The Defender, Fall 2009

Defender the

CLEAN WATER

Fall 2009 • Vol. 39, No. 4

• CLEAN AIR • CLEAN ENERGY

SPECIAL ISSUE

Global Warming | Legislator education & outreach | Climate change debate guide | | How the media skews global warming | Exxon’s disinformation campaign | | Wisconsin’s global warming legislation & you |

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED in the fight against

ExxonMobil’s fake

“SCIENCE” Disinformation & the most

Global Warming important story seldom told

By Katy Walter, 1Sky Organizer

By Sarah Shanahan, Global Warming Program Associate

For too long, Wisconsin has been over-dependent on dirty,

dangerous energy sources such as coal and oil. It’s time for us to take steps to transition away from these archaic energy sources to homegrown solutions. Wisconsin has vast potential for clean, renewable energy, and our legislature has begun moving forward to a clean energy economy by drafting a comprehensive bill. This bill will contain a package of policies recommended by the Governor’s Task Force on Global Warming. These policies put us on track to reduce pollution 75 percent by 2050, revitalize our economy and move Wisconsin into the 21st century. With the bill draft introduction just around the corner, it is important for you to take action before, during and after the process.

It is absolutely necessary for our elected officials to hear from you on this issue. Legislators appreciate hearing from their constituents; it gives them an opportunity to hear your concerns or issues, lets them know which way they should vote, and gives them a better sense of what citizens in their districts want. Contacting your legislators several times will allow you to build a rapport and is one way that you can keep them accountable. It’s just as important to call your legislator after the vote to thank them for voting the right way to let them know that you stand behind them.

(global warming continues on pages 6 & 7) Clean Wisconsin 122 State Street, Suite 200 Madison, WI 53703-2500

Nonprofit Org U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 1291 Madison, WI

Climate change is happening

, we are responsible for it, the consequences will be dire, and we need to stop it. Despite these facts, to those of us working to fight climate change, it is obvious that the public believes there is still an ongoing debate. For this, we can thank one oil company for funding a misinformation campaign that is eerily similar to Big Tobacco’s campaign to mislead the public about the dangers of smoking.

For over one hundred years, ExxonMobil has had free reign to pollute our air and water while making record-setting profits. As it became increasingly clear that they would be asked to move beyond last century’s technologies, ExxonMobil has done everything in its power to maintain status quo.

Instead of making the case that climate change was not real, ExxonMobil’s strategy was much simpler:

INSIDE Taking Charge and Taking Action. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Clean Wisconsin Legislative Agenda. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 SUCCESS: Wind. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Watershed Moment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Progress on Groundwater Legislation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Global Warming Special issue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7 Legislative Profile: Miller & Black. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Renewable Energy Payments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Ask David; Enviro-SCRAMBLE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 What’s in your Mailbox?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Thank You!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-12

Taking Charge &

TAKING ACTION

Actions you can take for clean water, clean air and clean energy Send us your global warming debate questions

If your conversations with friends and family have been anything like ours, global warming and the pending legislation to address it have been hot topics. We’d like to compile a list and research the answers to common questions! If you have a question you often encounter (or a question of your own), please e-mail it to us at media@cleanwisconsin.org; please put “Debate Question” in the subject line.

Sponsor Clean Wisconsin’s 40th Anniversary Bash It is hard to believe, but Clean Wisconsin is turning 40 in 2010. Clean Wisconsin has compiled an impressive list of victories over the past 40 years (we’re not ashamed to tout it!), and we need your help to guarantee that Clean Wisconsin sees many more anniversaries. To that end, we are soliciting sponsorships to help both offset the costs of the anniversary party and help us raise much-needed funds to help sustain our organization. If you are interested in learning more about sponsoring our 40th anniversary party, please contact Becky Bains at bbains@cleanwisconsin.org or 608-251-7020 ext. 17.

Give us your e-mail address Clean Wisconsin is your environmental voice, but we need you to be involved! While we certainly need your financial support, we also need you to support our work with your actions! The quickest, most affordable way for us to contact you when we need your help is via e-mail. Please e-mail me at bbains@cleanwisconsin.org with your e-mail address and join our Action Network. Be part of our winning team!

Use GoodSearch to help Clean Wisconsin With a few simple clicks, you can help Clean Wisconsin by using GoodSearch. GoodSearch is a search engine that donates 50 percent of its revenue to the charities and schools designated by its users. You use GoodSearch exactly as you would any other search engine (like Google), and because it’s powered

by Yahoo!, you get proven search results. The money GoodSearch donates comes from its advertisers — the users and the organizations do not spend a dime! This comes to about one cent for every search.

Simply go to www.goodsearch.com, then set Clean Wisconsin as your selected organization by typing in our name under “Who Do you Search For?” and click “verify.” Then set GoodSearch as your home page to help Clean Wisconsin any time you do an Internet search!

T h a nk yo u to our members in the Cedarburg area!

Clean Wisconsin member Inge Wintersberger and Clean Wisconsin executive director Mark Redsten address attendees at a recent house party at Wintersberger’s home.

Thank you to Inge and Frank Wintersberger for hosting a house party for Clean Wisconsin at their beautiful home on Hidden Valley Lake in Cedarburg. By hosting a house party for Clean Wisconsin, they helped raise funds to protect Wisconsin’s water and air.

During the house party, attendees learned more about our work on the Great Lakes, had a chance to mingle with Clean Wisconsin staff, and learned more about what nearby Concordia University is doing with its new environmental center.

If you are interested in hosting a similar event, please contact Becky Bains at 608-251-7020 ext. 17 or bbains@cleanwisconsin.org.

The Defender is owned and published quarterly by Clean Wisconsin, 122 State Street, Suite 200, Madison, Wisconsin 53703, 608-251-7020. Founded in 1970, Clean Wisconsin is a statewide, nonprofit environmental advocacy organization.

A one-year subscription membership is $30. Please direct correspondence to the address above.

Volume 39, No. 4 Issue date: October 2009 ©2009 Clean Wisconsin. All rights reserved.

Printed with soy ink on unbleached, recycled paper.

ISSN # 1549-8107

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122 State Street, Suite 200 • Madison WI 53703-4333 Phone: 608-251-7020 • Fax: 608-251-1655 www.CleanWisconsin.org Clean Wisconsin, an environmental advocacy organization, protects Wisconsin’s clean water and air and advocates for clean energy by being an effective voice in the state legislature and by holding elected officals and polluters accountable.

