top headlines from the Health Care Report…

— Gov. Tony Evers and first lady Kathy Evers are promoting Wisconsin’s mental health resources and urging state residents to seek support during the holiday season.

For more of the most relevant health care news, reports on groundbreaking research in Wisconsin, links to top stories and more, sign up today for the free daily Health Care Report from WisPolitics and WisBusiness.com.

Sign up here.

— The Wisconsin Technology Council has assembled a panel of higher education leaders for its Innovation Network luncheon today in Madison.

Attendees will hear from the panelists on the future of Wisconsin’s higher education systems, from private colleges to technical campuses and the Universities of Wisconsin.

Panelists include: Eric Fulcomer, president of the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities; Layla Merrifield, president of the Wisconsin Technical College System; and Jay Rothman, president of the Universities of Wisconsin System.

Tom Still, president of the Tech Council, will moderate the discussion.

“Different elements in Wisconsin’s higher ed structure help support the economy in many ways, from workforce training to research to industry partnerships,” Still said in a statement. “It will be instructive to learn how Fulcomer, Merrifield and Rothman view separate challenges and common opportunities.”

See more event details.

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