Spring 2008 • Vol. 38, No. 2

INSIDETaking charge & taking action; We need your photos! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Legislative updates; Utility exposed of withholding valuable information 3

Shaping the debate about Alliant’s coal plant; Why should you care? . . . . 4

A new effort to improve Madison’s lakes; Offi ce administrator sought . . . 5

Regulating global warming; Mercury products continued from cover . . . . 6

Wind power gusts through legislature; Earth Day deeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Polluted runoff rules and legislative updates continued . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Clean Wisconsin events; Great Lakes event; DNR Spring Hearings . . . . . . 9

Businesses invited to sponsor Clean Wisconsin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Keith Reopelle

Kudos to hundreds of Clean Wisconsin members across the state who played a major role in helping to get Senate Bill 346 (SB 346) passed through the State Senate. Unfortunately, this bill died in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee along with many other important environmental bills.

SB 346 would have banned the retail sale of numerous mercury-containing products including thermostats, switches, relays, commercial measuring devices, and household products such as games, jewelry, clothing, and cosmetics.

Many of you, our members, played key roles in educating your representatives in the Capitol and demon-strating to them how important it is to their constituents that we protect our children’s health by eliminating mercury in products that end up in our landfi lls and incinerators. At key junctures in the legislative session members:

• Met with and called their Senators requesting they co-sponsor SB 346.• Mailed and e-mailed statements of support that Clean Wisconsin staff delivered to Senators on the

Environmental Committee at the Bill hearing.• Made calls and sent e-mails asking Senators to vote for the bill.

The DNR estimates that as much as 5,000 pounds of mercury are released into the environment each year

Working together brings major victory on mercury

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Clean Wisconsin122 State Street Suite 200Madison, WI 53703-2500

Nonprofi t Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 1291

Madison, WI

Updating Wisconsin’s polluted runoff rulesWill Hoyer

In 2002, through the hard work of many people and the support of people like you who believe in clean water, Wisconsin became one of the fi rst states in the nation to pass a comprehensive set of administrative rules protecting our waterways from polluted runoff. One large piece of the puzzle left out of the rule, NR

151, however was the role of riparian vegetated buffers along lakes, rivers and streams in reducing the amount of nutrients and sediment entering our waters from farms.

The water rich in fertilizer and sediment that fl ows off of farm fi elds, roads, and lawns is called non-point source pollution, or polluted runoff. Most people agree this is the biggest threat to the water quality of

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Thank YOU for protecting the Great LakesGreat Lakes Compact sails through State Senate

In the past month, you and your fellow Clean Wisconsin members have been increasing the drumbeat for a strong Great Lakes Com-

pact. At fi rst, letters and phone calls trickled into the capitol from around the state, directed at the governor and various legislators. More recently, the fl ow of letters and phone calls had the makings of a small river, where citizen voices rivaled the power of the Wisconsin River.

Thank you for your efforts! On March 6th the State Senate passed Senate Bill 523 by a vote of 26 to 6 to ratify and implement the Great Lakes Compact, in an effort to prevent large scale diversions of the Great Lakes water and ensure that the Great Lakes states drive the management of these world class resources. This bill is now in the hands of the State Assembly and specifi cally the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. As of the writing of this article the regularly scheduled 2007-08 session has come to an end, but Governor Doyle has pledged to call a special session of the legislature which would bring both the Senate and Assembly back to pass this bill. This is an extraordinary step for an

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Clean Wisconsin members and staff bring about product bans

Wisconsin Department of Tourism

The Defender, Spring 2008, Vol. 38, No. 22

122 State Street Suite 200 • Madison WI 53703-4333Phone: (608) 251-7020 • Fax: (608) 251-1655

www.CleanWisconsin.org

Clean Wisconsin, an environmental advocacy organization, protects Wisconsin’s clean water and air and advocates for clean energy by being an effective voice in the state legislature and by holding elected officials and corporations accountable.

Founded in 1970 as Wisconsin’s Environmental Decade, Clean Wisconsin exposes corporate polluters, makes sure existing environmental laws are enforced, and educates citizens and businesses.

On behalf of its 10,000 members and its coalition partners, Clean Wisconsin protects the special places that make Wiscon-sin such a wonderful place to live, work and play.

Executive Director Mark Redsten

Program and Communications

Program Director Keith Reopelle

Energy Program Director Katie Nekola

Water Program Director Melissa Malott

Communications Creative Director Shauna Cook

Water Specialist Will Hoyer

Staff Scientist Peter Taglia

Grassroots Organizer Ryan Schryver

RE-AMP Coordinator Elizabeth Wheeler

Interns Adam Conlin

Sam Weis

Membership and Development

Development Director Brian Kelly

Membership & Development Manager Becky Weber

Gof Thomson – Chair (New Glarus)

Carl Sinderbrand – Vice Chair and Acting Treasurer (Madison)

Gary Goyke – Secretary (Madison)

Mark Gill (Milwaukee)Kate Gordon (California)Susan Greenfield (Racine)Paul Linzmeyer (Green Bay)Pam McGillivray (Madison)David Wandel (Madison)Guy Wolf (Stoddard)

STAFF

BOARD

The Defender is owned and published quarterly by Clean Wisconsin, 122 State Street Suite 200, Madison, Wisconsin 53703, (608) 251-7020. Founded in 1970, Clean Wisconsin is a statewide, non-profit environmental advocacy organization. A one-year subscription membership is $30. Please direct correspondence to the address above.Volume 38, No. 2 Issue date: April 2008©2008 Clean Wisconsin. All rights reservedPrinted with soy ink on unbleached, recycled paper.ISSN # 1549-8107

Tell us your observationsAre you noticing birds arriving at your feeders earlier in the spring than usual? Did the hibernating chip-

munks show up on your porch before they looked awake? Clean Wisconsin wants to know if you’ve noticed any changes in your natural environment that could be attributed to global warming. If so, please email us at wiswarm@cleanwisconsin.org to share your story.