Founded in 1970 as Wisconsin’s Environmental Decade, Clean Wisconsin exposes corporate polluters, makes sure exisiting environmental laws are enforced, and educates citizens and businesses.

On behalf of its 10,000 members and its coalition partners, Clean Wisconsin protects the special places that make Wisconsin such a wonderful place to live, work and play.

STAFF Executive Director Mark Redsten Senior Policy Director Keith Reopelle Program Director Amber Meyer Smith Energy Program Director Katie Nekola Water Program Director Melissa Malott Staff Scientist Peter Taglia Grassroots Organizer Ryan Schryver Water Resources Specialist Ezra Meyer Media Specialists Sam Weis Amanda Wegner Design and Communication Specialist Malka Salomon Global Warming Program Associate Sarah Shanahan 1Sky Organizer Katy Walter RE-AMP Coordinator Elizabeth Wheeler RE-AMP Program Assistant Elizabeth Edelstein Development Director Brian Kelly Membership & Development Manager Becky Bains Development Assistant Allie Theuerkauf Chief Financial Officer Roger Sneath Accounting Manager Mary Coughlan Office Administrator David Vitse

BOARD Carl Sinderbrand – Chair (Madison) Margi Kindig – Vice Chair (Madison) Gof Thomson – Treasurer (New Glarus) Gary Goyke – Secretary (Madison) Sue Durst (Verona) Paul Linzmeyer (Green Bay) Pam McGillivray (Madison) Lucia Petrie (Milwaukee) David Wandel (Madison) Kate Gordon – Board Emeritus

(Washington, D.C.)

The Defender, Fall 2009, Vol. 39, No. 4

Clean Wisconsin

LEGISLATIVE AGENDA The latest developments on environmental priorities Please contact your legislators today and let them know support these important environmental priorities.

Find out who your legislators are by visiting www.legis.wisconsin.gov/waml You can follow the progress of any bill by visiting the State Legislature’s Web site at www.legis.wi.gov Clean Wisconsin and its members have been working hard this session to let legislators know about important issues facing the environment. Due to this commitment, three pieces of priority legislation have already moved through the process.

photo: vaxomatic/flickr.com

Success!

Wind Siting Reform: Promoting renewable energy for Wisconsin

Success!

Mercury Products Ban: Protecting our health by reducing toxins

Senate Bill 200 and Assembly Bill 299 were introduced in May by Senator Bob Jauch (D-Poplar) and Representative Chris Danou (D-Trempealeau). The bills sought to ban the sale of non-essential products containing mercury. After being inexplicably stalled in the Assembly last session, the bills have flown through the legislative process, and now only await the Governor’s signature to become law. Thanks to Clean Wisconsin members who took the time to contact their legislators to let them know that it was not acceptable for Wisconsin to be one of the only states in the Great Lakes region without such a ban in place.

Success!

Electronic Waste: Responsible disposal of your old TVs and computers

photo: gillies1313/flickr.com

Both Assembly Bill 256 and Senate Bill 185, authored by Representative Jim Soletski (D-Green Bay) and Senator Jeff Plale (D-South Milwaukee), respectively, were introduced in May and have received approval by both the Senate and Assembly. As of this writing, only the Governor’s signature is needed to promote the use of wind as a renewable energy resource for Wisconsin, reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and creating jobs for hard-working Wisconsinites. Read more on page 4

photo: applez/flickr.com

Senate Bill 107 and Assembly Bill 278, companion bills introduced by Senator Mark Miller (D-Monona) and Representative Penny Bernard Schaber (D-Appleton), have now been passed by both the Senate and the Assembly. The bills will ensure discarded electronic equipment such as televisions and computers are recycled at the end of their life by requiring manufacturers to offer convenient recycling options for households with this old equipment. This important recycling bill is expected to be sent to the Governor for his signature in October.

There is a lot yet to be done for Wisconsin’s environment, and Clean Wisconsin will turn its attention to the priority issues in the State Legislature this fall.

Please contact your legislators today and let them know you support these important environmental priorities.

Reducing Global Warming

Transitioning to a clean energy economy

Progress continues on legislation to reduce the impacts of global warming in Wisconsin. Chairs of the state Legislature’s Energy and Environmental committees are currently drafting legislation that will enact the recommendations of the Governor’s Global Warming Task Force. As a member of that Task Force, Clean Wisconsin remains heavily invested in making sure these policies advance this legislative session. Passage of these recommendations will ensure Wisconsin is poised to become a leader in the clean energy economy and capture the potential 35,000 family-supporting jobs that a recent study showed could be created in our state with an investment in renewable energy.

Clean Wisconsin has been working with several groups to advance global warming policies and recently joined efforts with CREWE (Clean Responsible Energy for Wisconsin’s Economy), a coalition of business stakeholders formed to develop energy policies that transition Wisconsin to a sound economy powered by new green jobs and investment. With these strong partnerships, we are hopeful that the state Legislature will take action this session.

Advancing global warming policies will require everyone’s action. Find out how you can become involved in this important issue by calling the Clean Wisconsin office or sign the petition to support the strong Clean Energy Jobs Act to fight global warming at Clean Wisconsin’s Web site,

www.cleanwisconsin.org.

Groundwater Protection

Taking the next steps to protecting our precious resource

Lying unseen just beneath our feet, groundwater not only provides the majority of Wisconsinites with their drinking water, but it also maintains the water levels and the high quality of our treasured lakes, rivers and wetlands.

Wisconsin made a huge step forward in 2004 when the first Groundwater Protection Law was enacted, which protected a small but important set of rivers, lakes and springs from the negative impacts of groundwater pumping.

As experts have gained experience with that law, further protections have been identified to ensure that our groundwater is not jeopardized by excessive pumping and use. Clean Wisconsin has joined a coalition of partners working to update the laws in this area, and legislation is expected to be introduced soon. READ MORE ON PAGE 5

Clean Wisconsin

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a letter from the Executive Director

SUCCESS!

These are exciting times for Clean Wisconsin and its members. After years of hard work on the Governor’s Global Warming Task Force and Midwestern Governors Association, this year we have the opportunity to begin to see our hard work come to its legislative fruition as lawmakers at both the state and federal level take up climate change legislation.

Clean Wisconsin

W i nd Ref o r m a hard-won fight for

After a flurry of activity in the Wisconsin State Senate and Assembly in midSeptember, Clean Wisconsin is pleased to announce that both houses have passed legislation that will make it easier to site and permit wind farms in our state. This is a major victory for Wisconsin’s environment and economy that establishes precedence for strong bipartisan support of clean energy.

