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The Urgency of Climate Change and Why Renewable Energy Is Wisconsin’s Path Forward
Climate change is no longer a distant warning — it is here and it is reshaping our landscapes, weather patterns, and communities. Wisconsin has already begun to feel the effects, through more frequent flooding along our rivers, dangerous heat waves that strain vulnerable populations, and shifting agricultural seasons that threaten one of our state’s proudest traditions – farming. Left unchecked, climate change will accelerate these threats, driving up costs for families and businesses while destabilizing the ecosystems that sustain us.
But there is a solution within reach, and Wisconsin has the opportunity to lead: a rapid transition to renewable energy. We have the tools, we just need to be bold enough to move forward.
The Dangers We Face
Scientists are clear that continued reliance on fossil fuels is driving higher global temperatures. For Wisconsin, that translates to:
- More volatile weather: Intense storms that damage infrastructure, cause power outages, and threaten public safety.
- Rising health risks: Air pollution worsens respiratory illnesses, while extreme heat threatens seniors, children, and outdoor workers.
- Economic disruption: Crop losses from unpredictable seasons, higher insurance premiums due to extreme weather, and costly repairs to public infrastructure.
The longer we delay addressing these dangers, the more expensive and disruptive they become. Every year of inaction compounds the risks and the cost. The good news is that the solution is affordable, efficient, and reliable.
Renewable Energy Is the Key
Wisconsin already has the tools we need to chart a safer, stronger path forward. Wind, solar, bioenergy, geothermal, and hydropower are proven, affordable, and increasingly accessible. Transitioning to renewable energy addresses climate change head-on while delivering real, local benefits:
- Cleaner air and healthier communities by reducing emissions from coal and gas.
- Energy independence — when we produce energy in Wisconsin, it keeps our energy dollars here at home instead of sending them out of state for fossil fuels.
- Strong local economies through job creation in construction, manufacturing, installation, and maintenance — industries that can’t be outsourced.
- Stable energy costs because renewable resources, unlike fossil fuels, aren’t subject to global market swings.
Every new solar array on a school, every wind turbine in a farm field, and every biogas digester on a dairy farm reduces our reliance on polluting fuels while building a more resilient local economy.
Wisconsin’s Opportunity
Our state is uniquely positioned to lead. With strong agricultural roots, an innovative workforce, and communities that value stewardship, Wisconsin can demonstrate how clean energy strengthens both economy and environment. RENEW Wisconsin is working every day to expand renewable projects across the state — partnering with businesses, schools, tribes, farmers, and local governments to accelerate the transition.
But the pace matters. To safeguard our children’s future, we must move faster. This means modernizing policies, supporting community solar, expanding access to financing, and ensuring equity so that every family can share in the benefits of clean energy.
A Call to Action
Climate change is the defining challenge of our generation. But it is also the greatest opportunity to reimagine how Wisconsin powers itself — cleaner, stronger, and more resilient. By choosing renewable energy today, we protect our communities, create thousands of good-paying jobs, and preserve the natural heritage we hold dear.
The dangers of climate change are real, but the solution is in our hands. Join RENEW Wisconsin and help us win this fight. Together, we can build a safer and more prosperous Wisconsin powered by clean, renewable energy.
The post The Urgency of Climate Change and Why Renewable Energy Is Wisconsin’s Path Forward appeared first on RENEW Wisconsin.