Changing perceptions of global warmingHost a presentation of Wisconsin’s Inconvenient Truth in your community. Clean Wisconsin’s Ryan

Schryver has been trained by former Vice President and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Al Gore to give global warming presentations. These presentations have helped thousands of Wisconsinites understand the local ef-fects of climate change and identify ways we can work together to reduce our global warming pollution.

If you are interested in hosting a presentation in your community contact Ryan Schryver at rschryver@cleanwisconsin.org or (608) 251-7020 extension 25.

Polluted runoff rulesKeep your eyes open and your ears tuned for news on ways you can provide input on the polluted runoff

rules. Your opinions matter! We will keep you posted via email with details and keep our web site up to date.

We want your digital photos as soon as possible!Clean Wisconsin is seeking digital photos from our members. They can be of environmental degradation

in the state, or enjoying your favorite outdoor places in Wisconsin.

Here are some photo ideas:

• A posed shot of you and your big catch at your favorite fishing hole;

• A photo showing algae on the shores of Lake Michigan; or,

• Low lake levels with piers jutting out onto dry land

We want your permission to use the photos in upcoming materials we produce (reports, fact sheets, etc.). If you have photos you want to share, pick out your favorites and email high resolution photos, as soon as you can to: sacook@cleanwisconsin.org.

We need to reference you (the photographer), any people in the photograph, and the place where the photo was take (name of the park or lake, city or county, etc.). And a little history about what makes the place in the photo special, such as: “This is our family’s favorite camping spot because we have access to Lake So-and-So and the hiking is tremendous. We’ve been camping there for twenty years.” Or what makes the degradation serious, such as: “We’ve lived on the shores of Lake Michigan for forty years and the algae that comes ashore these days is worse than it has ever been.”

In order to keep the administration of managing incoming photos as simple as possible, the submission of your photos establishes permission for us to use them in our materials.

Thanks for your help!

Below are some of the actions you can take to help protect Wisconsin’s clean water, clean air and clean energy.

Photographer: Shauna Cook, Clean Wisconsin member since 2002Location: Spirit Lake in Siren, Wisconsin

This may look like just a couple of walkers on your average road up north. But what I experience when I look at this photo is what I experienced that day: the smell of moss swirling around clean air, the beautiful Wisconsin wildflowers lin-ing the roadside, and the sound of a deer crashing through the woods. Thank you Clean Wisconsin for everything you do to protect Spirit Lake and the surround-ing area so my family and friends can continue to enjoy it.

Clean Wisconsin 3

Great Lakes Compact – Major Victory! On March 6th the State Senate passed Senate Bill

523 by a vote of 26 to 6 to ratify and implement the Great Lakes Compact, in an effort to prevent large scale diversions of the Great Lakes water and ensure that the Great Lakes states drive the management of these world class resources. This bill is now in the hands of the State Assembly and specifically the Assembly Natural Re-sources Committee. As of the writing of this article the regularly scheduled 2007-08 session has come to an end, but Governor Doyle has pledged to call a special session

of the legislature which would bring both the Senate and Assembly back to pass this bill. This is an extraordinary step for an extraordinary resource.

This is a historic piece of legislation, not only because it satisfies Wisconsin’s obligation for ratifying the Great Lakes Compact, but because it creates a water supply management program for much of Wisconsin (the Great Lakes basin). As is the case with most of our legislative victories we couldn’t have succeeded without the active participation of many of our members like you.

Clean Wisconsin staff has made establishing the Great Lakes Compact its highest water priority since 2002. We worked with citizens, businesses, mayors, the Department of Natural Resources, the Council of Great Lakes Governors, legislators and other environmental groups. Our staff reviewed and commented on more than ten drafts of the Compact legislation ranging from 43 pages to 140 pages each.

The major provisions of the Great Lakes Compact include:• A prohibition on diversions beyond counties that straddle the Great Lakes

Basin.• Water conservation requirements for municipalities in basin-straddling

counties that apply for a diversion.• Requirements that communities granted a diversion return the water to the

Great Lakes in an environmentally sustainable way. • Water conservation requirements for large water users within the basin.

• Monitoring and reporting requirements for all large water users.

We greatly appreciate all of the actions our members took to help get a strong Great Lakes Compact in place. Over the past five years Clean Wisconsin members like you attended hearings, wrote legislators, e-mailed legislators, wrote letters to the local newspaper and educated friends and family about the issue. Thank you! We will write a more in-depth article in our next issue explaining the details of this complicated but very important legislation.