For 10 years, Wisconsin has struggled to build small- and medium-sized wind farms due to overly restrictive local ordinances designed by wind energy opponents to stop projects in their area. This wind siting reform legislation requires that experts at the Public Service Commission to establish reasonable statewide standards for building safe and responsible wind farms.

Over the last two years, Clean Wisconsin worked diligently to draft a bill that made sure wildlife and public health concerns will be addressed by the experts crafting the new state-wide rules. Staffers also logged hundreds of hours meeting with nearly all 132 state legislators to explain the need for the bill and educate them on the benefits of clean energy. Those efforts were reflected in the strong, bipartisan support the bill received; SB 185 passed 23-9 in the State Senate; the companion bill, AB 256, passed 65-31 in the Assembly.

In addition to the massive effort it took to educate all of our state legislators, Clean Wisconsin was also a leader in the efforts to build a massive coalition of diverse interest groups to support the bill. The campaign also demanded a major media campaign and grassroots support across the state. Our staff worked with newspaper editorial boards to educate them on the benefits of wind power, securing endorsements from all the state’s major media outlets. Despite this work, wind power opponents were successful in generating dozens of misleading articles that required rapid response to set the record straight.

Finding solutions to global warming is essential to our organization’s mission and nearly all our program work. Left unchecked, global warming threatens the quality of our air, the health of our lakes, rivers and streams, and our way of life, not to mention our economy.

At the federal level, Clean Wisconsin staff members are using the strong recommendations of the Midwestern Governors Association Greenhouse Gas Accord Advisory Group to influence and strengthen climate change legislation moving through Congress. At the state level, our staff members are busy engaging legislators and advocating for the passage of the recommendations of Governor Doyle’s Global Warming Task Force, which include strong greenhouse gas reduction targets and a commitment to clean energy produced right here in Wisconsin. These recommendations will help our state reduce its global warming pollution, move toward energy independence and give us an advantage in the clean energy economy.

Clean Wisconsin has already made significant progress in the fight against global warming, and we look forward to even larger victories. As I read about the exciting work being done in this global warming special issue of The Defender, I am reminded that none of the important progress that has been made and continues to be made would be possible without the financial support and dedication of our members. Thank you for your continued support and for your dedication to protecting Wisconsin’s environment.

This wouldn’t have been possible without hundreds of Clean Wisconsin members contacting their elected officials and demanding support for clean energy.

While this legislation is an important victory, it represents just the first step in moving Wisconsin toward a clean energy future. We’re looking forward to continuing those efforts by passing the Clean Energy Jobs Act later this year which will dramatically increase our state’s commitment to renewable energy.

Clean Wisconsin P roud to Sit o n W C C AI B o a r d

Nonprofit will provide education, advice, expertise on climate change In July, Governor Jim Doyle announced the creation of a new nonprofit organization, Wisconsin Climate Change Action Initiative, Inc. (WCCAI), to build on Wisconsin’s strong efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Formation of the nonprofit organization was recommendation of Governor Doyle’s Task Force on Global Warming to build upon Wisconsin’s national leadership on climate change. Clean Wisconsin is pleased to have a seat on its board of directors.

WCCAI will focus on providing education, practical advice and expertise to residents, communities and businesses on simple, effective steps to reduce our carbon footprint, without affecting comfort or productivity. This effort will complement existing programs like the Focus on Energy Schools and Government Program and the Wisconsin Energy Independent Community Partnership, which are designed to achieve Governor Doyle’s goal of getting 25 percent of our electricity and 25 percent of our transportation fuels from renewable sources by 2025.

• • • • • • • • • • • 4

Roy Thilly, WPPI Energy Tia Nelson, BCPL Gale Klappa, We Energies Matt Frank, Secretary Department of Natural Resources Judy Ziewacz, Director Office of Energy Independence Paul Meier, UW Energy Institute Clay Nessler, Johnson Controls Roger Dower, The Johnson Foundation Mary Jo Carson, Mayor, Wisconsin Rapids Dave Gilles, Attorney, Godfrey & Kahn Margi Kindig, Board Member, Clean Wisconsin

photo: B. Cleary; sxc.hu/gallery/br0

Clean Wisconsin Executive Director Mark Redsten joins a number of wonderful allies on the WCCAI Board of Directors:

The Defender, Fall 2009, Vol. 39, No. 4

Watershed M o ment

By Ezra Meyer, Water Specialist

For more information on the Southeastern Wisconsin Watersheds Trust effort in the Milwaukee area, visit www.swwtwater.org.

For more information on the Yahara Lakes Legacy Partnership effort in the Madison area, visit www.danewaters.com/ YaharaLakesLegacyPartnership.aspx.

If you live near or are a regular user of either the Yahara River chain of lakes around Madison, or Lake Michigan and the Greater Milwaukee area rivers that flow into it, then you probably already know it was an eventful summer for these water bodies. Runoff this spring was typical, without the excessive flooding (and the resulting influx of pollutants) that we had across southern Wisconsin last year.

However, that is not to say water quality problems never emerged this summer in the two places where Clean Wisconsin’s collaborative watershed restoration efforts are taking place.

In Dane County, algae blooms were strong in Madison-area lakes this summer, a legacy of excessive nutrients flowing into the lakes from agricultural runoff (the major source of nutrient pollution in the Yahara River watershed, which joins the five area lakes) and urban runoff (a significant but smaller source of nutrient pollution, although that varies lake-by-lake). This was even in a typical year for precipitation.

In the Milwaukee area, one particularly severe rain event in late June (which dropped 5 to 6 inches of rain in less than a day) led to overflows of nearly a billion gallons of untreated sewage combined with stormwater runoff into area streams and eventually Lake Michigan That is significantly less than last summer’s record-breaking overflows but nonetheless detrimental to water quality in all affected water bodies in that area.

However, the Milwaukee area did have something to celebrate.

