Climate and Clean Energy Lobbying in Wisconsin

Wisconsin has a contentious history of increasing renewable energy generation through legislation. After Republicans took over the legislature in 2011, there has been a decrease in pro-climate legislation introduced in the legislature. Our analysis of 2,388 lobbying records shows electric utilities to be deeply influential in  both Republican and Democrat-led legislatures. Significant legislative issues include streamlining the Public Service Commission approval for generation and transmission projects as well as net metering.  A new democratic majority on the Public Service Commission has enabled benefits for utility-scale renewable energy generation, but the legislature continues to support natural gas infrastructure construction.

Figure 2: Coalitions on net metering and community power

Figure 3: Change in average position on introduced climate and energy bills during Republican trifecta.

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