Clean Wisconsin

Clean Wisconsin plays a crucial role in addressing and solving multiple environmental issues in our state. For the past 45 years, this NGO has contributed to cleaning, protecting, and preserving Wisconsin. Peter Anderson and Doug Lafollette are the ones who founded this organization in 1970 on Earth Day! Their headquarters is placed in…. Madison, Wisconsin. They have done numerous contributions to improving land and water quality, but in our case, they have done and are still doing a lot in terms of air pollution and air quality.

Here is a quick history lesson. In 1984, they helped pass the Wisconsin Acid Rain Law which requires reduction of sulfur dioxide emissions from big electric companies/industries. This is obviously huge because putting a law on how much sulfur dioxide can be emitted into the atmosphere can decrease the chances and the amount of acid rain. In 1999, Clean Wisconsin had done lots of work educating legislators and doing lots of promoting in regards to the Statewide Energy Efficiency Fund. In 2004, there is the Mercury Reduction Rules. They helped become the first state in the Midwest to require coal fired power plants to cut their mercury pollution. This will improve air quality, health of the people and the land and waterways. The year 2008, the Mercury Reduction Rule became more detailed in having the coal-burning companies reduction be by ninety percent! 2005 was a big year, Clean Wisconsin helped get the Great Lakes Compact. This big compact directly impacts Wisconsin to cleaning waterways, the air, and energy use. Another big year in 2006 where the Clean Energy Act was passed, yippee! This is known as the “historic” bill and it is said that Clean Wisconsin helped out in creating this Act. It is defined to be a major commitment to have clean energy resources and to reduce electric/heat bills. In 2009, Clean Wisconsin promotes renewable energy by helping with the Wind Siting Reform Law. You can see how this actor plays an important role at a state level.

In general, Clean Wisconsin has basic goals in helping and improving the air quality. They want to promote clean and renewable energy use. They support wind development, trying to expand solar energy, and trying their best to strengthen commitment with more efficient energies. Another goal is to reduce pollution ,and one aspect they want to accomplish is striving toward stronger EPA carbon pollution standards. They in the past have fought dirty coal-powered energy plants and continue to do so. Trying to curb reliance on fossil fuels and expanding energy efficiency is something Clean Wisconsin and other similar organizations like Wisconsin Clean Cities, Renew Wisconsin, Wisconsin Environment, Sierra Club, and many more strive to do.
In my opinion, I think Clean Wisconsin seems like they have contributed a lot in improving in Wisconsin's air quality from many standpoints and also other aspects in improving the well-being of our environment. They are especially looking to improve and solve these environmental issues by being apart of creating or altering certain laws and regulations.
To learn anything and everything about Clean Wisconsin and what they do, just visit their website. Sources for pictures are all credited by Google.