Mercury Products LegislationThanks to heavy involvement by many Clean Wisconsin members, Senate Bill

346 passed the Senate by a vote of 30 to 3. Unfortunately, the bill then stalled in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee, as did many other environmental

Clean Wisconsin updates on legislative activities

Holding polluters accountable! Victory in the courts!Clean Wisconsin exposes utility knowingly, illegally, withheld information

Becky Weber

Clean Wisconsin is pleased to announce a victory in the courts! For the past few months, we’ve been fighting the request by Wisconsin Electric (Wepco) to install pollution control equipment on their Oak Creek coal

fired power plant. (Although installing pollution controls sounds like a good idea, it’s not a good idea to keep old, inefficient coal plants running when they should be retired.)

Clean Wisconsin hired experts to analyze whether the pollution controls pro-posed by Wepco would actually be good enough to comply with environmental regulations, including Wisconsin’s revised mercury rule. We also analyzed all the other costs associated with keeping these old plants running, which amounted to millions more dollars than Wepco accounted for. During this process, we request-ed information from the company to do this analysis because Wepco is required to provide all studies and reports they used to make their decision to keep the old units running and we needed this information to do our analysis.

Wepco didn’t give us the studies they used and our experts spent many hours trying to unravel the information. However, after the fact, we did indeed find out that the information we requested existed and Wepco knowingly, illegally, with-held this information from us.

Therefore, we asked the PSC to sanction Wepco for withholding this infor-mation. Recently, the PSC announced they agreed with us and ordered Wepco to compensate our expert and attorney for all the extra time they spent.

This is a major victory for Wisconsin, not only for this particular lawsuit, but also because it exposes the kinds of maneuvers polluters attempt to get away with. Thanks to your support, Clean Wisconsin is able to both continue this fight with Wepco but also continue to “fight the good fight” and not allow corporate pollut-ers to get away with this type of illegal activity.

Background on the case:

• Wisconsin Electric is asking for $830 million to install pollution control equipment on a fifty year old power plant (Oak Creek), so they can keep it running another 20 years.

• Although installing pollution controls sounds like a good idea, it’s not a good idea to keep old, inefficient coal plants running when they should be retired.

• Our position has been that instead of spending millions to keep old coal plants running, they should invest in clean energy solutions. Rather than spending millions to duct tape old, dirty units to keep them limping along another 20 years, they should instead invest ratepayer money in technology that’s not a detriment to our health and the environment.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

We greatly appreciate all of the actions our members took to help get a strong Great Lakes Compact in place.

Clean Wisconsin

The Defender, Spring 2008, Vol. 38, No. 24

Ryan Schryver

In February and March, Clean Wisconsin members from around the state descended on public information meetings in Cassville and Portage to set the tone and send a loud and clear message to the Public Service Commission:

NO MORE COAL!On December 19th, the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) began

the year long process of considering Alliant Energy’s application to build a new 300 megawatt coal plant in Cassville, Wisconsin. In the application Alliant Energy also identified an alternative site for the project near Portage, Wisconsin.

When considering applications for new coal plants various state agencies work together to create an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EIS is designed to look at the impacts the construction and operation of the coal plant will have on the environment and guide the PSC in their decision to approve or reject Alliant’s application. In order to ensure all of the environmental impacts of this project will be considered in the final decision, it was critical that the EIS

be as strong and thorough as possible. Clean Wisconsin members responded to this opportunity in a big way, with car pools and bus loads of people showing up at the meetings ensuring all of the global warming, mercury and air pollutants are adequately addressed in the EIS.

The message our members sent was clear; Wisconsin is overly dependant on dirty coal-fired power plants. Coal plants are already the leading source of global warming, mercury and air pollution in Wisconsin and building a new coal plant will only make these problems worse. Wisconsin needs to be investing in clean, safe and affordable renewable energy options to meet our future energy needs instead of perpetuating our dependence on dirty coal.

The dedication and hard work of our members continues to improve the odds of winning the case at the PSC. Please visit www.CleanWisconsin.org to find out how you can continue to help defeat Alliant’s proposed coal plant and move Wis-consin towards a clean energy future!

Clean Wisconsin members: Helping to shape the debate around Alliant’s proposed coal plant

At first glance, one may assume the Alliant coal plant proposal is only a con-cern for those living in Alliant Energy’s service territory. Not so! The pollution coming from a new plant won’t stay within Alliant’s service terri-

tory, it will affect all Wisconsinites. In fact, the expected global warming pollu-tion to come from Alliant’s proposed plant will erase many of the efforts you and I are making to lessen our impact on global warming. Moreover, our governor and other leaders are committed to taking action to stop global warming, and coal fired power plants are a primary source of global warming pollution. Wisconsin cannot meet its greenhouse gas reduction goals if it allows another coal fired power plant to be built.

Here is what we mean:

1. The 3.294 million tons of global warming emissions annually from the Cassville plant is more than the total global warming emissions of 90 individual countries.

a. The Cassville plant global warming emissions output (3.2 million tons per year) is equivalent the total global warming emissions output of Nepal (3.2 million tons per year).

b. Nepal’s emission levels are attributed to energy needs of the entire 28 million population which starkly contrasts the Cassville emissions levels at-tributed to the energy needs of a mere 300,000.

2. If every single rental property in Wisconsin had energy efficient lighting in common areas and exit signs we would save approximately 589,000 tons of global warming emissions per year, according to estimates from Wisconsin’s Task Force on Global Warming. These savings would be completely ERASED in just 2 months of operating the Cassville coal plant.