Clean Wisconsin and its six other nonprofit partners, under the banner of the Southeastern Wisconsin Watersheds Trust (SWWT), landed a three-year grant of nearly $2 million from the Joyce Foundation for our ongoing work to improve water quality in several Greater Milwaukee area river watersheds and Lake Michigan. That grant allows us to work with the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District; area municipalities, including the City of Milwaukee; the Department of Natural Resources; the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission; and a host of other stakeholders and partners to ramp up efforts to identify the sources of pollution in each watershed, prioritize actions to address those sources, and take action through a priority framework to implement the most costeffective clean-up efforts and move us toward the goal of swimmable and fishable waters in the largest population and business center of the state. (continued on page 8)

P ro g r ess o n l eg i s l at i o n t o p rotect groundwater and connected surface waters This summer saw continued progress in the effort to secure greater protections for Wisconsin’s precious groundwater supplies and for the surface waters that rely on consistent flows of high quality groundwater (our springs, wetlands, streams, rivers and lakes). As was discussed in depth in the summer edition, these water resources are critically important habitat for fish and wildlife, and they provide places for Wisconsin and visiting families to recreate and commune with the outdoors.

Legislative leaders of the Senate Environment Committee and the Assembly Natural Resources Committee held a hearing in late July that featured presentations by several key leaders in the field of groundwater science and policy. That hearing laid the groundwork for the necessary changes in state law, changes that have likely been proposed in legislation by the time you read this.

Legislation is expected to be introduced this fall; your support will be critical to ensure its passage this legislative session with all the critical fixes we believe are necessary (see “Critical Fixes” at right). Specifically, legislators will need to hear about your experiences with water in Wisconsin and why it is so important to you.

It has been said that we don’t miss the water until the well is dry. This campaign is about being proactive to prevent that problem from happening in the majority of the state, where our sources of water are plentiful and clean right now, and it is about taking an active approach to managing things toward an improved situation in those areas of the state where significant problems have already occurred.

Monitor our Web site, www.cleanwisconsin.org/campaigns/Groundwater, for legislative updates on this issue. There will be opportunities for those who care about the issue to get involved and have their voices heard.

C r i t i c a l F i x es

By Ezra Meyer, Water Specialist

•

Wisconsin law needs to reflect the reality that groundwater and surface water are connected.

•

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) needs the authority to consider the environmental impacts of any large groundwater well with the potential to harm surface waters.

Currently, wells drilled in many such locations cannot be analyzed by the DNR for impacts prior to permit approval.

•

The DNR also has to be able to consider the cumulative effects of all wells that withdraw water from a common aquifer, in order to be able to prevent problems before they arise, problems such as excess drawdown of the aquifer, impacts on surface waters or both.

•

Under current law, in regions of the state where there are major known groundwater problems, area water users must create a plan for sustainably managing the water to minimize overall impacts. This law needs to be changed to give the DNR the authority to modify the permits for individual well owners, if necessary, to meet the goals of the agreed-upon plan.

•

Finally, large water users—be they farms, industries, municipalities, or water bottling facilities—must be required to use proactive conservation measures to maximize the efficiency of their water use.

Your support is needed Clean Wisconsin

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SPECIAL Global Warming ISSUE

Outreach and Education E x x o n ’ S

Critical components for change

By Keith Reopelle, Senior Policy Director, and Amber Meyer Smith, Program Director

Chairs of the energy committees and environmental committees are currently drafting legislation that will enact the recommendations of the Governor’s Global Warming Task Force. As a member of that Task Force, Clean Wisconsin remains heavily invested in making sure these policies advance in this legislative session.

Legislation is expected to be introduced this fall, and in anticipation, Clean Wisconsin advocates and other activists are reaching out to legislators to educate them on the policies that will advance our clean energy economy.

In May, Clean Wisconsin sponsored forums in Green Bay and Eau Claire to bring together citizens who care about the effects of global warming with legislators and other activists to discuss the Clean Energy Jobs Act policies. Both events were well-attended and resulted in increased awareness and many contacts that will be useful as legislation moves forward.

Clean Wisconsin sponsored a brown bag lunch series in the State Capitol in August and September to help educate state lawmakers and their staff about key policies for reducing global warming. The series brought together the considerable knowledge of leading experts from around the state, including Clean Wisconsin staff, on topics including low carbon fuel standards, renewable energy standards, energy efficiency and cap and trade.

In August, Clean Wisconsin began hosting a series of meetings in key legislative districts to bring together key lawmakers and their constituents to discuss the issues surrounding global warming policy.

Clean Wisconsin has been working with several groups to advance global warming policies, and most recently joined efforts with CREWE, Clean Responsible Energy for Wisconsin’s Economy, a coalition of business stakeholders formed to develop energy policies that transition Wisconsin to a sound economy powered by new green jobs and investment. Clean Wisconsin and CREWE lobbyists have been meeting together with legislative leaders to express the support of our collective members for global warming policies, and a need for legislation this session that reduces Wisconsin greenhouse gas emissions.

O b ject i v i t y How media skews reality in the

science of global warming

By Sam Weis, Media Specialist

It’s a common sight: two “experts” on cable television arguing heatedly over the scientific merit of manmade climate change. While watching a debate on cable news or reading opinion pieces in the pages of a newspaper may lead one to believe that the scientific community is torn on the issue of manmade global warming, the scientific verdict came back on global warming some time ago. However, poor media practices result in an unproductive and lingering debate over the cause of climate change.

Journalism schools across the nation teach the journalistic code of objectivity. While objectivity — the practice of basing a story on facts and attempting to remove personal prejudice — is an inherently good practice, it is far too often misunderstood by journalists.

Many, if not most, journalists misinterpret “objectivity” as providing information on both sides of any given argument. As a result, instead of basing a story on fact, journalists present both sides of any controversial issue with equal weight and time regardless of the absurdity of one side of the argument.

When it comes to climate change, this means that while the vast majority of scientists believe that global warming is occurring and that it is manmade, media outlets will give equal time and credibility to those few scientists who deny manmade global warming as they do to those who support the science. This is despite the fact that since 2007, not one scientific organization of national or international standing has maintained a position denying man’s role in global warming.

Thus, the common practice of providing equal time to rogue scientists who deny man’s role in climate change is far from objective. A truly objective journalist would explain that the scientific community overwhelmingly agrees that global warming is occurring and that those who cast doubt on the science are in a minute minority. Instead, by creating the perception that the scientific community is torn on the science of global warming, media organizations do a disservice to the American people by stalling the debate and perpetuating doubt.

With the vast majority of scientists in agreement that global warming is real and must be addressed, it’s time for the media to move past the stale arguments of deniers and instead advance the debate by dedicating time and space to a discussion over how we address global warming. Such a discussion would be a far more productive use of news space and would help our nation find much-needed solutions to climate change.

“science” c o nt i ned f r o m c o ve r

create the impression that debate was still ongoing and therefore stall any action to regulate its products.

