our victories

For more than four decades, Clean Wisconsin has remained dedicated to and passionate about our goals: clean air, clean water and clean energy.  With the help and support of our members, we have achieved great victories for Wisconsin's environment.  Here are just some of our important victories:

2010

Innovative Phosphorus Rule Package Passed:
September marked the passage of a precedent-setting phosphorus pollution rules package that enables farmers and municipalities — the two biggest phosphorus polluters — to work together to implement strategies that reduce phosphorus entering our waterways. These three rules are some of the most innovative in the nation and set limits on the amount of phosphorus in our waters, create a timeline for clean-up, and require farmers to limit pollution running off their fields.
 

2009

Mercury Ban in Non-Essential Products:
In October Governor Doyle signed a bill to ban the sale of non-essential products that contain toxic mercury.  Clean Wisconsin led efforts to create this ban on mercury in household and industrial products including toys, games, jewelry, shoes, switches, cosmetics and perfumes, which pollute our air and water with over 6600 pounds of mercury annually.  The state currently lists all Wisconsin waterways under a fish consumption advisory due to mercury contamination.  This new ban will help end the flow of products into the market that contain mercury. 
 
Electronic Waste Bill Passes:
E-waste is a growing source of toxic pollution in Wisconsin and throughout the region.  Clean Wisconsin lobbied for the new e-waste legislation that requires manufacturers to offer convenient recycling options for old electronic equipment, such as televisions and computers. This important law will lead to increased recycling and a decrease in dangerous toxins like lead, mercury, and cadmium polluting our environment.
 
Federal Funds Gained for Great Lakes Restoration:
As part of our work with the Healing Our Waters coalition, Clean Wisconsin worked extensively to bolster federal funding for Great Lakes restoration.  Clean Wisconsin and our partner groups gained a significant victory with the passage of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which will provide $475 million to restore and protect the Great Lakes Basin.   
 
Wind Siting Reform:
After nearly two years of debate, the state Legislature took an important step to protect Wisconsin's environment, promote clean energy and reduce global warming pollution when it passed wind siting reform in September.  Clean Wisconsin played a vital role in promoting this measure that replaces the over-stringent and burdensome patchwork of local regulations for permitting wind farms with sensible statewide standards.  This reform will help our state improve environmental quality, become more energy independent, and create thousands of jobs in the clean energy economy.
 
New Controls on Phosphorus Will Protect Rivers and Lakes:
Years of work educating policy makers about the need to control phosphorus pollution in our waterways paid off when the legislature passed new state-wide restrictions on the use of lawn fertilizers and automatic dishwasher detergents that contain phosphorus.  These new restrictions will help reduce pollution in our rivers and lakes and will help prevent smelly, unsightly algae blooms and fish kills.
 

2008

Rejection of Alliant Energy's Proposed Coal Plant
Until this victory, a coal plant proposal had never been defeated in Wisconsin – but thousands of Wisconsinites joined together to beat the odds and stop this dirty coal plant. This victory represents a historic step in our fight to prevent global warming pollution and our effort to promote clean, renewable energy.

State and Federal Passage of the Great Lakes Compact
Clean Wisconsin’s vision, expertise and resources helped lead a coalition of state conservation groups, agencies, and other organizations to make the Great Lakes Compact a reality. The Compact ensures Great Lakes waters will not be sold to the highest bidder, but instead will be protected for future generations to enjoy.

Mercury Reduction Rule
More than ten years of work by Clean Wisconsin staff and members to clean up mercury emissions from coal-burning power plants came to fruition in the form of new regulations requiring 90% reduction of mercury emissions from the largest coal plants in Wisconsin.  This rule will help keep toxic mercury out of our lakes, rivers and streams, protect the health of our families, and help preserve Wisconsin's strong fishing tradition.

Settlement in the Elm Road Generating Station Case
After three years of litigation regarding the once-through cooling system at the Elm Road Generating Station, Clean Wisconsin reached a settlement agreement with the owners of the plant that will provide $100 million for Lake Michigan restoration and require utilities to take significant steps to address global warming.

2007

Polluted Runoff Reduction Rules for Factory Farms (CAFOs)
Clean Wisconsin helped pass rules banning Winter Manure Spreading in early 2007. These rules help our state take an important step in the right direction toward stopping the most harmful manure runoff events.

2006

Reduced Wisconsin's Air Pollution and Contributions to Global Warming
Clean Wisconsin filed a lawsuit for Clean Air Act violations and reached a settlement with Wisconsin Public Service that required the utility to shut down its two oldest and dirtiest boilers at its Pulliam coal plant in Green Bay and invest half a million dollars on energy efficiency projects in Brown County.

Wisconsin Clean Energy Act & Governor's Efficiency Executive Order
Clean Wisconsin helped lead the way on this historic bill. This act makes a major commitment to clean energy resources, and takes an important step toward getting a handle on rising electric and heating bills. The efficiency investments resulting from this bill save businesses and homeowners more than two hundred million dollars a year.

2005

Introduction of Governor's Conserve Wisconsin Agenda
Clean Wisconsin continues to work with the Governor's office, agency staff and legislative leaders to enact this broad environmental initiative, including issues that directly impact clean water, clean air and clean energy – the issues Clean Wisconsin and its members are most concerned about.

2004

Statewide Mercury Reduction Rules
Clean Wisconsin's work helped Wisconsin become the first state in the Midwest to require utilities to cut mercury pollution from coal-fired power plants improving the health of citizens as well as the health of our lakes, rivers and streams.


Earlier Victories

2003
Fought and defeated the Crandon mine threat to the Wolf River

2002
Polluted Runoff Reduction Rules

1999
Statewide Energy Efficiency Fund

1998
State Pesticide Law (ATCP 29)
Sulfide Mining Moratorium Law

1997
Kidney Island Lawsuit

1994
Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Bill

1993
Petitioned for energy efficiency upgrade of building codes

1992
Established rules creating point source discharge limits for phosphorous
Wisconsin's Nonpoint Pollution Act

1991
Wetland Water Quality Rules
Creation of Lower Wisconsin Riverway

1990
Wisconsin Comprehensive Recycling Law

1987
EPA and DNR standards on water quality, effluent limits, and antidegradation

1984, 1986
Wisconsin Acid Rain Law

1983
Comprehensive Groundwater Protection Act

1978
Wisconsin Mining Reclamation Law

1975
Wisconsin Power Plant Siting Law

1972
Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act (WEPA)