Saying no to dirty coal: How you can get involved

By: Katie Nekola

After months of delay, the Public Service Commission (PSC) formal review of Alliant’s application to expand their coal-fired power plant in Cassville is underway. Clean Wisconsin attorneys and experts are working hard to gather all the information we will need to prove that this global warming machine should not be approved. But it will take more than experts to show the Public Service Commission that this coal plant is a mistake for Wisconsin. State decision makers need to know that Wisconsinites have had enough of dirty coal. They need to get a strong message from Clean Wisconsin members and their friends and neighbors: it’s time for Wisconsin to do its part to stop global warming by saying no to coal.

Governor Jim Doyle understands that the Midwest has a greater responsibility to pitch in and reduce its global warming pollution than other regions, because the Midwest currently contributes far more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere than do other parts of the country. That’s because the Midwest burns more coal to produce electricity than anywhere else in the country. With this responsibility in mind, Governor Doyle has taken a leadership role among the Midwestern governors, launching a process in which several Midwestern states have agreed to work together to take bold steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

At the same time, Governor Doyle’s Global Warming Task Force has made recommendations for policies and actions to curb global warming pollution in Wisconsin. The Governor asked representatives of business, industry, unions, environmental groups, utilities, and government to recommend policy changes that will help our state do its part to fight catastrophic climate change.

Unfortunately, however, most of the benefits of these policy changes would be erased by the operation of more coal fired power plants in Wisconsin. For example, 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.

Global warming affects everyone in Wisconsin. That’s why the decision makers need to hear from you. Visit our website at www.CleanWisconsin.org to find out how you can contact the PSC and DNR to tell them to support Governor Doyle’s plan to stop global warming by saying no to more coal in Wisconsin. Or call Ryan Schryver at (608) 251-7020 extension 25 for more information.