While publicly deferring to “science,” ExxonMobil was doing everything in its power behind the scenes to undermine the real science.

Starting in 1998, ExxonMobil began a $16 million campaign to fund a web of private nonprofit groups and a handful of scientific spokespeople for the purpose of manufacturing uncertainty about climate change. The groups, most of which had overlapping board members and scientific advisers, worked to distort undisputed scientific evidence and intentionally spread false information. According to a strategy memo from one group, “Victory will be achieved when average citizens ‘understand’ (recognize) uncertainties in climate science” and when public “recognition of uncertainty becomes part of the ‘conventional wisdom.’”

Throughout all this, the network that ExxonMobil helped create was taken as credible by the media, which failed to recognize the difference between peerreviewed science and industry-funded bunk. Combine this with eight years of a presidential administration that, for all intents and ...the public is left purposes, denied that climate to sift through change was happening, the the confusing public is left to sift through the confusing mess of “solar mess of “solar flares” and “heat islands” flares” and to uncover the truth. As “heat islands” science does not allow for ... As science 100-percent certainty of does not allow anything, ExxonMobil’s for 100-percent strategy to call for scientific certainty of certainty is a bell that cannot anything, be un-rung.

The company’s damage ExxonMobil’s continues, as both the mediastrategy to call at-large and critics of climate for scientific certainty is a bell change legislation often cite a debunked study by The that cannot be Heritage Foundation, an un-rung ExxonMobil-funded group.

This study claims that the American Clean Energy and Security Act would cost families $2,979, eight times what the EPA found to be the case. The report, typical of such groups, is filled with false assumptions and does not actually use the bill as a means to predict its consequences.

So far this year, ExxonMobil has outspent all clean energy companies combined in their efforts to lobby Congress on clean energy and the climate bill.

It is Clean Wisconsin’s job to fight against efforts to undermine future generations’ right to a healthy and sustainable environment. Considering the monetary strength of our opposition, we will need to flex every muscle we have; you can help by joining our Action Network and checking out “Taking Charge and Taking Action” on page 2. With your help, we can declare victory when Congress and the Wisconsin Legislature enact legislation to address climate change, the largest challenge humanity faces.

This article is based on the Union of Concerned Scientists’ report “Smoke, Mirrors, and Hot Air: ExxonMobil Uses Big Tobacco’s Tactics to Manufacture Uncertainty on Climate Science.” To read more about ExxonMobil’s disinformation campaign, see www.uscusa.org.

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photo: Sam LeVan; sxc.hu/profile/samlevan

The Defender, Fall 2009, Vol. 39, No. 4

Climate Change

Debate Guide

By Katy Walter, 1Sky Organizer

If your conversations with friends and family have been anything like ours, climate change and the pending legislation to address it have been hot topics. Here, we have put together a short guide for talking about the science, politics and economics of global warming.

The science

“We should wait until the science is certain before we take action.”

Contrary to what the media and a few radicals may have us believe, the science behind climate change is clear: Humans are responsible for the dangerous changes in global temperatures. Scientists differ on the speed and extent of these consequences, not on whether manmade global warming is happening. Although the exact timeline and effects of climate change are debated, the benefits of empowering a clean energy economy of the 21st century are certain. Wisconsin’s abundance of natural resources, strong manufacturing base and highly educated workforce will put us in a position to take advantage of strong growth in the coming clean energy economy.

The politics

“Developing countries’ emissions are growing faster than ours. Why should we bother cutting our global warming emissions if China and India don’t first?”

If the United States wants to continue as a world leader and harvest the benefits of the burgeoning clean energy economy, we need to start tackling climate change. China has already made significant strides (some even stronger than ours), and as the largest contributor of pollution per capita, we have a responsibility to step up.

The legislation

“A carbon tax is a better way to limit pollution.”

A cap and trade program puts a price on carbon that gives companies maximum flexibility while creating a market system that puts the cost of coal closer to its true cost in terms of health, pollution and impacts to our environment. Cap and trade creates revenue to reinvest in other efforts to limit pollution and is a proven method for pollution reduction. It is the most cost-effective way to achieve our goals.

“The American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) isn’t strong enough to address the problem.”

While the bill is not perfect, it would reduce pollution 28 percent below 2005 levels by 2020, in line with what scientists recommend is necessary to avert the worst effects of climate change. We do not know what a final bill on the state or federal level will look like, but it is Clean Wisconsin’s job to fight for best policies possible. The cost of inaction will far outweigh any costs of action, and ACES is a great start that is far better than doing nothing.

The economy

“We can’t afford to take these steps during an economic downturn.”

The very fact that we are in a recession makes investment in the clean energy economy necessary. The clean energy industry is growing fast, and according to the Political Economy Research Institute, Wisconsin stands to gain more than 37,000 jobs from the clean energy industry. And the longer we wait to take action, the more expensive it will be to solve the problem and the more damage climate change will do.

“Putting a cap on global warming pollution will raise energy bills.”

A comprehensive climate bill would invest in energy efficiency to help consumers spend less money on energy and invest in the range of technologies that we have not begun to take advantage of. Again, the cost of inaction will far outweigh the cost of action.

For an intensely comprehensive list of climate denier rebuttals, see Grist’s “How to Talk to a Climate Skeptic: Responses to the most common skeptical arguments on global warming” at www.grist.org.

Advancing global warming policies will re q uire eve ryone ’s act ion Find out how you can become more involved in these important issues by calling the Clean Wisconsin office or sign the petition to support the strong Clean Energy Jobs Act to fight global warming at Clean Wisconsin’s Web site,

www.cleanwisconsin.org

Help Needed c o nt i ned f r o m c o ve r

There are opportunities for you to tell your legislator what you expect before the bill is introduced. Before introduction, one of the most powerful ways to influence your legislators is to write a letter to the editor to your local paper about the importance of having a strong Clean Energy Jobs Act that increases energy efficiency measures, renewable energy standards, enhanced transportation options and low carbon fuels, and creates market incentives for companies to reduce pollution. Legislators keenly watch their local newspapers and TV news and radio outlets as a way to know what is important to the constituents of their districts. It’s also helpful to contact legislators before the bill is introduced to let them know that you are anticipating a strong Clean Energy Jobs Act from the Legislature.

Once the bill is introduced, it will be important for you to ask your legislators to co-sponsor the bill. By co-sponsoring a bill, it shows that legislators will be voting “yes” once it comes to the floor and lets their

colleagues know how they plan on voting. After a bill has circulated for co-sponsorship, there will be public hearings. Public hearings are another great opportunity to voice your opinion on why we need a strong clean energy economy by testifying or attending to register your support. Finally, it is crucial for you to urge your legislators to vote “yes” once the bill reaches the floor for a vote.