3. Establishing a Regional Transit Authority in Madison and S.E. Wisconsin en-abling enhanced bus service and a new fixed rail system in those areas would save an estimated 121,000 tons of global warming emissions by 2020, according to estimates from Wisconsin’s Task Force on Global Warming. These savings would be completely ERASED in just 2 weeks of operating the Cassville coal plant.

4. Expanding the intercity rail service to Madison from the Milwaukee and Chi-cago corridor would eliminate up to 500,000 auto trips and save approximately 209,000 tons of global warming emissions by 2020, according to estimates from Wisconsin’s Task Force on Global Warming. These savings would be completely ERASED in just 3 1/2 weeks of operating the Cassville coal plant.

5. The Nelson Dewey Project yearly CO2 emissions are equivalent to the addition

of 1,772 cars per day to the roads of Wisconsin (or 646,811 cars per year).

6. The yearly CO2 emissions produced by the Nelson Dewey Project will offset

the greenhouse gas (GHG) savings attributed to not burning 932,463 gallons of gasoline per day in Wisconsin (or 340,349,248 gallons per year).

7. The yearly CO2 emissions produced by the Nelson Dewey Project are equiva-

lent to CO2 emissions attributed to the burning of 19,040 barrels of oil per day

in Wisconsin (or 6,949,457 barrels of oil each year).

8. The yearly CO2 emissions produced by the Nelson Dewey Project are equiva-

lent to clear cutting 6,823 acres per day of pine or fir forests storing carbon (or 2,490,222 acres for one year).

9. The Nelson Dewey Project would offset 1,006,150 tons of waste recycled instead of placed in Wisconsin landfills this year.

Go to the Take Action section of Clean Wisconsin’s website to learn how you can fight for more balanced, clean, and safe energy alternatives that help reduce global warming pollution. Or contact Ryan Schryver at rschryver@CleanWisconsin.org for more information.

All findings based on 3.294 million tons of CO2 emissions per year using the calculations on

the website http://www.usctcgateway.net/tool/ provided by Alliant Energy. Note Clean Wisconsin uses U.S. tons (short tons) as default.

Why should you care if Alliant builds another coal plant?

istockphoto.com

istockphoto.com / Steve Dibblee

istockphoto.com

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Clean Wisconsin 5

Will Hoyer

Clean Wisconsin has traditionally worked on state-level policy and we’d like to think we’ve had our share of successes at influencing state policies. In a slight departure we are now embarking on a project that is focused at

a more local level - improving the Yahara chain of lakes in and around Madison, where a large percentage of our members reside.

In 2007 Clean Wisconsin and Gathering Waters, an environmental organiza-tion that works with land trusts across the state, were approached by the Madison Community Foundation and asked to help guide future environment-focused philanthropic giving by the Community Foundation. With their support we are now working in an unprecedented collaboration with Dane County, the City of Madison, the DNR and Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Pro-tection as well as technical experts to develop a practical vision for the lakes and

concrete steps that need to be taken to achieve that vision.Madison’s lakes are well known and are a major tourist draw and economic

driver for the region. Dane County and the County’s Lakes and Watershed Com-mission have worked for years to improve the lakes and have received national accolades and had many successes, but there is broad agreement that more needs to be done.

Our work must be driven both by what the community and especially you, our members, want to see, but also by what is technically and scientifically pos-sible. The lakes will never be crystal clear, plant-free bodies of water like a few of Wisconsin’s northern lakes, but they can be improved. We will be working with Gathering Waters to gather the views and visions of the community at large – civic organizations, businesses and business organizations, recreational users, scientists, elected officials and many others – to try to develop that practical vision.

These community discussions will guide, and be guided by, a team of tech-nical experts from the DNR, UW-Madison and others who will be working to determine what is ultimately achievable, the priorities for the coming years as well as the costs attached to those priorities and the ultimate vision.

In the end our goal is to improve the chain of lakes that contribute to the wonderful quality of life our members in Dane County enjoy. We hope to do this

by raising awareness of the issues and opportunities, being a significant contribu-tor to a groundbreaking collaboration of state, county and local government agen-cies and non-governmental organizations and leveraging our work to help raise money from new and existing sources to achieve the lakes’ full potential.

For more information about our work in the Madison area and to stay up-dated on our work to improve the region’s lakes check our website or contact Will Hoyer at whoyer@cleanwisconsin.org or (608) 251-7020, extension 20.

A new effort and partnership to improve Madison’s lakes

Our work must be driven both by what the community and especially you, our members, want to see, but also by what is technically and scientifically possible.

Clean Wisconsin is seeking an office administrator extraordinaire!

extraordinary resource. You have been part of passing one of the most important legacy plans for the Great Lakes.

A tremendous amount of work went into this pro-cess, which you have helped move along. For the last six years, Clean Wisconsin and its members have been providing input to shape this legacy document, and worked diligently to pass it in the Wisconsin legisla-ture. Now it moves to the United States Congress. In the last year, Keith Reopelle, Clean Wisconsin’s Pro-gram Director, worked with a variety of legislators and stakeholders to draft language for the Compact on a special committee for the Wisconsin legislature. When detractors hijacked that committee, Reopelle and Me-lissa Malott, the Water Program Director at Clean Wis-consin, along with our conservation partners, worked closely with the governor and select legislators to pass a strong Great Lakes Compact.

