Should Wisconsin adopt a plan to address global warming and use more homegrown, renewable energy?
Wisconsin should definitely take action to reduce our contribution to global warming. Effective action requires action at the national and global level as well as state, local, household, and individual level. Homegrown renewable energy is essential, but only part of the answer. We also need to become much more efficient in our energy generation and consumption. This includes energy conservation included as part of building codes and land use planning. We need to transition to non-carbon emitting or substantially reduced carbon emission technology for transportation. Is there a choice we need to make between economic growth and environmental protections? Gaylord Nelson famously said, “The economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the environment.” Protecting the environment provides the basis for long-term economic strength. If we ignore the environment, which provides all the resources necessary for life, we put our modern economy at risk. If we protect the environment, we can have both