Clean Energy Jobs Act

List of Task Force Members  | Final Report | Topical Sections of the Act | Legislative Documents

Overview

On April 5, 2007, Governor Doyle created a Task Force on Global Warming through Executive Order 191. The Task Force consisted of a diverse membership representing a cross-section of Wisconsin’s economy and its communities¹. The assignments of the Task Force were to:

(1) present viable, actionable policy recommendations to the Governor to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Wisconsin and make Wisconsin a leader in implementation of global warming solutions;

(2) advise the Governor on the ongoing opportunities to address global warming locally, while growing our state’s economy, creating new jobs, and utilizing an appropriate mix of fuels and technologies in Wisconsin’s energy and transportation portfolios; and

(3) identify specific short- and long-term goals for reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Wisconsin that are, at minimum, consistent with Wisconsin’s proportionate share of reductions that are needed to occur worldwide to minimize the impacts of global warming.

The Task Force issued a Final Report in July 2008² that recommended dozens of policy actions to reduce greenhouse gas pollution in Wisconsin while growing the state’s economy. Soon thereafter, committee leaders in the State Assembly and State Senate began work on an omnibus bill containing all of the main elements of the Task Force recommendations, excluding from the bill any recommendations that would have fiscal impacts for the state budget. The primary objective of the legislative drafting process was to craft statutory language that faithfully adhered to the recommendations of the Task Force as closely as possible.

The result of this effort is the proposed Clean Energy Jobs Act, which soon will be formally introduced in the Legislature. The proposed Clean Energy Jobs Act includes a variety of new policies designed to encourage more efficient use of energy, less dependence on imported fossil fuels, new opportunities in agriculture and forestry, and more transportation options, while also creating or maintaining Wisconsin jobs.

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Overview Footnotes:

¹ A complete list of Task Force members is available at http://dnr.wi.gov/environmentprotect/gtfgw/members.html

² The Final Report is available at http://dnr.wi.gov/environmentprotect/gtfgw/documents/Final_Report.pdf

Main Topical Sections of the Act

Enhanced Energy Efficiency and Conservation Efforts

Renewable Fuels

Emissions Reductions

Lifting Wisconsin’s “Nuclear Moratorium”

Sustainable Forests

Transportation