Reducing Global Warming and Promoting Clean, Renewable Energy
The John Muir Chapter of the Sierra Club realizes that global warming is a critical conservation challenge that, if unchecked, will result in increased precipitation and temperatures that threatens the future of wildlife and human habitats alike.
- Promoting Energy Conservation and Efficiency: We support policies and programs that encourage energy efficiency, such as promoting compact fluorescent and LED lighting, use of Energy Star™ appliances and progressive building codes. We also seek to change incentives for power companies by using to innovative rate structures. As long as profits are related to maximizing energy use, conservation will not become a priority in Wisconsin.
- Cool Cities and Cool Counties Created in 2005, Sierra Club’s Cool Cities campaign empowers people to encourage local cities and counties to implement smart energy solutions to save money and build a cleaner, safer future. Wisconsin currently has 19 “Cool Cities” (
Ashland, Bayfield, Fitchburg, Greenfield, Kenosha, La Crosse, Madison, Menomonie, Milwaukee, New Berlin, Oshkosh, Racine, River Falls, Stevens Point, Superior, Washburn, Waukesha, Wauwatosa, and West Allis)
and one “Cool County” (Dane). These local communities are working to solve global warming with innovative energy solutions that cut our dependence on coal and oil, benefit public health, and save taxpayer dollars. Want your city to be "Cool"? The first step is to have your mayor sign the Climate Protection Agreement. Next, cities can work with the International Council of Local Environment Initiatives (ICLEI) -Local Governments for Sustainability to inventory their greenhouse gases and create an action plan to make improvements. Madison, Milwaukee and Dane County have all joined the ICLEI. Now we need our other Cool Cities members to take the next step towards reducing global warming!
- Governor Doyle’s Global Warming Task Force (GWTF) The Sierra Club is a member of this taskforce, which brings policy-makers from the Department of Natural Resources and the Public Service Commission (PSC) to the table with industry and environmental stakeholders to create a powerful roadmap to cut Wisconsin’s global warming pollution. We also encourage Sierra Club members to attend GWTF public hearings and call for aggressive action now to reduce global warming pollution in Wisconsin.
- Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions We support the WI Safe Climate Act, which would reduce carbon dioxide emissions, which heavily contribute to global warming, to 1990 levels by 2020.
STOPPING the Coal Rush The Sierra Club won a lawsuit in 2007 that requires 13 state-owned coal plants to comply with air emissions standards of the Clean Air Act and increase generating efficiency. Now we are working to make sure future energy plans consider the costs of coal and focus on increasing generating efficiency through cogeneration and other means. We have also been working to stop the construction of new coal plants like Alliant Energy's proposal to expand the Nelson Dewey coal plant in Cassville, WI. In November the Public Service Commission unanimously voted to deny Alliant's certificate of need for this expansion, largely due to massive public opposition to the project. Thanks for taking action to make Wisconsin cleaner and safer for future generations!
- "The writing is on the wall and the public sees it, "said Jennifer Feyerherm, head of the Wisconsin Clean Energy Campaign for the Sierra Club. "We simply cannot afford new coal plants, in terms of economics, health advisories and global warming."
- When questioned by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about plans for new coal plants in Wisconsin, Sierra Club lawyer and National Coal Campaign leader, Bruce Nilles responded, "We're at the forefront of going backwards."
- Promoting Clean, Renewable Energy We support the responsible development of renewable energy, such as solar, wind, geothermal and biofuels. Investing in these technologies will lead to a cleaner Wisconsin future and reinvigorate our economy. For more information, read the Sierra Club’s national energy policy.
- Reinvigorating Wisconsin’s Economy: The Blue Green Alliance Launched in 2006, the Blue Green Alliance is a strategic initiative led by the United Steelworkers and Sierra Club and including many other "blue" (blue collar/labor) and "green" (environmental) partners. The BGA creates a formal structure for creating a renewed, vibrant base of Americans who will work for good jobs, a clean environment, and a safer world. In Wisconsin, the BGA leverages the power and size of the USW's 35,000 members and retirees, and the Sierra Club’s John Muir Chapter, with its 15,000 members.
Visit our Legislative Tracker to find out what climate-related bills Sierra Club is working on in Wisconsin!
To support our work with a financial contribution, click here. Visit our Volunteer Opportunities page to see how else you can get involved.