Environmental Policy

• Energy and Climate Emergency
  • Transfer all point-source energy production to public ownership promptly.
  • Invest in research for solar, wind, geothermal, and hydroelectric technologies.
• Building a Sustainable Infrastructure
  • Expand renewable energy production through publicly owned facilities.
  • Modernize power grids for seamless integration of renewables.
  • Invest in energy efficiency measures and offer incentives for their adoption.
• NATURE & WILDLIFE
  • Protect and enhance natural environments.
  • Introduce natural climate change solutions on state assets.
• PESTICIDE USE
  • Phase out pesticide use, excluding invasive plant control according to guidelines.
• SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL
  • Promote modern working practices and encourage sustainable transportation.
  • Pursue electric vehicles where feasible.
• WATER MANAGEMENT
  • Encourage efficient water use and promote natural solutions to reduce runoff.
• WASTE & RECYCLING
  • Minimize waste and promote responsible waste management.
  • Cease single-use plastics and prioritize recycling.
• DEVELOPMENT
  • Support planning applications demonstrating biodiversity net gain.
• AWARENESS, LOBBYING & PARTNERSHIPS
  • Raise awareness of environmental issues.
  • Act as a voice for local environmental concerns and collaborate with partners.
• CIRCULAR ECONOMY
  • Survey material use, develop policies for a Circular Economy, and promote local suppliers.

 REVIEW

Annual review to align the policy with WPP objectives and ensure continuous improvement.

Introduction to Energy Policy

The climate crisis demands immediate action. Urgent attention must be given to the impact of energy production and use on the environment. This policy is a proposal for Wisconsin residents, local communities, businesses and the state of Wisconsin to develop a sustainable and healthy future.

The Wisconsin People’s Party (WPP) believes the government should serve the people rather than serving the wealthy, their corporations, and their money. To ensure that our government serves the people, WPP policy planning begins with putting the welfare of the people at the center of each issue and builds out from there. This stands in contrast to both major political parties that put maximizing profits at the center of each issue and then builds out from there.

Government can serve the interests of the people, or it can serve the wealthy, but it cannot do both.

In keeping with this philosophy, The Wisconsin People’s Party believes that goods and services that are of vital interest to the people should be owned by the people. Individuals should not be held captive by private equity firms or other corporations whose primary objective is to generate rapid financial gains, often disregarding the vital interests of the people.

The WPP believes that the environment is vital to all life and proposes energy policies that regenerate and sustain a healthy environment.

The WPP ENERGY Policy is meant to be engaged at four levels: (1) individuals who reside in Wisconsin, (2) the communities of Wisconsin, (3) businesses that operate in Wisconsin, and (4) the state of Wisconsin.

Adopted at Steering committee meeting on: 2/25/2024

Minute Reference: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Wpt3wAiylSIbWTG0r8sZ1T2qd5h8ukKv/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=115348572828506961510&rtpof=true&sd=true

ENERGY POLICY

1. Objectives for Energy Policy:

The mission of the WPP Energy Policy is to:

• Give direction and support to individuals, businesses, and communities that wish to transition to renewable, green energy sources. 
• Provide policy guidelines for the development of state laws that support individuals, businesses, and communities that wish to transition to renewable green energy.

1. LIST OF ENERGY POLICIES
2. Energy and Climate Emergency

The WPP identifies Energy as a vital interest of the people. In accordance with that, the WPP would transfer to public ownership all forms of energy production originating from point sources promptly. That includes all fossil fuels (e.g., coal, oil, and natural gas), nuclear energy sources (uranium), hydro-electric, wind turbine farms, and solar farms. 

Distributed energy systems such as small roof-top solar panel systems, and wind turbines on individual homes that directly benefit the homeowner, would remain under the ownership of the homeowners.

• Invest in research and development for solar, wind, geothermal and hydroelectric technologies via grants and allocating funds for research
• Funding grants for research of energy storage, smart grids, and efficient distribution systems.

Building a Sustainable Infrastructure:

• Expand renewable energy production capacities through publicly owned large-scale solar farms, wind parks, and geothermal plants.
• Modernize power grids to include distributed power sources such as rooftop solar, wind, geothermal etc. renewables seamlessly and ensure efficient distribution. 
• Invest in energy efficiency measures in buildings, industries, and transportation.
• Provide robust tax incentives and direct payments to individuals and communities to encourage the use of : 

- rooftop solar panels

- wind turbines

- geothermal heat sources

- air-source heat pumps over traditional furnaces and air conditioners

- proper insulation and air sealing

- high efficiency windows and doors 

- Energy Star certified appliances

- programmable thermostats

- regular maintenance of heating and cooling systems

Tax incentives should be large enough to cut the return of the investment to five years.

