Red, Green, and Blue

Wisconsin’s Governor’s Task Force on Global Warming has recommended that the state achieve 2005 levels by 2014; reduce emissions by 22% from 2005 levels by 2022 (someone one day will have to explain to me the fascination with number alliteration); and finally, it calls for 75% reductions from 2005 levels by 2050.

The task force has also recommended a two-pronged approach, adopting state level support for either a federal or state-level cap and trade program, as well as a series of policy recommendations for several important state industry sectors:

1. Energy Sector
2. Transportation Sector
3. Agriculture and Forestry Sectors
4. Industry Sector
5. Waste Sector

The task force “strongly prefers a broad-based, multi-sector, mandatory federal Cap and Trade Program that is fair to Wisconsin and recommends that the state actively participate in designing such a program”. It also goes on to recommend that Wisconsin participate in the MidWestern Governor’s Association’s work on a regional cap and trade program. Most interestingly, the report ends off by saying that regardless if there is a national or regional cap and trade program, recommends a unique design for the Cap and Trade Program during a transition period to mitigate what may be substantial initial costs for regulated utilities and their customers and large industry as a result of uncertain GHG emission allowance prices, particularly while low-carbon technologies are under development.

Some of the more radical policy recommendations proposed include:

• Removing economic disincentives for utilities to aggressively promote and invest in conservation and efficiency measures;
• Promoting water conservation to reduce water utilities electrical bills;
• Setting a goal of 25% of electricity being from renewable sources by 2025;
• Modifying the existing moratorium on nuclear power plants to allow that option to be considered in the future;
• Adopting California standards for auto and light truck GHG emissions; and
• Increasing the use of anaerobic digesters to produce biogas/methane from animal manure through subsidies or tax credits.

So, who’s the first to comment with a cow manure joke?

For More on States and Renewable Energy:

• Colorado to Ditch Two Coal Plants, Moving to Solar and Wind
• Pennsylvania Gets $650 Million Renewable Energy Fund
• Florida Gives Green Light to Largest Solar Power Plant in U.S.

 Photo Credit: chefranden via Flickr’s Media Commons

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