Wisconsin Democrats are moving full steam ahead on the controversial “Forward on Climate” bill package, prioritizing climate change policies with potential high-costs to residents.
Gov. Tony Evers’ Task Force on Climate Change devised the plan that includes 18 bills with various green energy investments, more trees in urban areas, and an investment in a Green Jobs Training Grant program.
Representative Greta Neubauer (D-Racine) who led the environmental legislation group on this said in a statement that this measure was essential. “Our lives, and every generation from here on out, will be affected by climate change,” said Neubauer, “That’s why we need to take action now to secure our shared future and build a resilient economy and state.”
The proposed legislation will also permit the Public Service Commission to create a utilities program that promises to “finance” home improvements for residents with HVAC upgrades, solar panel installation, or other energy upgrades. The planned upgrades would be added to a customer’s bill and paid off over time. The potential bills would also include a $1.5 million annual grant program through the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, allowing school districts to strengthen infrastructure and transition to renewable energy.
Yet another proposal on the table by Wisconsin Democrats includes a public expenditure of $1.8 million on county conservation corps positions and the creation of a new Wisconsin Climate Corps program. They’re also hoping to mandate the Department of Natural Resources to report the potential environmental impact of any project that needs a DNR approval.
Gov’s Evers’ created the Task Force in 2020 as part of the Office of Sustainability and Green Energy and with the goal of what they describe in their annual Climate Change Report as “Climate Justice.” The Climate Task Force has a number of lofty goals to effectuate environmental changes, as listed in their Annual Climate Change Report. Their plans include policy recommendations to education, agriculture, transportation, energy, forestry, and a ‘clean economy,’ amongst others.
The ambitious plan and the recent proposals scheduled to pass have minimal research supporting the environmental impact of such measures and there is low accountability to track the effectiveness, as prices go up. (RELATED: AI Critics Secretly Bankrolled Newsroom Coverage to Skew Public Perception)
“This work is not over—it must continue in the months and years ahead in order to build the future we want for our state. I am confident that, together, we can build on this momentum to achieve our climate goals, protect our natural environment, create good-paying, clean jobs, and ensure a better future for our kids,” said Gov. Evers.
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