Milwaukee, Wis. – Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld made stops at Stainless Foundry & Engineering, Lakefront Brewery, and Milwaukee Riverkeeper as part of a tour marking the recent release of the Clean Energy Plan Progress Report by Governor Tony Evers.
“Creating and sustaining a clean energy economy for Wisconsin is going to take collaborative action across the public and private sector, learning from each other,” Secretary Blumenfeld said. “The Clean Energy Plan is a starting point for how we can best create pathways toward sustainability that will benefit our business community and economy, as well as the health and pocketbooks of Wisconsin residents long term.”
The visits highlighted several key pathways identified in the Clean Energy Plan that support the development of a clean energy economy in Wisconsin, including building modernization and energy efficiency efforts. At the tour of Stainless Foundry & Engineering with president and CEO Jim Stachowiak, Secretary Blumenfeld learned about high efficiency air compressors and other efficiency installations at the manufacturing plant that resulted in significant energy savings and reductions in gas and water consumption. State Senator Lena Taylor and Representative Dora Drake joined the stop.
(L-R: Katelynn Samuelsen of the DOA Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy; State Rep. Dora Drake; DOA Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld; Jim Stachowiak, President and CEO, Stainless Foundry & Engineering; State Sen. Lena Taylor; Scott Schwulst, Director of Maintenance & Facilities for Stainless Foundry & Engineering: and Aaron Knapp, Chief Financial Officer, Stainless Foundry & Engineering.)
At Lakefront Brewery, the Secretary met with president and founder Russ Klisch and discussed the brewery’s Certified B Corporation status, its Travel Green Wisconsin certification, and sustainable and environmentally focused business practices. State Senator Chris Larson joined the visit.
(L-R: DOA Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld; Russ Klisch, president, founder, and owner, Lakefront Brewery; and Sen. Chris Larson.)
“Lakefront Brewery was grateful to welcome Secretary Blumenfeld and her team to discuss our past and future sustainability initiatives and how private business can work closer with our State Government,” said Klisch.
(L-R: Cheryl Nenn, Milwaukee Riverkeeper; DOA Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld; Jennifer Bolger Breceda, executive director, Milwaukee Riverkeeper; Sen. Chris Larson; and Katelynn Samuelsen of the DOA Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy.)
Finally, during a RiverWalk tour with Milwaukee Riverkeeper Executive Director Jennifer Bolger Breceda, Secretary Blumenfeld learned about the Milwaukee Urban Water Trail and water quality-monitoring programs, discussed the many ways that DOA’s Wisconsin Coastal Management Program has supported Milwaukee Riverkeeper, as well as the organization’s upcoming restoration and partnership programs.
In addition to releasing the Clean Energy Plan Progress Report, Gov. Evers has recently signed executive order #195 to create the Green Ribbon Commission on Clean Energy and Environmental Innovation. The Commission will advise on the creation of the Green Innovation Fund and make it possible to invest in statewide solutions to meet the state’s clean energy goals. Gov. Evers has also proposed significant investments in clean energy innovation and workforce development in his 2023-25 Executive Budget.
The state’s first Clean Energy Plan, released last year, was developed by the Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy, and outlines strategies to lower energy bills for families, reduce reliance on out-of-state energy sources, invest in job and apprenticeship training, and create more than 40,000 jobs by 2030.
Learn more about the Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy here: https://osce.wi.gov/