Thank you again for all your help in protecting our Great Lakes.

Great Lakes... from front page

Clean Wisconsin is seeking an office admin-istrator to assist us in our work. If you want to join our staff and are able to work

full time in Madison, check out the employment opportunity posting on www.CleanWisconsin.org for more details.

Submit your cover letter, resume and salary requirement to:

Roger SneathClean Wisconsin122 State Street, Suite 200Madison, WI 53703

Or email: rsneath@cleanwisconsin.org

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istockphoto.com / Kaleb Timberlake

The Defender, Spring 2008, Vol. 38, No. 26

Regulating global warming pollution in WisconsinKeith Reopelle

The scientists of the world have told us we must act swiftly and strongly to avoid catastrophic effects of global warming. Over the past year

Wisconsin has begun to step up and position itself to take strong action; but we have a long way to go and no time to waste.

Governor Doyle established a global warming task force last spring and 84 meetings later the task force has developed 60 different policy recommendations for consideration (http://dnr.wi.gov/environmentpro-tect/gtfgw/). Most of the recommendations are spe-cific to a certain sector, for example the electric power efficiency measures, transportation policies, agriculture and forestry policies, and so on.

One overarching policy that will have a dispropor-tional impact is a cap and trade policy on the major sources of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). The task force is considering recommending a cap and trade program that would regulate carbon dioxide emissions from electric generating power plants, the largest industrial facilities, transportation fuels, and heating fuels. This program would regulate more than 100 million tones of the roughly 125 million tones of global warming emissions from all Wisconsin sources. The recommendation being considered by the task force would cap all of these emissions (in aggregate) at 2011 levels and than require a steady decline to 1990 levels by 2020.

Last November Governor Doyle, as the chairman of the Midwestern Governor’s Association, hosted an energy summit where he joined five other midwest-ern governor’s in signing a Greenhouse Gas Accord. Under the Accord the six states agreed to establish reduction targets and schedules and to develop a mar-ket-based, multi-sector cap and trade mechanism to achieve the reductions. The Midwest will be the third region of the country to develop such a regional regu-latory program. Ten New England states have formed and are implementing the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), and seven western states have formed the Western Climate Initiative to implement a similar cap and trade program on the west coast.

Because of its state global warming task force and Doyle’s leadership role in the MGA, Wisconsin, along with Minnesota, which passed mandatory GHG emission reduction legislation last year, are playing

leadership roles in establishing the regional cap and trade program. The other states that have signed the Accord are Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Kansas. Together these states have formed a stakeholder group that is advising the governors in their efforts to design the regional program. Clean Wisconsin is the lone environmental group from Wisconsin represented on the stakeholder group.

The efforts to design a cap and trade program in Wisconsin will likely influence the stakeholder work and governor’s decisions at the regional level and the regional cap and trade program provides the oppor-tunity for a much stronger greenhouse gas program; so the two processes should work well together and compliment each other.

The idea of a cap and trade program is that sources of the emission have to ratchet down their emissions over time but some sources can “over comply” and sell the excess reductions (in the form of credits) to other sources who have a more difficult

time complying. This results in a lower overall cost of compliance across the region or nation. There are a number of critical issues in how to put together an effective cap and trade program including:

1. Where to set the cap and reduction schedule (how fast to reduce).

2. To what extent you allow non-regulated enti-ties, who can make emission reductions, gener-ate credits that help regulated facilities comply.

3. How you distribute credits (e.g. holding an auction).

4. Whether there are any “off-ramps” or excep-tions for compliance of the price of complying reaches a particular level.

Both the state task force and the regional stake-holder group will be deliberating over these issues in the coming months. You can get involved by contact-ing us at www.CleanWisconsin.org.

from products that are either landfilled, incinerated or otherwise broken or discarded. That compares to about 2,700 pounds from power plants and 1,100 pounds from the Port Edwards chlorine plant.

The bill got off to a slow start and was introduced late in the session because the budget bill was four months late, finally passing in October. SB 346 was introduced in December and received a hearing in the Senate Environmental Committee on January 29th. I spoke at the hearing in support of the bill and deliv-ered written statements from 260 of our members to the Committee which clearly had an impact.

Thanks to all of your meetings, calls and letters this bill received broad bi-partisan support in the Sen-ate. Clean Wisconsin will work with other groups and stakeholders to get this bill passed in the next legisla-tive session which will begin in January 2009 and reduce the flow of mercury into the marketplace, and in turn, protect our children and their children.

Thanks for your all your great work on this im-portant issue Clean Wisconsin members.

Mercury products... from front page

Wisconsin Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions by Economic Sector: 2003Source Charting the Midwest, World Resources Institute

Wisconsin Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions by Gas: 2003Source Charting the Midwest, World Resources Institute

35%

24%13%

9%

9%

5%

3%3%

86%

7%5%

2%

35% = Electric Generation24% = Transportation13% = Industrial9% = Residential9% = Agriculture5% = Commercial3% = Industrial Processes3% = Waste

86% = CO2 (Carbon dioxide)

7% = CH4 (Methane)5% = N2O (Nitrous Oxide)2% = F-Gases (Fluorocarbon Gases)

How many products around your home contain mercury?

Home Thermostat Non-digital thermostats contain approximately 3-6 grams of mercury.

