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Wis. governor pushes 100%-by-2050 carbon-free goal

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Wis. governor pushes 100%-by-2050 carbon-free goal

Joining other states that plan to move to a cleaner energy mix, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has set a goal of having all electricity consumed within the state be 100% carbon-free by 2050.

The Democratic governor signed an executive order Aug. 16 directing the state Department of Administration to create the Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy to work with other state agencies and Wisconsin's utilities to reach the 100% carbon-free goal. The new office will promote the development and use of clean and renewable energy across Wisconsin, advance innovative sustainability solutions that improve the state's economy and its environment, and create good jobs, Evers said in remarks before signing the order.

"The bottom line is this: Economic development and protecting our environment are not mutually exclusive," Evers said. "They should work in tandem."

Evers said officials will focus on better understanding how climate change impacts communities of color, farmers and rural parts of the state to make sure solutions benefit all in Wisconsin.

Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who will oversee the office, echoed Evers' remarks and said he wants to ensure that work is done in a manner that includes everyone.

"Those who have been most impacted by climate change must be a part of the conversation as well as the solution," Barnes said.

Several other states, including California, Hawaii, Maine, New York and Washington, have put in place 100% clean or renewable energy targets by 2050.

Evers included the carbon-free goal and creation of the Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy in a budget proposal earlier this year. However, lawmakers stripped out that language, according to a report from the Wisconsin State Journal.

The newspaper also said the executive order is not a mandate and noted the governor's confidence that the new office will work with utilities to reach the goal. An Evers representative was not immediately available to comment Aug. 19.

Utilities across Wisconsin have already announced plans to reduce their carbon footprints.

Wisconsin-headquartered utility companies Alliant Energy Corp. and WEC Energy Group Inc. have goals to reduce carbon emissions by 80% from 2005 levels by 2050. Madison Gas and Electric Co. is aiming to be 100% carbon neutral by 2050.

Xcel Energy Inc., which serves customers in western Wisconsin, has already committed to generating 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050.

Coal is now the leading fuel used for electricity generation in Wisconsin, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. In 2018, coal-fired power plants provided 49% of the state's net generation, while 9% of utility-scale net generation came from renewables, including hydropower, wind, biomass and solar.