Getting involved in the process is important, but it’s important for you to reach out to your family, friends and neighbors to get them involved too. Host a party or put together a neighborhood petition — be creative!

We also know that the opposition will be working hard to weaken the bill.

They devote an enormous amount of resources to get decision-makers to vote the other way. For the federal climate bill, opposition calls to offices were more than double those supporting.

This emphasizes the fact that our legislators need to be hearing from you as much and in as many ways possible.

This is an illustration of the stages the strong Clean Energy Jobs Act will have to pass before being signed into law. Check out cleanwisconsin.org for updates on our progress and the current actions you can take.

Clean Wisconsin

7

Profile of

W a te r s h ed

Legislative Leadership

c o nt i ned f r o m P A G E 5

Although we have not yet landed a major grant for Madison’s watershed, we are reaching out to potential funding sources for Yahara Lakes Legacy Partnership (YLLP) efforts to improve water quality in the Yahara chain of lakes, which are a cornerstone of the Madison area’s natural resource base. Meanwhile, your financial support of the YLLP effort is always welcome. For the time being, funding from individuals and families like you is all that is keeping us involved in this important effort in our hometown. Your financial support can leverage significant resources to make the clean lakes vision we helped to develop through this effort a reality.

That support is all the more important now, as the end of 2009 marks an important transition for both the innovative new watershed collaborations we are part of.

In both the SWWT and the YLLP efforts, the end of the year is the deadline for detailed technical assessments of the watersheds that will pinpoint the major pollutants are affecting water quality in each area and their sources, as well as what kinds of activities will address those major sources in a cost-effective way. In other words, the planning phase comes to an end at the end of the year, and the implementation phase begins. We need you, individuals and organizations with a stake in the quality of the water and habitat in these watersheds. You are invited to join us in the work to implement the identified priority actions to make water quality in these watersheds look the way we all want it to look. If you feel you can help, contact me at 608251-7020, ext. 20, or emeyer@cleanwisconsin.org.

It feels good to be at the point of nearly having our big action plans completed and on the cusp of on-the-ground action that will result in improved water quality. We hope you will join us.

State Senator Mark Miller (D-Monona) and were known as Wisconsin’s Environmental Decade.

Representative Black has been a leader on some Representative Spencer Black (D-Madison) are key leaders on environmental legislation in the State of Wisconsin’s greatest environmental victories.

Capitol. They now serve as committee chairs for Most notably, he authored legislation creating the the Senate Environment Committee and Assembly Stewardship Fund, which protects conservation lands Natural Resources Committee, respectively, through for future generations, and the Mining Moratorium which most environmental policy must be vetted. Bill. Other environmental legislation authored by Black includes the creation of Senator Mark Miller the Lower Wisconsin was first elected to the State Riverway, the statewide Assembly in 1998, and to recycling program the State Senate in 2004. and the endangered Senator Miller is co-chair species match grant. of the powerful budgetRepresentative Black writing Joint Committee has twice been named on Finance, and chair of Legislator of the Year the Senate Committee by the Wisconsin on the Environment.

Wildlife Federation and Before being elected to

By Amber Meyer Smith, Program Director Environmentalist of the state office, he served on Year by the Audubon the Dane County Board Society as well as receiving of Supervisors and was the Environment al a military pilot in the Excellence Award from Air National Guard. the Midwest Renewable Senator Miller was a Energy Association. Black member of the Midwestern is the first person from Governor’s Association Wisconsin to win the Greenhouse Gas Nature Conservancy’s Reduction advisory group, Public Service Award, which recommended a and serves with Senator cap and trade program Miller as a member of the for Midwestern states to limit greenhouse gas Rep. Spencer Black (left) and Senator Mark Miller National Conference of Environmental legislators. emissions. In addition to testify on the Safe Climate Act bill.

Together, Miller and being a Clean Wisconsin Black have been working on key environmental member, he is also a member of the National Conference of Environment al Legislators. issues that will come before the Legislature this Miller’s environmental credentials are vast. Senator session. They are working on the Clean Energy Jobs Miller led the bipartisan efforts to ratify the Great Lakes Act, and they are also involved in efforts to make Compact in 2008 and is the author of electronic waste Wisconsin’s groundwater laws stronger. They have legislation to require computer, television and printer already gotten the Clean Lakes bill signed into law recycling by manufacturers. He also led the legislative this session to restrict the use of phosphorus in lawn efforts on several important issues, including out-of- fertilizer, and are forwarding another to deal with state waste reduction during the state budget process. phosphorus in automatic dishwashing detergents.

There is no doubt that both Miller and Black Representative Spencer Black (D-Madison) is serving his thirteenth term in the State Assembly, and bring their knowledge and passion for our natural is currently chair of the Assembly Natural Resources resources to their work, and serve as leading Committee. Representative Black previously worked as advocates for these issues in the Capitol. Clean a high school teacher and coach, as curator of education Wisconsin will continue to work with both of the State Historical Society and as a conservation committee chairs as these important environmental representative for the Sierra Club. He was also a Clean issues move through the legislative process.

Wisconsin staff member in the early 1970s, when we

SEN. MARK MILLER & REP. SPENCER BLACK

Great News for the Great Lakes

By Melissa Malott, Water Program Director

With our Great Lakes President and Rep. Dave Obey (D-WI) taking action, we have some exciting Great Lakes updates.

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative The restoration money proposed by the Obama Administration has cleared the House, and is expected to survive a House Senate conference committee, with much thanks to Rep. Dave Obey. This $475 million, called the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, will be disbursed through the EPA’s Great Lakes Program office and used for high-priority restoration projects addressing toxic substances, invasive species, near-shore health and nonpoint pollution and habitat and wildlife monitoring.

The Obama Administration has already called together stakeholders for feedback on governance over this program, and EPA has started a series of public meetings about how the funds should be spent. Clean Wisconsin has been playing a role in directing the Administration’s attention to the most important issues in our Great Lakes.

Great Ships Initiative Rep. Obey helped secure money for the Great Ships Initiative (GSI), the only freshwater ballast water treatment facility in the world. Ballast discharge from commercial ships is a leading cause of invasive aquatic species in the Great Lakes and throughout the world. Invasive species, such as the zebra mussels, represent a serious threat to indigenous species and threaten the local economies of Great Lakes communities that depend on sport fishing and maritime commerce for jobs.