LaptopLaptop shut-off switch when screen is closed.

Light Switches Mercury is used as an electrical conductor in many types of switches, including lights. Silent wall switches manufactured prior to 1991 may contain mercury.

Oven Your oven may contain a mercury thermostat probe to open or close the gas-control valve.

Washing Machine Mercury may be used in the safety shut-off switch under the lid so the spin cycle stops when the lid is opened.

Clothes Dryer Some dryers contain a mercury thermostat probes.

Contact Lens SolutionThe ingredient thimerosal in many brands of contact lens solution refers to mercury. Choose a product without thimerosal.

Fluorescent Lightso Fluorescent lights (including compact fluores-cents) contain a small amount of mercury and should be properly recycled.

istockphoto.com / Maciej Korzekwa

Clipart.comistockphoto.com / Ben Beltman

istockphoto.com / Graca Victoria

Clean Wisconsin 7

The future of wind farms in Wisconsin: Left blowing in the breeze

We are always enthused by the large number of people who want to do their part in helping care for our planet. In this spirit, we have com-piled a list of Earth Day deeds intended to be done every day, not just

on Earth Day. Let’s commit to make a big difference in helping care for the planet that cares for us.

1. Read The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss, to an elementary school class.

2. Take a shower only once a month (just kiddin!). Install a low fl ow shower head to save water.

3. Save water by subscribing to the bathroom saying, “When it’s yellow let it mel-low, when it’s brown fl ush it down”. And when it’s time to replace the toilet, install the low fl ow variety.

4. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth and washing your face.

5. Keep recycling! Check with your local recycling company to be sure you are recycling all of the materials they accept.

6. Buy locally grown and distributed food. Or buy organic foods.

7. Unplug appliances and electronic equipment when not in use.

8. Invest in the long-term when making purchases, such as buying Energy Star® appliances.

9. Have an energy assessment done on your home.

10. Use only biodegradable and non-toxic household products.

11. Limit dry cleaning or fi nd a “green” cleaner who does wet cleaning or CO2

cleaning.

12. Bike, walk, or take the bus to work or school.

13. Direct rain downspouts toward the lawn or a rain garden, not the pavement.

14. Get your lawn off drugs (pesticides and chemicals) and keep grass at 3 inches or higher to help prevent weed growth.

15. Plant a tree. If space is an issue, consider a dwarf variety.

16. Minimize the use of salt to de-ice driveways.

17. Don’t put anything down storm sewers! It goes directly into our waterways.

Ryan Schryver

Despite the overwhelming support for wind energy in Wisconsin and the urgent need to address global warming, the State Legislature failed to pass legislation this session that would remove several major barriers to

building more wind power in the state.Clean Wisconsin was proud to help lead a diverse coalition of businesses, la-

bor organizations, farming and agricultural advocates, local governments, consum-er protection organizations, public utilities and environmental groups to support legislation that would reform the current system for siting and permitting smaller wind developments in Wisconsin.

The proposed legislation, (SB 544) Wisconsin’s Sensible Wind Siting Reform Bill, would have helped to simplify the complicated patchwork of local ordinances that wind developers are currently forced to navigate when trying to receive per-mits for smaller wind farms. The bill would have created a stakeholder group to develop statewide standards for local units of government to use when considering

proposals for wind developments in their jurisdiction.Opponents to wind energy developments have tied the hands of wind devel-

opers by successfully changing local laws to ensure wind turbines can not be built in their area. This system of overly restrictive local ordinances has brought the construction of wind farms in Wisconsin to a screeching halt.

Currently Wisconsin’s law requires that public utilities provide 10% of their power from renewable resources by 2015. If we are to meet that target, we have to fully utilize clean, safe and affordable renewable energy sources like wind power. The current standards for siting and permitting wind farms are part of a broken system. Without the Sensible Wind Siting Reform Bill we may not be able to meet our current renewable energy goals.

As part of our efforts to move Wisconsin towards a clean energy future, Clean Wisconsin will make passing the Sensible Wind Siting Reform Bill a top priority for the next legislative session, but we’ll need your help to keep the heat on our legisla-tors and ensure the bills speedy approval.

Alliant wants to build a 300 megawatt dirty old coal plant. Wind energy is able to off-set the need for a new coal plant.

Earth Day Deeds

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The Defender, Spring 2008, Vol. 38, No. 28

Wisconsin’s lakes and rivers. The spring snowmelt, when a winter’s worth of snow melts and runs off bare fields and heavy rains occur, can be especially damaging, delivering huge amounts of nutrients and sediment to rivers and streams.

Compared to the point source pollution that comes out of pipes, polluted runoff is very difficult to prevent. One tool in the toolbox is the use of buf-fers. Buffers composed of natural vegetation – grass-es, trees, and shrubs – not only protect water quality; they also are valuable wildlife habitat and provide significant aesthetic benefits as well.

The decision to omit riparian buffers from NR 151 in 2002 was purposeful. There was disagree-ment over whether buffers should be required, and if so, where they should be and how big they should be. The DNR was directed to return to this issue in 2008 in a re-examination of the polluted runoff rules. Over the intervening years, research has shown two things. First, buffers can and do protect water qual-ity. Second, buffers, along with other best manage-ment practices to reduce polluted runoff, are more necessary in some places than others because these

places are particularly vulnerable to nutrient and sedi-ment loss.

