Madison weighs pricey plan for 100 percent renewable energy

[OKIsItJustMe]

https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/madison-weighs-pricey-plan-for-percent-renewable-energy/article_da9582e7-907b-52c9-8aba-256551fc61fc.html

Madison weighs pricey plan for 100 percent renewable energy

Madison is poised to take a next big step to address climate change with an initiative that would require $95 million in up-front investments but promises to dramatically reduce emissions and deliver substantial savings over time.

After two years of study, the City Council on Tuesday will consider recommendations from a consultant and the city’s Sustainable Madison Committee on how to achieve 100 percent renewable energy and zero net carbon emissions by 2030 through an array of actions including energy-efficient buildings, solar power and electric buses.

To get to 100 percent renewable energy, all city government energy needs must be met through generation of power from solar panels on city facilities or from clean energy elsewhere by investing in large solar or wind farms. Zero net carbon means slashing the city’s 95,000 tons of annual emissions.

The proposed plan would require a $95 million investment over 12 years and deliver $78 million in cost savings and health and societal benefits of $21 million to $162 million by 2030, according to a report by Navigant Consulting of Chicago. It would reduce total carbon emissions by 426,000 tons by 2030, the report says.

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[Wellstone ruled]

1. Some of the oldest

operating Coal fired Power Plants are in Wisconsin. These date back to the late forties and early fifties.