Statements on Wisconsin Energy Bill
From the statement of the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters delivered by Kerry Schumann on behalf of several organizations and individuals on legislation to codify the recommendations of the bipartisan Task Force on Energy Efficiency and Renewables:
I would like to thank Senator Cowles, Representative Montgomery and other members of the Senate and Assembly Energy Committees for your work on the energy bill. While we know some changes need to be made to this bill, we appreciate the good-faith effort of Senator Cowles and others to amend this bill to create a policy that will move us toward a cleaner, safer, more reliable energy future. . . .
As you move forward with this bill, we ask that you make some changes to ensure that Wisconsin moves toward a cleaner, safer, more secure energy future. The three most important changes are:
1) Maintain the Intent of the State Energy Policy Act: It is critical to maintain an energy policy that prioritizes clean and renewable sources over dirty, nonrenewable
sources. As written, this bill references the State Energy Policy Act in a way that could reduce the State’s ability to enforce the law and remove the state’s future responsibility to pursue clean renewable energy. Please remove references to the Energy Policy Act, Section 1.12.
2) Secure the Public Benefits Fund from Budget Raids: Though the proposed bill creates a third party fiscal agent to handle the funds, it does not secure those funds from diversion for other purposes. To prevent future raids, a segregated
account must also be created that separates Fund dollars from the state treasury.
3) Remove the Cap for Energy Efficiency: The proposed bill caps the amount of money that can be used for energy efficiency at its current levels, which is approximately $63 million a year. At a time when energy efficiency is precisely what we need to focus on, funding must be given the flexibility to grow and continue helping Wisconsin residents.
The Sierra Club also delivered a statement.