WPP will also:

• Require EV charging stations to be of universal design for all car brands
• Provide grants and incentives for public EV charging stations within the   community 

NATURE & WILDLIFE

The WPP is committed to increasing opportunities for nature to thrive on the assets it owns or manages. Environmental growth will be achieved by:

Protecting and enhancing the quality and extent of the natural environment in Wisconsin.

Supporting the conservation of trees, hedgerows, ponds, streams and lake shore habitats

Managing State’s assets (including public rights of way, lakeshore areas, play areas, playing fields, and verges) in a manner that protects and increases biodiversity

Introduce natural climate change solutions (such as tree planting and rewilding) on State and township assets.                                                                      

Introducing environmental growth opportunities and activities, as appropriate, on State’s

Banning the release of balloon/sky lantern from State land and events

The Wildlife Corridor and Crossings Act:

1. Establish a statewide program within the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to incorporate wildlife corridors and safe crossing structures into road construction/expansion projects. Work with insurance companies/state patrol/local municipalities/DMV to establish critical areas.

2. Require that all new highway/interstate projects funded by the state must include appropriate wildlife bridges, underpasses, culverts, and fencing to facilitate safe animal movement across the roadway.

3. Implement a long-term plan to systematically retrofit existing major roadways over time with wildlife crossings and exclusion fencing in identified animal corridor areas.

4. Create a Wildlife Movement Data System that collects roadkill, trail camera, and acoustic data to map out critical migratory routes and habitats for large mammals like deer.

5. Mandate coordination between Wisconsin DOT and the DNR to ensure wildlife crossings align with protected habitats, forests, waterways, and known animal travel paths.

6. Allocate annual funding for wildlife crossing construction and maintenance through increases in car registration fees, specialty license plates, federal grants, etc.

7. Develop educational campaigns for drivers about heed wildlife crossing signage and hotspot road sections.

8. Partner with tribal nations, environmental groups, universities, and citizen scientists for data collection and monitoring effectiveness.

9. Offer tax credits or other incentives for private landowners who protect wildlife corridors across their property.

10. Explore public-private partnerships with transportation groups, insurance firms, and corporations to help fund wildlife bridge installation.

The goal is to make Wisconsin's transportation infrastructure more permeable for wildlife, reducing collisions that cause vehicle damage, injuries/fatalities, while also preserving habitat connectivity and animal migration routes.

PESTICIDE USE

The WPP will cease/is committed to phasing out the use of pesticides on assets we own or manage (with the exception of use for the control invasive plants according to DNR guidelines at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/ForestHealth/ControlofInvasivePlants.pdf  or where it is used to reduce material risks to asset integrity).

SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL

The WPP will:

• Promote and support modern working practices, such as remote working, amongst Wisconsin residents 
• Encourage members and officers to car-share, where possible, when a car journey must be made 
• Promote and support the use of cycling, public footpaths and public transport
• Ensure all vehicles are serviced and maintained to a high standard
• The use of electric powered vehicles will be pursued where this is a workable alternative
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WATER MANAGEMENT

The WPP is committed to responsible water management and conservation throughout its operations, which include:

• Encouraging Wisconsin residents, allotment holders and hirers to use water efficiently 
• Where possible, utilizing water butts as a non-drinking water source
• Ensuring Wisconsin residents and users are aware of which materials can  be disposed of in wastewater
• Promoting and supporting natural solutions to reduce/reuse surface water run-off 

WASTE & RECYCLING

The WPP will encourage to:

• Keep waste to a minimum by preventing, reusing, recycling or recovering waste
• Ensure waste is sorted, stored and disposed of appropriately
• Cease use of single-use plastics 
• Recycle all recyclable waste generated 
• Promote and encourage recycling across the state
• Use recyclable, compostable and/or recycled products on 
• Reduce the production of non-recyclable resources such as laminated or plastic based publicity material
• Minimize the amount of printing and minimize the amount of waste paper
• Observe our duty of care conscientiously within our waste contracts
• Utilize electronic communications
• Minimize pollution and prevent where possible (including light, noise, solids, liquids and chemicals)
• Use composting facilities at relevant operated amenities including allotments and cemeteries
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 DEVELOPMENT

The WPP will:

Support planning applications where the applicant can demonstrate biodiversity net gain

1. AWARENESS, LOBBYING & PARTNERSHIPS

The WPP will:

• Promote awareness of, and information about, environmental issues within the community
• Support, and act as a voice for, local environmental concerns within the community
• Ensure that all individuals involved in the organization (including contractors) are aware of their responsibilities in implementing this environmental policy
• Work with partners, where appropriate, to increase environmental growth within the state
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CIRCULAR ECONOMY (recycling, repurposing, upcycling)

The WPP will:

• Survey the use of the materials and services used in Wisconsin
• Develop policies that encourage the development of a Circular Economy in the state
• Promote and encourage the use of local suppliers in procurement policies

 REVIEW

This policy and its application will be subject to annual review to ensure that it continues to reflect the aims and objectives of WPP and promotes continuous environmental improvement throughout the state operation