Madison, WI – Earlier this week, Democratic gubernatorial candidates joined Citizen Action of Wisconsin for a forum on a range of top-of-mind topics for Wisconsinites. When asked what they would do to reduce greenhouse gases, all participating candidates pointed to cheaper, domestically produced clean energy.
This is in stark contrast to the leading Republican candidate, Rep. Tom Tiffany, who voted last year to gut clean energy production in Wisconsin which is expected to increase Wisconsin families’ annual total energy bills by $95 by 2030 and $300 by 2035.
Meanwhile, the transition to clean energy could reduce U.S. electricity prices by 20 to 80 percent by 2040. With the country now paying the price for its dependence on gas, it is clearer now more than ever that we need made-in-America energy.
Below are what candidates said about clean energy at the forum, in order of their responses:
Mandela Barnes: “I spent the bulk of my time as lieutenant governor focused on the issue of sustainability. I lead our climate change task force. And that task force presented Wisconsin with the most comprehensive, actually, our very first clean power plan in Wisconsin. The roadmap is already there… And now we have an opportunity to update that plan for the time that we are in, and also for the technology that has developed over the last six years… A clean energy future has to be the reality for the whole of Wisconsin.”
David Crowley: “For seven years, I’ve been running the largest county, and working with our county Board of Supervisors, to build a climate action plan to reduce our carbon emissions to zero by 2050… We’re 50% on the way there already… It’s important that if we want to do this in a way that also expands clean energy, but creates jobs and strengthens our economy, we need partnerships. We have to partner with our local units of government, with our farmers, with businesses, because this is about producing results.”
Francesca Hong: “I’m a very proud sponsor of the Climate Accountability Act… It’s very similar to what’s been introduced in Michigan, and focus on building renewable power and have large infrastructure by 2030, aiming to have 100% clean electricity by 2040… And labor plays a critical role in building renewable, clean energy infrastructure. And so ensuring that workers across the state are able to get clean, green jobs that pay good wages, where they have the right to collectively bargain and unionize are all part of renewable energy infrastructure. And ensuring that we are moving Wisconsin towards clean energy and addressing the climate crisis head-on.”
Sarah Rodriguez: “We’re going to need to do that leadership at the state level, because clearly we’re not going to see it at the federal level. And if we are going to be emphasizing renewable energy, we know that that’s going to lower costs across the whole state for individuals, for their utilities. So being committed to this, it’s not only good for future generations, but it’s good for our economy in Wisconsin.”
Joel Brennan: “We all know that the cheapest, quickest way to create energy production right now is through renewables. It’s through wind, it’s through solar. And those are opportunities that we have to ensure that we’re creating not only the sustainability and what we need for future generations, but also doing it in the smartest way and the most efficient way possible. And so those are the types of things I think that we have to do now.”
Missy Hughes: “At Organic Valley, we were among the first companies to begin reporting on our sustainability and our ability to meet the needs of our company, while protecting against more carbon and providing renewable energy. We installed a community solar project. We installed two windmills. We had all of our projects able to be completely operated using renewable energy… And that is absolutely work that we need to continue. There are tons of opportunities in working with our manufacturers to find opportunities for more sustainability, and to help them bring those into fruition.”
Kelda Roys: “Wisconsin has been a leader on conservation and the environment, and if we have a governor with the courage to use the political power that we’re going to have, we can be that. Again, my plan for energy will lower costs and deliver cleaner air. We don’t have any fossil fuels in Wisconsin, so every time that we are building our capacity for wind, for solar, for geothermal, that is wind, because that’s money staying here in Wisconsin. In addition, we have an opportunity for a real win-win blue-green coalition to create family-sustaining union jobs, building out our green infrastructure.”