The DNR has proposed changes to NR 151 that incorporate some of the knowledge gained in the intervening years. It is critical that NR 151 include two key components:

1. Mandatory 35 foot vegetated buffers along all Wisconsin waters. The science is clear. Buffers do help water quality no matter where they are. Yes, they are more critical in some places than in others, but the other benefits they provide – habitat, improved aesthetics and streambank stabilization among other things – make them very important every-where. Thirty five feet is the current setback required for lakefront property owners and we believe consistency is important. If 35 feet is what is best along lakes, and lakefront proper-ty owners are required by the state to maintain 35 feet, it is logical that owners of agricultural land should maintain 35 feet too.

2. A way of targeting those areas most critical for protecting water quality. The science is also clear that there are places on the landscape – parts of the state, parts of a watershed, or parts of a farm field, and certain waters – that

are more susceptible to polluted runoff. In times of very limited financial resources to be devoted to implementing polluted run-off rules, it only makes sense to use those resources most efficiently and target those specific areas that are particularly vulnerable. This can be easily done through a variety of means including targeting regulation, funding, enforcement and implementation. Treating all parts of the state equally can be an inefficient use of valuable resources.

It is important to acknowledge that many changes that make sense to us are likely to receive vocal, well organized opposition from groups like the Farm Bureau and the Dairy Business Associa-tion. This makes it absolutely critical that the DNR also hear from you. As NR 151 progresses through the political process, you will have the opportunity to tell the DNR your opinion. We will contact you when this happens. In the meantime, you can stay informed and updated by watching our website at www.CleanWisconsin.org for updates on the public hearings and more details on polluted runoff and the NR 151 rule revisions. With your help and support we can help make Wisconsin’s wonderful waterways even better.

Polluted runoff rules... from front page

Lend your voice for cleaner waterways in WisconsinWe’ll keep you posted on when to take action. In the meantime, check out a quick review of the timeline to update Wisconsin’s polluted runoff rules.

Early 2008Advisory committee meetings

February – MarchRevise draft rule language

March or AprilRequest pub-lic hearings at Natural Resources Board meeting

JunePublic hearings

June – AugustLand and Water Conservation Board review and comment

August To Natural Resources Board for approval

FallTo Legislature

bills. SB 346 would ban the sale of thermostats, switches, relays, and measuring devices that contain mercury. Clean Wisconsin members were instru-mental in achieving strong bi-partisan support in the Senate. See the accompanying article on the front page for more details about this important victory to protect our children’s health.

Appliance Efficiency StandardsThe appliance efficiency bill was stalled in draft-

ing last fall for several reasons, thus was introduced too late to be passed in this session. One reason the bill drafting stalled was because of a disagreement about whether standards for these appliances could be described in statutory language or whether those

details should be left to administrative rulemaking at the agency. The other major reason for the stall was that the Federal Energy Bill was moving quickly last fall and passed in December of 2007; it contained many of the same standards included in the bill draft. So, many of these minimum efficiency standards did become law in Wisconsin and the rest of the country.

Global WarmingSenate Bill 81 was introduced April 6, 2007.

The bill would give the DNR authority to regulate greenhouse gases to 1990 levels by the year 2020. The bill had a hearing in the Senate Environmental Committee in October. There were a few speakers who testified against the bill such as the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce and the Wisconsin Industrial Energy Group (the largest corporations in the state), but the vast majority of speakers, envi-ronmental groups, health professionals, sport fish-ing/hunting groups, and scientists supported the

bill. The Environmental Committee recommended the bill for passage by a 3 to 2 vote on October 31st. The bill was then sent to the Joint Finance Commit-tee where it remained.

Phosphorus Fertilizer BanThe Wisconsin Association of Lakes is leading

the effort to pass Senate Bill 197 that would prohibit the application of phosphorous-containing fertilizer to lawns, golf courses, and other mowed grassy areas (turf ) except to establish grass in the first growing season or in areas where a soil test shows the soil is lacking phosphorus. The bill was introduced in May of 2007, received a hearing in August and was passed out of the Senate Environmental Committee by a vote of 4 to 1 in early December. This was one of many bills that died in the Natural Resources Com-mittee as time ran out in the legislative session.

Legislative updates... from page 3

Clean Wisconsin 9

Clean Wisconsin Action Fund award luncheon

Barbara Eisenberg, Wildlife Biologist

Don’t miss this chance! Every spring Wisconsin citizens have the opportunity to vote directly on propositions affecting wildlife and other

environmental issues. This is your chance to speak out and show your support! What are YOU passionate about?

• Reducing air pollution? • Ending the mourning dove hunt? • Limiting the use of motorized recreational ve-

hicles in some areas of our State Forests? • Curbing the spread of invasive species that

threatens species diversity?

The DNR Spring Hearings are held in every county in Wisconsin, every year on the second Monday in April. Our state provides us with a unique opportunity to influence policies affecting Wisconsin’s wildlife and the natural resources that both human and non-human animals depend upon. Wisconsin is the ONLY state in the country to allow citizens this opportunity. Don’t miss this chance! Attendees at this meeting have the right to:

• Elect delegates to the Conservation Congress (Congress), a citizen committee that advises the State Natural Resources Board and DNR on resource management policy and environmental regulation concerning land, water, wildlife and fisheries stewardship,

• Draft resolutions that affect the use of state parks, refuges, lakes and trails (the first step toward new legislation or rule changes), and

• Vote on issues such as lowering bag limits on fish, limiting the use of jet skis and whether or not to expand the use of dogs for hunting.