Located in Superior, the facility will protect our Great Lakes from invasive species and help the local economy.

Thirty jobs are directly related to GSI and is managed by the Northeast-Midwest Institute in collaboration with UW-Superior, University of Minnesota-Duluth, City of Superior, Great Lakes ports, Federal Maritime Administration (MARAD), U.S. and Canadian St. Lawrence Seaway agencies, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Wisconsin Energy Program Stimulus Funding Approved

turbine photo: Miguel Saavedra; sxc.hu/profile/saavem

By Katy Walter, 1Sky Organizer

The federal government has approved Wisconsin’s application for stimulus money through the State Energy Program to focus on clean energy and energy efficiency in the manufacturing sector. All eyes now turn to Wisconsin’s Department of Commerce, which will approve applications to receive the $22 million for projects at home. The low-interest loans will be targeted at clean energy manufacturing, clean energy supply chain development, and projects to reduce the use of fossil fuels in industrial facilities.

For example, an auto parts manufacturer could receive a loan to re-open a closed plant for the purpose of manufacturing wind turbine parts. A project like this fills the dual purpose of creating short-term jobs (by retooling of the factory) and long-term growth and jobs creation (the production of the turbine parts).

While some may criticize the stimulus bill for being too slow to dole out the cash, a closer look should boost confidence. The process is designed to balance quick distribution with funding for projects that give maximum benefit, as demonstrated in the example of the former auto parts plant. With clean energy projects receiving the lion’s share of the stimulus funds, we can be confident that our stimulus dollars are being used effectively.

lake photo by Nathan Jones; sxc.hu/profile/nathanjyd

8

The Defender, Fall 2009, Vol. 39, No. 4

P romoti n g Renewable Energy P a yme n t s

By Ryan Schryver, Clean Energy Advocate

Is it worth it for me to put solar panels on my roof? When is the market for smaller wind turbines going to become cost competitive to larger utilityowned turbines? These are the types of questions that follow Clean Wisconsin staff as we travel the state promoting clean energy policies and climate change solutions.

Unfortunately, the answers are never easy ones. There are currently a variety of options for individuals and property owners looking to invest in renewable energy systems. The Focus on Energy Program (www.focusonenergy.com) does a great job helping potential investors identify the most costeffective renewable energy technology and secure available state and federal grants. Focus on Energy should be the first stop for anyone looking to reduce their dependence on Wisconsin electric utilities and their carbon footprint through renewable energy.

But even with grants that may be available, many Wisconsinites have not found that investing in renewable energy would provide a financial payback for them within an acceptable timeframe.

In many cases, this is due to the lack of reliable payback programs offered

by Wisconsin utilities.

Currently, there is no guarantee that an energy provider will pay for the extra energy that a private renewable energy system produces.

Most Wisconsin utilities will pay a homeowner something for the extra energy they produce, but the prices are usually lower than the price the utility pays for energy on the open market, and typically are too low to provide an adequate rate of return on a renewable energy investment.

Clean Wisconsin has been working hard to make sure that anyone wishing to invest in renewable energy receives a fair market price for any extra energy their system produces. By creating uniform standards that require Wisconsin utilities to provide adequate renewable energy payments for property owners and renewable energy investors, we can be leaders in the production of small-scale renewable energy production.

Setting aggressive renewable energy payments (they are also referred to as advanced renewable feed-in tariffs, ARTs, or buy-back rates) was one policy European countries have used to spur widespread use of renewable energy in the last 20 years. The United States has been slower to catch on to renewable energy payment policies, but many states are working to catch up quickly. Vermont recently became the first state to pass statewide legislation mandating renewable energy payments and nearly a dozen other states are considering following suit.

Clean Wisconsin is working leaders in the state Legislature and has aligned with environmental partners to make sure Wisconsin continues to be a leader in recruiting renewable energy businesses and investments. Establishing fair renewable energy payments will help drive investments in smallerscale renewable energy generation and ensure that Wisconsin can continue to build our economy based on energy generation produced in Wisconsin, for Wisconsin.

...renewable energy payments will help drive investments in smaller-scale renewable energy generation and ensure that Wisconsin can continue to build our economy based on energy generation produced in Wisconsin, for Wisconsin

ASK DAVID

By David Vitse, Office Administrator

Thanks to those members who’ve shared their thoughts, questions and suggestions.

Here are some more of your questions answered.

Dear David, With the Lake Michigan water levels varying each season, aquatic plants have become exceedingly prevalent on my lake shoreline. What I can do to weed my stone beach as I rake my leaves, ready my garden and winterize my cabin for the upcoming cold months.

Helene V., Ephraim Helene, Although the summer saw low temperatures, the lake levels are on the rise, which is good news for those who take advantage of Wisconsin’s wonderful water resources.

Allow me to editorialize a bit: Pristine beaches without vegetation, driftwood, trees and shrubs are often better in movie scenes than real life. Native aquatic plant life is an important part of the lake’s environment as their roots often capture toxins and sediments that should not run into the lakes.

However, if your beach has become covered to the point where you cannot enjoy it, you should be educated about the proper process for removing these plants. Check the Wisconsin DNR Web site at http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/wm/dsfm/shore/ county.htm. The DNR may require an Aquatic Plant Management Plan.

Removal of vegetation on exposed lakebed areas below the ordinary high water mark, or OHWM, is limited to a single, 30-foot-wide path along the shoreline, per property. All vegetation, except for any state or federally listed endangered species, may be removed in this 30-foot-wide path by hand without DNR approval. Ways to remove vegetation include: • pulling plants by hand, • using a string trimmer, or • using a push lawn mower (though not on a stone beach).

The cut material must be removed and disposed of in an upland location. When you dispose of plants, you need to be careful that you do not spread that species to other places where they can damage the existing environments.

The ordinary high water mark refers to the highest level reached by a body of water that has been maintained for a sufficient period of time to leave evidence on the landscape. Only DNR staff can make a formal determination of the location of the OHWM, but here are some clues: • Existing seawalls and rock riprap banks are likely at or just above the OHWM.

• There is a transition from established mature trees to non-woody plants or very young trees.

• There are prominent water stains on permanent structures that indicate OHWM. Dear David, What is the proper way to dispose of leaves after they are arduously raked off my lawn?

Katie F., Madison Katie, Raking leaves is my favorite outdoor activity! The crisp air, gorgeous colors and warm cider waiting for you when you are finished are all perks of a great fall day!

