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This month in conservation…
Our clean energy impact, Conservation Lobby Day, the April 1 election
Hi John,
For the past six months, I’ve been on staff with Wisconsin Conservation Voters helping communities learn how they can take tangible steps to improve the climate crisis using the benefits from Biden’s Affordable Clean Energy Plan. I’ve been inspired by how many people, businesses, and municipalities have made clean energy improvements that will save them money and protect the environment.
I won’t sugar coat it – the election of Donald Trump will be a serious threat to clean energy policies and the landmark legislation of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) hangs in the balance. But there’s no denying the economic benefits of renewable infrastructure. There is a momentum towards clean energy that can’t be stopped.
Since the IRA was passed, we have made a significant impact on our state and the country. There have been $5.44 billion of investments in clean energy in Wisconsin since the passage of the IRA and 2,512 jobs created. Across the country, 3.4 million households were able to utilize the residential energy tax credits in the 2023 tax year, saving people $6.3 billion overall.
In 2023, we held our clean energy canvass in the North Shore neighborhood of Milwaukee making people aware of these benefits. Now, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is calling the neighborhood a hotbed for solar installation [[link removed]].
This year, our work at the state level is more important than ever. Help defend our environment against Donald Trump’s extremist agenda by becoming a sustaining monthly donor [[link removed]]. Your support and participation will help us fight for a pro-conservation, pro-democracy state Supreme Court; a state budget that reflects our values; and mobilizing more voters to protect Wisconsin’s environment. We can’t build the future we want without conservation voters like you.
Scroll down for more:
- Biden’s Affordable Clean Energy Plan is helping a Chippewa Falls community
- Improve your home’s energy efficiency with the HEAR program
- Our 2024 endorsed candidates are conservation leaders in the legislature
- Save the date for Conservation Lobby Day on May 6!
- We’re gearing up for the April 1 election
- WCV in the news
Thanks for being a conservation voter,
Quinn Rowe
Federal Clean Energy Campaign Manager
DONATE [[link removed]]
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Biden’s Affordable Clean Energy Plan is helping a Chippewa Falls community
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In Chippewa Falls, a group of high school students secured a PSC grant funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help Hope Village—a tiny home community that provides shelter for low-income and homeless individuals—become more sustainable. With this funding, Hope Village installed a solar system that will significantly reduce their monthly energy bills. These savings will allow the community to reinvest in their mission, providing essential support and services to the individuals and families who call Hope Village home.
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Improve your home’s energy efficiency with the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) program
In December, Wisconsin rolled out the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) program, making it easier for homeowners to buy energy-saving appliances like heat pumps, electric stove tops, insulation, and more.
The HEAR rebate is first-come, first-serve, so go to Focus on Energy’s HEAR webpage [[link removed]] to learn how to take advantage of this great cost-saving opportunity!
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Our 2024 endorsed candidates are conservation leaders in the legislature
There was energy and fresh faces in the State Capitol on Jan. 9, as dozens of Wisconsin Conservation Voters endorsed candidates were newly sworn into the legislature! We’re so excited to work with them and the returning legislators in the coming session.
We’d like to congratulate Sen. Jodi Habush Sinykin of Whitefish Bay and Rep. Lori Palmeri of Oshkosh on being named the top Democrats on the environmental committees for the State Senate and Assembly.
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Save the date for Conservation Lobby Day on May 6!
Save the date for Tuesday, May 6, and join us in Madison for one of our most impactful days of the year – Conservation Lobby Day!
At the beginning of every legislative session, we bring conservation voters like you together from around the state to meet with your legislators. You have the opportunity to tell your legislators directly about the action you want them to take on clean water, clean energy, and a healthy democracy.
Citizen lobbying really does make a difference! After every one of our past lobby days, we’ve seen direct policy wins that have helped us move our conservation agenda forward.
Registration will be open in early February!
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We’re gearing up for the April 1 election
The spring election is on Tuesday, April 1 and our team is gearing up to make sure we elect a Supreme Court justice who supports our conservation agenda. Look out for emails from us as we announce our endorsed candidate.
Additionally, the legislature just voted to put another dangerous constitutional amendment on the April 1 ballot. This ballot amendment would enshrine in our state constitution the need for voters to show an ID when voting. Wisconsin already requires voters to show a photo ID, but there's no reason for this to be in the state constitution. Photo ID requirements have been shown to disproportionately impact historically disenfranchised communities. At a time when communities are under attack, we should be working to protect them, rather than increase barriers to the ballot box. Read more about the amendment here [[link removed]].
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WCV in the news
Check out some of our recent media clips:
Hudson Star Observer [[link removed]]: The article highlights how the Inflation Reduction Act helps Wisconsin homeowners make clean energy improvements and features our website [[link removed]] to help readers.
Wisconsin Public Radio [[link removed]]: We made a splash across news outlets when we organized a coalition of over 30 groups to call on legislators to invest in water infrastructure upgrades. “When we’re sitting on a $4 billion surplus, we strongly believe that access to safe drinking water should not be a zero sum competition, and that we should use the resources we have to ensure that everyone can turn on the tap and know that the water coming out of it is safe to drink,” said Government Affairs Manager Peter Burress.
ABC News 19 Madison [[link removed]]: We were featured opposing a Republican-backed bill that would add hurdles to wind and solar projects. “Wind and solar energy are clean and reliable sources of energy,” said Government Affairs Director Jennifer Giegerich. “Landowners who want to host those projects should be able to do so if they have the approval of the Public Service Commission.”
P.S. Set up a monthly contribution that supports progress in Wisconsin and helps defend our environment against Donald Trump’s extremist agenda [[link removed]]. We can’t build the future we want without your support at every step along the way.
DONATE [[link removed]]
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Wisconsin Conservation Voters
133 S. Butler Street Suite 320
Madison, WI 53703
United States
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