Michigan

Cross-posted from my blog, Kaufman's Gull at kaufmansgull.com

Back in 2003 when WE Energies proposed building two new units of coal-fired power in Oak Creek, Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle of Wisconsin called for a "vigorous debate" but also said "We do not have the luxury of just saying no to new transmission and new power plants." End of debate, at least at the State Capitol.

In January of 2004 the Wisconsin DNR approved an air pollution permit for the plants, essentially abdicating its role as the primary protector of Wisconsin's natural resources. Abundant electricity became a resource more important than clean air and clean water.

Today we in Southeastern Wisconsin have dirty air (the NWS issued an air quality watch for today and encourages all of us to "practice energy conservation"), too much electric power, and higher electric bills because we have to help pay for the building of the coal plants.

Dave Dempsey is one of the Great Lakes most credible, prolific writers and activists, and he thinks the Wisconsin DNR is treading on thin ice if it thinks it can approve a diversion of Lake Michigan water to New Berlin without the approval of all eight Great Lakes states.

As others, including then-Wisconsin Attorney General Peg Lautenschlater have pointed out, it's a matter of federal law.

Details here.

Want to help stop the diversion of Great Lakes water? Want to make sure communities improve their water conservation?

An International agreement with Canada is undergoing review and the public comment period ends June 8th.

I had posted the other day about the urgency surrounding public comment on the Great Lakes Compact's conservation standard-setting.

     Here is a nice, direct link to join the debate.

     Or go here for an email address - - commentscglg [dot] org (  commentscglg [dot] org)

     Just do it before June 8th.

It's been almost five months since then-Wisconsin Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager issued a 20-page opinion on how and when certain Wisconsin communities could apply for permission to divert water from Lake Michigan.

 The ruling barred bureaucrats in the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources from administratively approving such a diversion request, and also said efforts in 2006 by the City of Waukesha to ask Gov. Jim Doyle for permission without getting the unanimous consent of the other seven Great Lakes states were also out of bounds.

 You'd think, as hot as this issue is in southeastern Wisconsin, and across the Great Lakes where the first regional test cases for new diversion efforts are brewing, that the AG opinion would be big news.

Nope. Hasn't been reported on in the traditional media, but you can read about it, access the full document and see a Wisconsin law firm's analysis here.