First, remember that your large pile of leaves will leach nutrients, such as phosphorous, into the groundwater and lakes if the pile is rained on, so rake leaves as close to your municipality’s leaf pick-up date as possible. Each community has its own rules regarding raked leaves, so contact their office (typically the streets or garbage department) for additional information and to ensure you are following the correct procedure.

Second, Wisconsin law [s. 287.08, Wis. Stats.] prohibits putting bagged yard waste in a solid waste treatment or storage facility “unless the bag is constructed of a material that decomposes within a reasonable time after exposure to weather elements and is labeled as being so constructed.” Check at your local hardware store or lawn and garden center for bags that meet these criteria.

Composting is also a great way to dispose of your leaves in an environmentally friendly way and help your garden and lawn grow. The DNR’s composting handbook can be found at http://dnr.wi.gov/org/ aw/wm/publications/anewpub/wa182.pdf.

The smoke generated from burning leaves is detrimental to human health. Leaf smoke can irritate the eyes, nose and throat of healthy adults, and is especially harmful to small children, the elderly and people with asthma or other lung or heart diseases.

This is because the visible smoke from leaf fires is made up almost entirely of tiny particles that can reach deep into lung tissue, resulting in coughing, wheezing, chest pain and shortness of breath; these symptoms might not occur until several days after exposure to large amounts of leaf smoke.

Please continue to send questions to: dvitse@cleanwisconsin.org

or

Ask David C/O David Vitse 122 State Street Suite 200 Madison, WI 53703

Enviro-SCRAMBLE

by Clean Wisconsin staff

Unscramble each of the six scrambled words below, filling each space with one letter. Then unscramble the enclosed letters to answer the riddle below.

OEEPLP __ EOTTRGHE __ UMATNU UISTOED __ CRPTOTE __ ESKLA __

__ __ __ __

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

Vampires don’t believe in global warming because they are __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __.

Answers: people, together, autumn, outside, protect, lakes ANSWER: in the dark.

Clean Wisconsin

9

What’s in your Mailbox?

By Allie Theuerkauf, Development Assistant

At Clean Wisconsin, we do our best to keep members informed on emerging environmental issues. One way we inform and mobilize our members on important issues, including our latest legislative priorities, is through the special appeal notices that you find in your mailbox.

Special appeals look a lot like membership renewal forms, but are targeted at a specific issue that Clean Wisconsin is currently working on. These appeals include a place for donations that help support our work on that particular issue and often a place for your “statement of support.” The statement of support section is a place for you to tell decision-makers how you feel about the particular issue. Clean Wisconsin then forwards these letters on to important decision-makers at critical times during our work on the issue. The more people who are behind an issue, the more likely a decision-maker is going to pay attention and make the right decision. Your personal comments make a huge difference!

When you receive mail from Clean Wisconsin, please read it carefully. Membership renewals come once a year, and entitle you to benefits such as The Defender, special issue updates and invitations to events in your area. Special appeal notices contain a lot of key information about important issues we are working on.

Special appeals also give you an opportunity to voice your opinion, contribute to a meaningful cause and show decision-makers that you care. Thank you for your comments, your donations and your commitment to clean water, clean air and clean energy.

Leave a Legacy for Future Generations Ways to contribute to the Clean Wisconsin Environmental Legacy Fund 1. Send a donation directly to our fund.

2. Create a bequest to Clean Wisconsin in your will.

3. Create a gift annuity.

For more information, contact Paul Houseman, Madison Community Foundation, 608-232-1763 ext. 226.

We owe it to our children and grandchildren to pass on a world that has clean water, clean air and clean energy. You can give them a better world, and you can help them protect it.

Protecting our environment is a long-term battle, and we need to ensure that it is defended today and in the future. To accomplish this, we formed the Clean Wisconsin Environmental Legacy Fund, an endowment managed by the Madison Community Foundation.

We greatly appreciate your annual support, which is helping us take on today’s environmental challenges. We ask that you consider making a special contribution to the Clean Wisconsin Environmental Legacy Fund to help us protect our beautiful state for generations to come.

There are many ways to contribute to the Clean Wisconsin Environmental Legacy Fund. For example, you can send a donation directly to our fund, or you can create a bequest to Clean Wisconsin in your will.

Another way to support this fund is through a gift annuity. With a gift annuity, the donor regularly receives payments for the rest of his or her life and spouse’s life, based on a percentage of the gift. Additionally, the donor receives a charitable tax deduction and a partially tax-free return of principal from the annuity. Upon the death of the annuitant, the remainder of the annuity will be put into Clean Wisconsin’s Environmental Legacy Fund to provide support for our future work protecting Wisconsin’s clean water and clean air. With a charitable gift annuity, you can gain financial security and help protect Wisconsin for generations to come. Clean Wisconsin’s founder, Doug LaFollette, has set up two gift annuities to benefit this fund.

Clean Wisconsin on a boat ON CW!

(From left) David Wilkerson; Audra Felix; Rich Hankison; Shaina Kilcoyne; Clemence Darriet; and Carmen Chincillia.

Th a nk You

Summer and Legal Interns Interns are instrumental in every aspect of our organization, from contacting members and writing legal memoranda, to educating the community, aligning business partnerships and accomplishing any other task that was asked of them.

Tackling these difficult and necessary assignments with remarkable enthusiasm and spirit inspired everyone in the office on a daily basis.

Through their passion for environmental issues and dedication in supporting the staff, Clean Wisconsin was able to complete a great amount of preparatory work for the issues we’re tackling this fall.

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Carmen Chinchilla 1Sky Intern Clemence Darriet 1Sky Intern Audra Felix Water Program Legal Intern Rich Hankison Energy Program Legal Intern Megan Hastings LTE Intern Shania Kilcoyne Organizing Intern Matt Weingarten Geology Intern David Wilkerson Global Warming Program Legal Intern Noah Schnell-Harrison Global Warming Program Intern

In August, Clean Wisconsin teamed up with Madison’s CW to film a “Buzzed into Madison” spot. This five-minute informational segment highlighted water quality issues and what viewers can do to help local lakes and the organization!

Thanks to office manager David Vitse for his on-camera appearance; Vitse’s friend, Dave Bugge, for use of his boat; and CW personality Emmy Fink for the opportunity!

View the clip online at madisonscw.com; select “Buzzed into Madison” archives, then “Clean Wisconsin.”

The Defender, Fall 2009, Vol. 39, No. 4