As the Assembly prepares to vote on the Clean Energy Jobs Acts (AB 649), an alliance gathered at the capitol to support the bill. Thad Nation of CREWE, a coalition made up of utilities and companies such as Johnson Controls and MillerCoors, says as Wisconsin’s economy continues to grow the bill will take the state to “the next level.”
Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC), the state’s largest business lobby, opposes the legislation saying it will cause utility rates to go up. But State Representative Spencer Black (D-Madison), an architect of the bill, says independent data from the Public Service Commission data indicate a $1.6 billion a year savings for electric users.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce claims the PSC’s findings contain “methodological error” and the bill would in fact cause rates to increase.
Black believes the measure, which aims to reduce greenhouse gases, will pass the Assembly today. It’s future in the Senate is in question as Majority Leader Russ Decker (D-Wausau) has said he does not want the legislation because it would raise utility rates in a time of recession. Black said the majority leader “did not have facts to back up his assertions.”
Brian Moon reports (:61)