Conservation Congress

The Annual Conservation Congress county meetings are being held on April 12. These meetings allow outdoor enthusiasts from all over the state to have their voices heard on the natural resource related issues of the day.

The Conservation Congress meetings will be held along with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources spring hearings. They begin at 7pm. Your local meeting can be found by using this link or by checking the list of local meetings below.

Marinette Crivitz High School

Auditorium

400 South Avenue

Crivitz, WI 54114

Oconto Suring High School

Cafeteria

411 E Algoma St.

Suring, WI 54174

Brown Southwest High School

School Auditorium

1331 Packerland Dr.

Green Bay, WI 54304

Shawano Middle School LGI

Room

1050 S. Union St.

Shawano, WI 54166

At these meetings residents can submit their own resolutions and give their advice on natural resources policy. This is a great way to get involved with the DNR and have a positive impact on our state's natural resources management so future generations can enjoy the hunting, fishing, and wildlife we enjoy today.

There will be 97 agenda items to discuss. As well, attendees can nominate and elect Conservation Congress representatives. The Congress is the only advisory body in the state where citizens can elect delegates and Wisconsin is the only state in the nation to allow public comment on these types of issues.

$700 Million annual energy Tax Planned in Secret

The job killing global warming bill being pushed by Governor Doyle and legislative Democrats wrapped up public hearings weeks ago. Now, those same proponents of the bill are meeting behind closed doors to hammer out a final version. Some news is leaking out and one of the proposals rumored to be within the final version is a $700 million annual energy tax increase.

Currently, the state imposes an energy efficiency tax on utilities that totals roughly $90 million annually. Under the job killing global warming proposal, this tax would rise to $700 million annually. At a time when employers are struggling to retain jobs and homeowners are having trouble paying bills, we should not increase a tax that will put more burdens on these employers and families.

Minnesota enacted a renewable portfolio mandate similar to the one being proposed in Wisconsin. Three years ago Minnesota passed a 25 percent renewable standard. Now, energy rates are rising to pay for mandate costs and it is hitting families and employers at a time they can least absorb it. Minnesota Power is requesting a 19 percent rate hike right now.

I have written about some of the negative aspects of this global warming bill in previous Nygren's Notes. As well, I have written about Wisconsin's current 10 percent renewable standard and how it is already increasing energy rates here at home.

The latest status update of this global warming bill is that the Democrats are planning to pass this job killing proposal during the last active legislative session period that begins on April 13. I will keep you updated in future issues of the Nygren's Notes.