Upper Midwest becomes climate change leader

Within the last year the Midwestern states have become a pivotal leader in the fight to combat global warming. Wisconsin is playing a leadership role in the region and Clean Wisconsin is playing a leadership role in Wisconsin.

While there is still much work to be done, Wisconsin and other Midwestern states have made a huge leap towards putting in place the regulations needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Clean Wisconsin has played and will continue to play a leadership role in developing these policies for the state of Wisconsin and the Midwest region.

One key event in working toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions came on November 15, 2007. The Midwestern Governor's Association (MGA) hosted an Energy Summit event in Milwaukee. As Chairman of the MGA, Doyle played a key role in developing the platform and Governor Doyle and Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota were the co-chair's and hosts of the event.

At the conclusion of the Energy Summit, the MGA announced the Midwest Energy Security and Climate Stewardship Platform. Clean Wisconsin's Keith Reopelle worked on a stakeholder group that helped draft the platform adopted by the Midwest Governors during the summer and fall 2007.

The platform includes four tiers of increasing commitment:

• Tier I: A commitment to reduce emissions of atmospheric CO₂ and other greenhouse gases, while maximizing the energy resource and economic advantages and opportunities of Midwestern states.
• Tier II: Specific objectives for energy conservation/efficiency and use of clean renewable energy.
• Tier III: Cooperative regional agreements on CO₂ management infrastructure, transmission adequacy, bioproduct procurement, renewable fuels and low-carbon energy corridors.
• Tier VI: An accord to establish a Midwestern greenhouse gas reduction program.

Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Kansas and Manitoba signed on to the greenhouse gas accord agreeing to establish reduction targets and timelines consistent with MGA member states' targets, develop a multi-sector cap-and-trade regulatory program, join the Climate Registry, develop necessary mechanisms and policies to achieve the targets, and regional incentives and funding mechanisms. In addition, Indiana, Ohio and South Dakota signed on as "observers" of the greenhouse gas accord, reserving the right to sign on as full participants at a later date.

A second important element in working toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions results from the work of the cap and trade working group of the Governor's Task Force on Global Warming in Wisconsin. Clean Wisconsin's Keith Reopelle serves as the co-chair of the working group that worked with state utilities, other industries, other environmentalists and other stakeholders including the Potawatomi Tribe to develop a cap and trade policy recommendation for the state of Wisconsin.

There will still be many details of this regional greenhouse gas emission program that need to be worked out and implemented including:

• The target reduction levels;
• Whether to auction emission permits or give them to polluters;
• Whether to include any "safety valves" or price breaks that would suspend the cap if the cost of compliance went above a certain price; and,
• Whether to limit the use of offsets (reductions from sources not regulated) for compliance.

Clean Wisconsin will continue to play a leadership role in developing these policies for the state of Wisconsin and the Midwest region and we need your help. Please contact Ryan Schryver at (608) 251-7020 extension 25 or rschryver@cleanwisconsin.org to find out how you can get involved.