New legislation would help clean energy gain a foothold in Wisconsin.

The bill is being introduced by Senator Rob Cowles (R-Green Bay) and Representative Phil Montgomery (R-Ashwaubenon). It’s expected to increase the amount of clean energy that utilities have to meet to 10 percent and ensure that money collected from ratepayers goes to increasing energy efficiency and conservation. WISPIRG is working with farmers, small businesses and local communities to win passage of the bill which is expected to be debated this fall.

“Energy is one of the most important issues in our state today,” said Bruce Speight, WISPIRG field director. “This is an important step towards a cleaner, more sustainable future for Wisconsin.”

Currently, Wisconsin generates over 90 percent of its electricity from coal and nuclear power. The result is that every instate waterway has warnings about mercury, and we are sending over $9 billion dollars out of state every year in fuel costs. We could be investing that in wind turbines and emerging technologies to burn agricultural wastes cleanly.