Every county has a total of 5 delegates to the Congress that represent its citizens, 2 are elected every year for terms of 2 or 3 years. That’s a total of 360 delegates. Unfortunately, since most Wisconsinites are unaware that this vote takes place, the Natural Re-sources Board is receiving input from only a fraction of citizens who are concerned or affected by DNR policy and land management issues. Hikers, bikers, birdwatchers, cross country skiers, canoeists and many other recreationists, especially women, have little or

no representation in the Conservation Congress. The mission of the Conservation Congress is “To

represent the citizens of Wisconsin by working with the Natural Resources Board and the Department of Natural Resources to effectively manage Wisconsin’s greatest assets, our abundant natural resources, for present and future generations to enjoy.”

So, what can you do to fix these problems? Pick an issue that you feel strongly about and draft a resolution. Then attend your county meeting in the spring, vote for your choice of delegates, and submit your resolution (contact your local DNR office for the location of your meeting). If it passes in your county and is approved by the appropriate Conservation Con-gress committee, the resolution goes for a statewide vote the following year.

Unique opportunity for Wisconsin citizens to vote on wildlife and environmental issues DNR Spring Hearings held in every Wisconsin county, every year on the second Monday in April

Mark Your CalendarAPRIL 14, 2008

On March 7, 2008, Clean Wisconsin Action Fund celebrated clean water, clean air, and clean energy by presenting five environmental leadership awards. Award winners were Mayor Tom Barrett, Milwau-

kee; Mayor Jack Chiovatero, New Berlin; Mayor Gary Becker, Racine; Johnson Controls; and Jim Te Selle.

Great Lakes action event in Milwaukee

On February 26, 2008, Clean Wisconsin held a Great Lakes Action event at the Milwaukee Yacht Club. The event was sponsored by Lucia and Pete Petrie and hosted by Dick and Barbara Weiss, Patty and Paul Vogelsang,

Dan and Pat Fetterley, Julie and Jim Peck, Peter McAvoy, Karen and Bob Dean, Michael and Joan Spector, Keith Schmitz, Rita and Tom Cheng, John and Pat Treffert, Guy and Mary Johnson, Sue Ewens, Jill Pelisek, Lucia and Pete Petrie, Val Klump, David and Madeleine Lubar, and Betty Jo and Jim Nelsen.

Clean Wisconsin was honored to have DNR Secretary Matt Frank speak to the crowd of nearly 100 people about the status of the Great Lakes Compact and Great Lakes restoration issues.

Pictured above are Ann Bier, City of Milwaukee’s Director of the Office of Environmental Sustainability; Tom Barrett, Mayor of Milwaukee; Keith Reopelle, Clean Wisconsin Program Director; Mark Redsten, Clean Wisconsin Executive Director; Gary Goyke, Clean Wisconsin Action Fund Board Chair-man. Pictured above are Lucia Petrie, event host; Keith Reopelle, Clean Wisconsin

Program Director; Matt Frank, DNR Secretary; Mark Redsten, Clean Wisconsin Executive Director; Melissa Malott, Clean Wisconsin Water Program Director; and Patrick Henderson, DNR Deputy Secretary.

Clean Wisconsin

Clean Wisconsin

The Defender, Spring 2008, Vol. 38, No. 210

Clean Wisconsin offers several ways to support our mission of protecting Wisconsin’s clean air, clean water and special places. One of these ways is through our strong Business Sponsorship program.

If you own a business, or are a key decision-maker in a business, and want your business to help protect Wisconsin’s clean water and clean air, please join Clean Wisconsin’s Business Sponsorship pro-gram. Think of it as an investment in your business.

Clean Wisconsin recognizes its Business Sponsors in the follow ways:

All donations to Clean Wisconsin are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. For more infor-mation, please contact Brian Kelly at (608) 251-7020 extension 23.

Businesses are invited to become Clean Wisconsin sponsors

Business Member $150 - $499 One listing in our newsletter to our 10,000 members

Business Partner $500 - $999 One listing in our newsletter to our 10,000 membersListing in our Annual Report

Business Steward $1,000 - $4,999 One listing in our newsletter to our 10,000 membersListing in our Annual ReportListing on our web site

Business Champion $5,000+ A year long listing in our newsletter with your logoListing in our Annual ReportListing on our web site

“And the envelope please...”

Something as simple as a little number nine envelope can make a huge difference. Really. It seems like such a small gesture but the impact on our work can be enormous.

We all agree that we want and deserve clean wa-ter and clean air. We want and deserve clean energy alternatives. We need to protect the special places that make Wisconsin wonderful.

And that is what Clean Wisconsin, along with all of our members, is doing.

And here is where the envelope comes in.The little envelope that is tucked inside this

newsletter makes it easy for you to assist Clean Wis-consin in being an advocate and effective voice. Simply write a check for whatever amount you chose, slip it inside the envelope, stamp it, and drop it in the mail-box. You can even donate via your credit card.

It is as simple as that. Perhaps you took a minute. Maybe two. But that act of making a contribution to Clean Wisconsin has an impact. You are helping to work toward clean water, clean air, and clean energy.