Wisconsin

Wisconsin has made some progress on climate action, with Governor Evers (D) pushing for clean energy adoption and modest emissions reductions.

Legislative Profile

Governor: Tony Evers (D)

House: Republican majority

Senate: Republican supermajority

U.S. Climate Alliance Member

Key Resources

Emissions Reduction Targets

By 2025:

26-28%

All targets relative to 2005 levels

2019 GHG Emissions By Sector (%)

  • Commercial
  • Electric
  • Residential
  • Industrial
  • Transportation
  • Agriculture
Source: EPA State Inventory Tool (SIT)

Use the + icons in each policy area below to explore climate policy that has been passed at the state level, with links to relevant legislation and trackers. Policies in gray have not yet been passed in this state.

Climate Governance & Equity

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Climate Governance

Greenhouse Gas Targets

Emissions Reduction Target

26-28% by 2025 Relative to 2005 levels

Mandate Source

Voluntary – Executive Order 38 (2019)

Climate Action Plan

Climate Bureaucracy

Interagency Commissions/Task Forces

Non-Governmental Advisory Bodies

Governor’s Task Force on Climate Change

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory

1990-2018 GHG Emissions Inventory (December 2021)

Mandate Source

Executive Order 38 (2019)

Green Bank

Green Innovation Fund

Establishing Legislation

Executive Order 195 (2023)

Lead by Example

ACEEE Score – 0 out of 1 point**

Public Fleet ZEV Requirements

Equity

Environmental Justice Community Designation

State EJ Mapping Tools

In progress – Developing the Wisconsin Environmental Equity Tool (WEET)

EJ Community Benefit Requirement

EJ Bureaucracy

EJ Advisory Bodies

EJ Government Staff

Executive Order 161 (2022) – Establishes the Wisconsin Office of Environmental Justice

**The ACEEE Energy Efficiency Scorecard analyzes the policies and programs states adopt to save energy in public sector buildings and transportation fleets. States can earn up to 1 point.

Adaptation & Resilience

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Governance and Planning

Governance Structures

Adaptation and Resilience Plans

Climate Hazard Mitigation Plans

Solutions and Funding

Building Codes, Land Use, and Zoning

Built/Hard Infrastructure

Grid Resilience Measures

Green Stormwater Infrastructure

State Funding

Electricity

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Renewables and Energy Storage

Greenhouse Gas Targets

Renewable Portfolio Standard

Target

10% by 2015 | 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050

Legislation

2015: Wisconsin Statute § 196.378 (1998)

2050: Executive Order 38 (2019)

Distributed Generation/Solar Carve-out

SPOT Components – 0 out of 5*

Net Metering

SPOT Components – 3 out of 11*

Energy Storage Standard

SPOT Components – 0 out of 5*

Shared Renewables

SPOT Components – 1 out of 6*

*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.

Grid and Utility Reform

Clean Energy Plan

Grid Modernization Plan

The GridWise Alliance’s Grid Modernization Index (GMI) evaluates and ranks the status of grid modernization efforts across all 50 states and D.C.

50-state Ranking – 39th

Interconnection Standards

SPOT Components – 4 out of 6*

Utility Green Power Option

SPOT Components – 3 out of 6*

New Utility Business Model Proceeding

SPOT Components – 0 out of 5*

Carbon Pollution Pricing

Buildings & Efficiency

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Building Energy Codes

Residential Codes

SPOT Components – 4 out of 6*

Statewide code – 2009 IECC

Commercial Codes

SPOT Components – 3 out of 6*

Statewide code – 2015 IECC

Stretch or Reach Codes

*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.

Efficiency Programs and Incentives

Weatherization Programs

SPOT Components – 3 out of 4*

Energy Auditing Programs

Retrocommissioning Programs

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)

SPOT Components – 6 out of 10*

Energy Savings Performance Contracting

SPOT Components – 4 out of 5*

Standards and Market Mechanisms

Energy Efficiency Resource Standard

SPOT Components – 4 out of 5*

Building Performance Standard (BPS)

Appliance Performance Standard (APS)

Carbon Pollution Pricing

Buildings Data Disclosure

Transportation

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Vehicle Standards

Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) Standards

Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandates

Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle (MHDVs) Sales Standards

Electric Vehicle Incentives

SPOT Components – 2 out of 5*

Charging Infrastructure Incentives

SPOT Components – 2 out of 5*

Carbon Pollution Pricing

Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS)

*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.

State Planning and Investment

Greenhouse Gas Targets

Decarbonization Plan

EV and EV Charging Infrastructure Plans

EV Transit Bus Deployment

The ACEEE Transportation Electrification Scorecard analyzes the level of investment and policies states adopt to procure electric transit buses. States can earn up to 6 points.

ACEEE Score – 1 out of 6 points

Bicycle Friendly State

The League of American Bicyclists’ State Report Cards evaluate and rank the safety and efficiency of active transportation systems across all 50 states.

50-state Ranking29th

Agriculture

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Soil Health and Regenerative Agriculture Governance

Financial Incentives

AB 727 (2022) – Provides crop insurance rebates for cover crops

Technical Assistance and Education Programs

Food Waste Bans and Targets

Industry, Materials, and Waste Management

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Short-Lived Climate Pollutant (SLCP) Regulations

Carbon Pollution Pricing

Buy Clean Requirements

What are we missing? Let us know!

Last Updated December 2023