The next few months are likely to be very active when it comes to climate change legislation. Wisconsin legislators are expected to unveil comprehensive climate change legislation in the next week that could prove to be controversial. Climate change legislation narrowly passed in Congress earlier this year, and is now being debated in the […]
Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord Still Drafting Regional Cap-and-Trade Program
Date Mon, Dec. 7, 2009 - 2:32pm By Hamilton
Obama Administration Set to Announce Endangerment Finding – Grants EPA Rulemaking Authority Under the Clean Air Act
Date Mon, Dec. 7, 2009 - 11:55am By Hamilton
The EPA today is expected today to declare carbon dioxide (CO2) a dangerous pollutant, and thus hand the agency sweeping regulatory authority under the Clean Air Act (CAA). An endangerment finding under the CAA is the first step toward regulating CO2 and other greenhouse gases. The proposed endangerment finding will be issued under § […]
EPA Proposes New Regulations for Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
Date Wed, Nov. 25, 2009 - 1:25pm By Hamilton
The EPA last week proposed to strengthen the primary National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for sulfur dioxide (SO2). The new rule is the first time EPA has tightened controls for SO2 since 1971. Specifically, the EPA proposes to replace the existing annual and 24-hour primary SO2 standards with a new 1-hour SO2 standard […]
Governor Doyle Vetoes DNR Secretary Bill
Date Fri, Nov. 13, 2009 - 5:23pm By Hamilton
Gov. Jim Doyle today vetoed AB 138, which would have removed the Governor’s authority to appoint the DNR Secretary and handed the authority to the Natural Resources Board. In his veto message, Gov. Doyle noted that the DNR Secretary is “an integral part of a Governor’s Cabinet, playing a regular and key role in interagency […]
Study: Wisconsin Climate Change Proposals Will Be Costly
Date Thu, Nov. 12, 2009 - 12:04pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Policy Research Institute (WPRI) this week issued a study titled, “The Economics of Climate Change Proposals in Wisconsin,” which analyzes the costs associated with complying with the various policy recommendations contained in Wisconsin’s Governor’s Task Force on Global Warming Final Report. The study predicts Wisconsin will lose 49,000 jobs over the next […]
EPA Moves One Step Closer to Regulating Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Date Tue, Nov. 10, 2009 - 12:02pm By Hamilton
The EPA yesterday announced that it sent to the White House its final endangerment finding. An endangerment finding paves the way for the EPA to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. In April, the EPA announced its findings (and technical support document) that greenhouse gases threaten the public health and welfare. EPA’s […]
Senate Passes DNR Secretary Bill, Governor Likely to Veto
Date Fri, Nov. 6, 2009 - 9:46am By Hamilton
The Senate yesterday passed a measure that removes the Governor’s authority to appoint the Department of Natural Resources Secretary, handing the authority to those appointed to the Natural Resources Board. The Senate amended AB 138 to allow the Senate to confirm the Secretary after he or she is appointed by the Natural Resources Board. Opponents […]
Global Warming Litigation Heats Up in Federal Courts
Date Tue, Oct. 20, 2009 - 8:51pm By Hamilton
Last month we reported that a federal appeals court ruled that environmental groups had standing to sue energy companies under tort and public nuisance claims for their alleged contribution to global warming. This month a federal district court came to opposite conclusion. Judge Saundra Brown Armstrong of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District […]
Wisconsin Biofuels Bill Debated in Public Hearing
Date Thu, Oct. 8, 2009 - 2:16pm By Hamilton
The Assembly Committee on Renewable Energy and Rural Affairs and Senate Committee on Rural Issues, Biofuels, and Information Technology this week held a joint hearing on companion bills – SB 279, introduced by Senator Pat Kreitlow (D-Chippewa Falls) and AB 408, introduced by Rep. Scott Suder (R-Abbotsford) – dealing with domestic biofuels. The bills […]
EPA Announces Plans to Regulate Greenhouse Gases Under Clean Air Act
Date Thu, Oct. 1, 2009 - 9:19am By Hamilton
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson yesterday announced that the agency will not wait for Congress to act on regulating greenhouse gas emissions. In her announcement, Jackson stated that the EPA will take “significant steps” under the Clean Air Act to address greenhouse gas emissions. Under the plan, industrial facilities, refiners, and […]